Dizziness struck and tried to prize her from the cliff. “Oh no,” she said, “oh no, oh no . . .” Have we really come so far? Below her she could see Beko's head as he worked at a piton, easing it loose with a pick so that they could relay them up to Rhiana when the time came. Past him, an outcropping in the cliff that they had passed barely an hour before. And past that, farther down, deeper into the dusky light that seemed to be the Divide's daytime, the horses and camp they had left behind. Two of the animals had vanished, but the others still lingered around the camp, chewing halfheartedly at the scant vegetation. They looked unbelievably small. If I fell, it would take me a dozen beats to reach them, she thought, and she wondered what would go through her mind as she tumbled past Beko and death welcomed her down.

“Nomi!” Ramin called. The rope before her was taut.

She pressed her forehead against cool stone and took in a few deep, slow breaths.

“Nomi?”

She looked up. Ramin stared down at her, sweat glistening on his bald head. “Taking a breath,” she said.

“Are you all right?”

She nodded.

“Are you sure? Need me to come down?”

And this from the man who just fell, Nomi thought, amazed. “No,” she called. “Wait. I'm coming.” She started climbing again.

Space pulled behind her, seeming to grapple at her clothing, tug her hair, claw into her insides and wrap itself around her organs as it hauled her out and away from the cliff. And the rock before her held a weight as well, keeping her pressed against it and only letting go to allow her to move higher. For now the weight of the rock was winning. If she turned around again, or looked down, she might well upset that balance.

I'm scared of heights, she thought, curling her fingers into a crack and pulling hard. Isn't that just fucking great.

SHE FELT THE day melting away, and the thought of trying to sleep hanging like this was terrible. Nomi could not face that. She called down to Beko and asked him how long they had to go, then she turned and called up to Ramin, asking him the same thing. Their shouted responses sounded flat and distant, as though the rock refused to echo them.

“One more hour!” Ramin shouted down to her. “Rhiana thinks she sees a ledge.”

So they climbed on, and as her heart beat out a rapid time, Nomi became more and more certain that they would be hanging here all night.

She turned and looked down at Beko again. I won't let it beat me, she thought. I can't. That's pathetic.

Beko smiled up at her. “Fantastic view of your arse from down here,” he called.

Nomi laughed out loud. “Oh, I bet it's marvelous.”