The trip had been so busy that this was the first chance Jude had to stand at the top of the Falls and follow the path of the water. From the hotel, he could see the water flow over the edge, but standing beside it, hearing the roar of the water was a whole different experience.
“You okay?” Ronan asked from Jude’s left side.
No, Jude definitely was not okay. “You hear that?” Jude shouted to be heard. “Can you imagine what it must be like inside the barrel? Hearing the water pound against the hull and feeling the water’s chill? I’m terrified of Mother Nature’s power and all I’m doing is standing here watching.”
“Men have always wanted to prove they were stronger than the elements. Think of the men who sailed with Columbus who didn’t know if they were actually going to sail off the edge of the earth. Men who braved the snow and ice of the North and South Poles. Ditto to the explorers who mapped the Amazon or flew in space. I guess I’ve never been so macho that I needed to do something like this.”
“Bullshit,” Fitzgibbon muttered. “Who was the asshole with three fresh bullet wounds in him who checked himself out of the hospital against medical orders to catch a serial killer?”
“I was trying to stop a killer, not having a dick measuring contest with a raging waterfall. There’s a big difference.”
“No, there’s not,” Jude said with a laugh.
“No, there’s not,” Ronan agreed. He looked like he had more to say on the matter, but stopped when Heidi approached them.
“The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation invited us to watch their video feed of the stunt. Will one of you hold my hand?” Heidi was fighting back tears.
“We all will.” Jude set an arm around Heidi’s shoulders and led her to the news van with the large red logo. It was called the Butterfly, but to Jude it looked more like a rose.
When they reached the van, there was a large screen displaying a news anchor sitting behind a desk. “Let’s go live to banks of the Niagara River, where our own Mike Walton is standing by with the man of the hour.”
The screen switched to a live shot of the reporter standing beside Cannonball, who was wearing a bright red suit with the United States Coast Guard logo on the left side of his chest. “I’m with Cannonball Jackson, who is seconds away from climbing into his barrel to make his historic trip over Niagara Falls. How are you feeling this morning, Cannonball?”
The daredevil grinned into the camera. “I’m great, Mike. It’s a beautiful day to make history.”
“It sure is,” the reporter agreed. “The one question that I can’t get out of my head is what your family think of this attempt at the falls? My wife would kill me if I even thought about trying something this dangerous.”
Cannonball chuckled with the reporter before looking directly into the camera. “My wife and son have been my greatest supporters through all of this, even though they both wish we’d gone on a family vacation to Disney World instead of being here. I love them both with my whole heart and that’s why I’mannouncing my retirement today. Going over the falls will be my last stunt.”
The reporter wore a shocked look. “You heard it here, folks. Cannonball is hanging up his daredevil shoes,ifhe survives his trip over Niagara Falls, and standing here on the banks of the river, that’s a mighty bigif.”
Jude watched as Cannonball’s million watt grin dulled. He turned and walked away from the reporter.
“Jesus, what an asshole,” Cope said. He was standing on the other side of Heidi and had an arm around her waist.
The camera panned away from the reporter and focused on Cannonball who was having a chat with members of the coast guard. After nodding several times, Cannonball shook their hands and headed toward the barrel. No one spoke as he fitted himself inside. He flashed a thumbs up and the capsule was sealed. Moments later, the members of the guard Cannonball had been speaking with, took hold of the craft and carried it toward the water.
Jude couldn’t help thinking it looked like pallbearers carrying a coffin. Judging by the looks on Ronan and Fitz’s faces, they were thinking the same thing. Everyone watched in silence as the barrel was shoved into the current and began its journey toward the falls.
A countdown timer appeared on the lower right hand side of the screen, with approximately how many minutes it would take for Cannonball to go over the falls. It read just a few ticks over two minutes.
Finding it hard to breathe, Jude bent over, resting his hands on his knees. He couldn’t imagine the fear Cannonball was experiencing inside the barrel in the dark. Was he thinking ofhis wife and son? His father? Or was he praying for his own survival. Seeing the way Heidi was standing tall and stoic, Jude straightened up. If she could get through this moment with grace, so could Jude.
“Countdown’s got thirty seconds to go,” Ronan said, offering his arm to lead Heidi to the railing beside the falls.
CJ ran to his mother, and reached for her hand. Everly did the same, offering Heidi a smile. Jude stood beside Ronan with and Ten and Cope on the other side. Everyone joined hands. Fitzgibbon had gone to stand beside members of the Coast Guard, who were in communication with the boats in the river.
Peering over the edge of the waterfall, Jude spotted two United States Coast Guard boats. Their lights were on and flashing, ready to speed into action after the barrel came over the falls. He said a silent prayer that the rescue would go off without a hitch.
A loud cheer went up from the crowd as the bright red barrel bobbed toward the precipice. Jude could see several news cameras pointed at the falls, while others were trained on Heidi and CJ. Thousands of people were crowed around the falls, some cheering, some crying, while other were silent.
Jude took a deep breath as the barrel reached the edge of the falls and tipped over. It felt like it was all happening in slow motion. The barrel, which was shaped like a bullet, fell horizontally, like Everly predicted. Jude followed the path of it until the mist rising from the base of the falls obscured the barrel.
“Christ, he’s down,” Cope said, as he and Jude watched the Coast Guard scramble into action.
Both boats zipped toward the base of the falls, until they too, were engulfed in the mist. The lights from the boat were stillflashing, making a strobe-like effect, which only added to the surreal feeling Jude experienced.
“Swimmers are in the water,” Fitzgibbon said, when he reached Jude’s side. “There’s more mist this afternoon than was originally anticipated.”
