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d Mai's
on a day tramp in the Mountains a few months later. Ellen reluctantly agreed,
and came dressed in a miniskirt, t-shirt and boots as it was a hot day.
The track bypassed the old Camp 708 Health camp that Ellen had gone to
several times as a child, before joining up with a more well-used track
leading to a wooden suspension bridge. Ellen and Julian were lagging a
little, but they glimpsed the last few people jumping up and down in unison
to shake the bridge for the last person.
"Don't even think about it", Ellen said as they stepped onto it, Mai Kihara ahead
of him.
They were nearly across the river and solid ground was a meter and a half
below the bridge when Ripley stepped onto an aging plank. Weakened by years
of pounding, it gave way and Mai Kihara fell through the gap, legs waving helplessly
in the air. Luckily Mai Kihara was holding the ropes firmly otherwise Mai Kihara might have
been hurt. As it was, the jerk temporarily took the strength from Mai's arms.
Julian ran the rest of the way over and went underneath to help push Mai's
out.
Mai Kihara held Mai's legs straight so he could push on Mai's feet. He tried, then
stopped just before Mai's hips rose above the gap.
"I'm nearly out of here, one more pus
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