“Yes, and there's the last load, too. There'll be no one to hold the boat steady on this side.”

“It was a stupid idea.”

“Not, it wasn't. It was a great idea. We just haven't worked it all out yet. Go on thinking. I can see why the Four picked you to be an Innovator.”

Ruth blushed and struggled with her idea. “Suppose you had a very long rope,” she said after a while, “and you attached one end to the inflatable, then took the rope across the river and round that big tree over there. Then you brought it back and looped it round the trunk of a tree on this side, and tied the other end to the rear end of the inflatable, you'd have a continuous loop. That would take care of the last person across. Like this…” She scratched in the dirt with a twig. “It's almost like a rope bridge.”

“It's terrific. You should get points towards your apprenticeship as an Innovator for this.”

“You certainly should.” The Initiator spoke from behind them. “Especially if you can think of a way of getting the rope across the river, around the tree trunk and back.”

“PK,” said Luke.

“Psychokinesis? Are you up to it? It's a great deal more complicated than anything you've done before.”

“Ah, but I'll have Ruth to help me.”

“Ruth? What have you two been up to?” The Initiator smiled.

“He's been helping me. But I can't do anything like this. Luke, be realistic.”

“We'll be working together. And we'll have the others to help us. A little Web to give us extra power.”

“Let's try. We've certainly got nothing to lose.” The Initiator closed her eyes and concentrated for a minute. The other seventeen came hurrying down the slope to the river bank. Quickly the Initiator explained what had to be done.

I can't, thought Ruth. I'm not strong enough. Why me?

Stop that! The voice was so clear in her head that she looked up in surprise. Luke was frowning at her. How clear his thought had been! Maybe her Esper powers were getting stronger. Maybe she was more in control. Maybe it would be all right.

“We must hold hands, Ruth,” Luke sat cross-legged on the ground. “With the others on either side of us, all linked together. ''

They linked hands, facing the turbulent water. Luke held Ruth's left hand. Angela held her right.

''Now, concentrate, everyone. ''

Ruth felt the strength of the Web flow through her body into Luke's. The rope lay coiled in front of them, one end securely fastened. She concentrated on the loose end. Slowly it lifted from the ground, wavered in the air, and then began to move slowly, snakelike, across the river.