Page 66 of The Trip of a Lifetime

‘No,’ I said and then chuckled. ‘Do you?’

‘God, no.’

I stepped out of the lift and watched him as the doors closed, taking him back down to his floor.

‘Goodnight,’ he said.

* * *

Early the following morning, we were driven back to the falls for a sightseeing opportunity.

Later, Erin and I would have a head start to wherever we were going next and it made me feel twitchy. I just wanted to go. I didn’t have the headspace for a team-building exercise but those were the rules. We had to spend our allotted thirty-six hours in Niagara and then we could leave.

‘Behind the falls experience,’ Cally told us before handing out yellow plastic ponchos to us all. ‘Take them, you will get wet.’

We started back at the welcome centre and a tour guide led us down the stairs and into the tunnels that had been built behind the falls.

‘People have been visiting Niagara Falls since 1832,’ she told us as we went further into the tunnels.

The people coming out were indeed soaked and I could already feel and hear the thundering rumble of the water.

‘Back then it was by a spiral staircase and outside. It cost one dollar. The first tunnels were dug in 1889 and tour guides with lanterns led visitors through the tunnel systems for the first time. The falls continued to erode the bedrock and as it receded, new tunnels would have to be built. These tunnels we’re in now were extended in 1944 and still going strong.’

We walked until there was a lookout spot and we were all encouraged to crowd in together for a TV moment. The noise was phenomenal and the spray was intense. We were a couple of metres away from the back of the falls but a padlocked gate guarded us from falling over the edge.

‘Is this as far as we can go?’ Harrison asked. ‘I was imagining a The Last of the Mohicans moment.’

He then shouted something unintelligible and I had to assume he was quoting Daniel Day-Lewis from the movie but it was lost in the roar. Erin must have heard him because she laughed.

We left the tunnels and were out onto a viewing platform where the magnificent Horseshoe Falls were right in front of us. A boat sat in the middle of the water and I could only imagine how wet those passengers were getting.

It was one of those moments when it would have been a natural thing to hold Harrison’s hand but I moved away from him to hold Erin’s. I smiled at her and there was a silent exchange between us.

Piece-to-camera

Cally: How did it feel talking about what you’d do with your winnings, Martha?

Martha: It gave me an insight into the lives of my fellow contestants. Very worthy ideas.

Cally: Did you not feel that decorating your flat was worthy?

Martha: Not compared with visiting loved ones or the care of an elderly relative, no. But does it mean I want to give in and hand it over? No, no it doesn’t.

Cally: Ha! Of course not. You both have a head start of an hour, leaving shortly. With two checkpoints to go, do you think your funds will stretch, Erin? If you run out, you’re out of the race.

Erin: I think we’ll be fine. We’re a great team.

Cally: And I think Sam is growing on you a little. Did your night together give you a bond that will outlast this race?

Erin: I’m not thinking about Sam. I just want to concentrate on my race with Martha.

‘Cut. Okay, that’s great. Just so you know, Rita asked Sam the same question but his answer was different,’ Cally said with a smile.

‘Hardly appropriate, Cally,’ I said. ‘This isn’t Blind Date.’

‘Sorry, you’re probably right. It’s been a long few weeks. I think I need to get some more sleep,’ she said.

‘Cally,’ I said after Noah had left the room. ‘Can I talk to you about Priya?’