But after they had walked more than ten kilometers, some merchant caravans turned back, approaching them dejectedly. "Yesterday's heavy rain destroyed the bridge," they said. "We won't be able to cross for quite some time."
The essential route to the city of Potsdam was bisected by a large river named the Reverse Lock River. The river was wide, and its current usually gentle. However, when the rainy season brought heavy thunderstorms, the water level would surge dramatically. A wooden bridge, the only one nearby leading to the other bank, had been swept away the previous night.
"Who knows how many months it'll take if we expect those royals to fix the bridge. We should return to the cave to settle down first, then look for a boat to cross the river," the merchants planned.
