On the river (part 2)

Yesterday I shared the first part of a short story and here is a link to it: https://loiselsden.com/2026/09/18/on-the-river/

Here is the second and final part – it is, by the way a complete fiction:

Another view from the bridge, part 2:

I stopped, Marion stood as if frozen, her friend screamed.
I was ready to sit and slide into the water to swim to the little girl if she needed help – but all there was on the surface was a trail of bubbles.
“What have you done, you idiot!” I yelled at Marion.
“It wasn’t my fault!” she shrieked.
I didn’t dispute it, I made a shallow dive against the current, engulfed by the familiar smell and the feel of the cloudy water. I dived again, under the surface and even though the water was so full of sediment I could see the girl threshing around.
It took seconds to grab her and get her to the surface – all the practice we’d had,  life-saving in the chlorinated pool at the club, now made the rescue easy and I stood up, my feet sinking into the gungy mud, waterweed wrapping around my legs, and the girl in my arms.
I’d done this dozens of times in clean water, rehearsing time after time for this moment. She was coughing and crying and she was sick over my shoulder, but she was safe and I waded ashore.
A man with a bike had stopped and was talking to Marion, asking her what had happened, asking if the young girl had fallen in.
“She pushed her in!” Marion shouted pointing at me, her face white with shock. “She pushed her in!”
I put the girl down on the muddy grass and with difficulty clambered out up the bank.
“You pushed her, Marion, you pushed her. I was on the bridge and I saw you!” I shouted back, spitting river water.
“No I didn’t! You did, didn’t she Patsy?” she turned to her friend who looked dumbstruck. “You saw her do it, didn’t you Patsy!”
I was wiping the little girl’s hair from her face with my hand and the sick from her mouth with the end of my wet shirt. I was concentrating on her, I’d deal with Marion as soon as the girl was calm.
The man was useless.
“Well, if you’re all alright, I’ll be on my way,” he said and  pushed off and hurriedly cycled away without a backwards glance.
“We know what happened, don’t we Patsy! Don’t we, Patsy!” Marion hissed in the threatening way I was so familiar with. Patsy nodded, plainly scared half out of her wits.
Marion bent over the girl “I didn’t do anything, did I Veronica? I didn’t do anything – she did, then she jumped in and pretended to rescue you!”
The girl was still sobbing but I could see that although she’d had a horrible shock, she’d spewed up the water she’d swallowed.
“I’m going to tell the police on you, Nicky!” Marion shouted. “You saw us walking along here and you ran down and pushed her in, didn’t she Patsy! Two on one – they’ll believe me! She pushed you in, didn’t she, Veronica, she did!”
“You did it, Nicky!” Patsy stuttered, looking terrified – it was dangerous being Marion’s friend.
“What the hell are you up to!” There was a bellow from behind us and we all jumped.
An old man was marching towards us along the tow path, furious. He was wearing an old green coat and had a hat pushed down on his head, his red face glaring out from under it.
“Is she all right?” he barked at me, waving his hand at Veronica, still sitting on the bank, still crying.”
“I think so,” I stuttered, “She was sick when I was bringing her in but she seems ok now.”
“You!” he shouted again, pointing at Marion. “You girl what’s your name, and don’t lie to me!
Marion’s face was white, she looked shocked and frightened. Suddenly, unexpectedly, she turned and ran away – yes, ran away back along the tow path.
The old man turned to me, his eyebrows bristling.
“And you, what’s your name,” he snapped fiercely but at least he didn’t shout.
“Nicola, sir,” I replied.
“Let’s get this child back along the towpath to the lock keeper’s cottage. His wife can look after the child, and I believe he has a telephone and we can call the police. You girls, hold the child’s hand and come with me.”
We trooped along after him, me and the little girl squelching along, Patsy sobbing non-stop.
“Well done, girl,” the fierce man said. “Well done, you saved her life, I saw exactly what happened!”
“Thank you, sir” I replied
It had been a horrible experience, but I don’t think I’ll have any more problems with Marion.