Employing an inhomogeneous solvable lattice model, we derive an exact expression for a boundary-to-boundary current on a lattice of finite width. This current is an example of a class of parafermionic observables recently introduced in an attempt to rigorously prove conformal invariance of the scaling limit of critical two-dimensional lattice models. It also corresponds to the spin current at the spin quantum Hall transition in a model introduced by Chalker and Coddington, and generalized by Gruzberg, Ludwig and Read. Our result is derived from a solution of the q-deformed Knizhnik–Zamolodchikov equation, and is expressed in terms of a symplectic Toda-lattice wave-function.