Jackson On the Banks of the River Styx — 1985 Meeting Across the Water

Jackson waits on the banks of a cold dark river. He sees a dim light that seems to beckon with ever increasing circles of light.

In the boat, a tall dark figure holds out a skeletal hand clothed by a transparent glove of dark flesh. Without even thinking, Jackson reaches into his pocket. To his surprise, a silver and gold coin is inside. He has forgotten it was there. It is hot in his lifeless hand. It falls into the ferryman’s palm, slipping beneath his translucent skin like a sunset.

When Jackson steps onto the boat, it doesn’t even ripple. As the ferryman polls his way into the endless dark, Jackson hears Jim laughing. He is smiling before he even reaches the shore.