‘Too darn many,’ Holt said, shaking his head. ‘It’s impossible.’

‘It might be. But I’ve done impossible things before, and I’m still here.’

‘Whatever you say, man,’ Holt muttered. He seemed about to go trudging off to join the others, then paused and looked as though there was something he wanted to say but was hesitant to come out with it. ‘Hey, you know, thanks. We couldn’t have done this without you, I guess.’

‘It’s you these kids have to thank, Chris,’ Ben said. ‘This whole thing was your idea.’

Holt nodded. ‘I … I had a daughter once, you know?’

Ben nodded and said nothing, sensing what was coming.

‘She died,’ Holt said. ‘I … always …’ But it was too painful for him to continue. He blinked and shook his head.

‘What was her name?’ Ben asked softly.

‘Mary-Ann. She was everything to Sue and me.’

‘I’m sure she was,’ Ben said. ‘I’m sorry, Chris.’

Holt looked deeply embarrassed. ‘Just wanted to say, that’s all,’ he mumbled, and walked off.

Alone again, Ben spent a few moments scanning the horizon. Still nothing. Then he headed back to the cool shadows of the cave, where he found Madison consoling little Gulnaz. The child was weeping bitterly in her arms.

Ben asked, ‘What’s the matter with her? Is she unwell? Still hungry?’

‘No, she’s eaten like a horse and she’s fine. But she’s still heartbroken about Vida. One of the older girls told her we might have to leave here soon, and she can’t bear the thought of leaving her behind.’

‘Her doll?’

Madison nodded. ‘Francine told me that the doll was the last present her mother gave the poor kid before she died. They’ve been inseparable ever since, and losing Vida is like losing her mom all over again. Some of the older girls went back down to the ruins to search for her, but they haven’t been able to find her.’

‘It’s a shame,’ Ben said. He remembered a time when all his family had had left of his lost sister was her favourite teddy bear. His mother hadn’t let go of that tear-soaked bear for years afterwards.

‘Can’t we go back and try?’ Madison asked. ‘One last time?’

‘I don’t know, Madison. It might not be a prudent thing to do, under the circumstances. The doll could be anywhere, buried under a ton of rubble and wreckage.’

‘But look at her, Ben,’ Madison said, tenderly stroking the little girl’s back as she pressed her face into her shoulder, racked with tears. ‘Did you ever see a poor little kid so miserable? You’ve been hacking up and down that hillside all day. What’s one more trip? Just think how happy she’d be, if she could have her Vida back.’