REICHENBACH FALLS

 The story of Sherlock Holmes and Reichenbach Falls is known the world over, even by people who never read the books. Here's (above) the Swiss hotel, The Englischer Hof, where Sherlock and Watson were summoned for a meeting at the Falls by Moriarty.

"Surely you're not going to do it," said Watson, "It's a trap!" But Sherlock did indeed intend to do it. It was the only way to confront Moriarty face to face.

 Early the next day: was this train operational in Sherlock's time? If so he and Watson surely would have taken it to the top.

It was early in the morning and only one tourist boarded the trolley with them.

Up and up and up.

After reaching the station near the top a hike was still required to get to the falls. Mist filled the air and sunlight was only beginning to penetrate the dark forest.

 A lady cycled past them and disappeared around the bend. 

After a bit a messenger boy from the hotel caught up with them. The note was for Watson. It seems that a woman collapsed at the hotel and was near death. Watson was the nearest doctor. Would he kindly return to the hotel and see what he could do for her?

"But the note is a pretext," said Watson. "I won't leave you Holmes, to plunge to your death!"

"A laudible sentiment, Watson, but you will assist me best if you do exactly as I say.  Simply head back to the point where we passed the woman on a bicycle, wait an additional quarter of an hour, and return back to here. Please, do as I ask." Watson reluctantly did.

 After the time elapsed Watson ran to the falls...only there was no one there; not Holmes, not Moriarty, not even the woman they'd seen earlier.

The ledge was the only way in or out, and it was empty. 

Watson looked up. The icy green water, fed by melting snow, flowed with murderous rapidity...

...and plunged into a great, bottomless chasm of black rock. Spray shot up and the shriek made by the plunging water was like a human cry. No one could survive a fall into that.

A letter wedged conspicuously between two rocks told the story: Moriarty had indeed been waiting for Sherlock with the intention of killing him. Both put aside their pistols for fear of alerting hikers and Moriarty allowed Sherlock to write a quick farewell to Watson before the two squared off for final combat. Both men believed they could overwhelm the other.

Sherlock's final sentense said it all: "Watson, putting an end to the very Napoleon of crime would easily be worth the price of my own life."

And so it happened.

That is, until three years later when...But I won't spoil it for those who haven't read the story.