“It’s nearly night time,” Kenny said. I don’t know if he was thinking about me here by the river or him being chased by the gytrash with its red eyes.

“Just stay by the river. It’ll take you straight to the road. And, Kenny …”

“Yeah?”

“You’ve got to go now. I’m hurt … my legs are all ruined.”

Normally, Kenny didn’t do hugs any more. When we were younger, he would hug anyone. But someone at his school must have told him hugging was for babies, so he stopped. But he knelt down next to me now and tried to give me an awkward hug. I kissed the top of his head. I don’t know why.

And then Kenny began to climb back up the side of the gorge. It looked easy at first, because there were broken rocks for him to scramble up. And then he slowed, and I heard his grunts of effort. Dirt and pebbles skittered down.

“Careful, Kenny,” I shouted, and the shout hurt like fire.

I saw Kenny leaning backwards in the gloom, and I guessed the rock must overhang there. I saw his legs kicking at nothing, moving in mid‑air. And then he fell back again. It was only two or three metres up, not even halfway to the top, but he grunted with pain when he landed.

“Kenny, Kenny, you OK?”

“Yeah,” he said, and got straight back up. “Try again.”

This time he slithered down before he even reached the overhang.

He didn’t pause, but tried once more, inching his way up. He made it to the overhang, but it was no good – only a professional climber could have got past it. Kenny was stuck, and I felt nothing but relief when he managed to scramble down again.

“Can’t do it, our Nicky,” Kenny said, no emotion in his voice.

I tried to get my head straight so I could think properly. But it was hard. My mind was all over the shop. Drifting forwards and backwards. And then I saw Kenny looking at me, calmly waiting for me to think of something.

Right, focus.

He could go back along the stream, to where the banks were less deep and easier to climb up. But back that way the river went right up to the rock walls of the gorge, without any flat bank. Kenny would have to wade in the icy water, and I didn’t know how long for. We were both already frozen to the bone. Getting soaked might … Well, I didn’t want to think about it.

The other way, downstream towards the road, looked easier. The water flowed even faster, but there was a dry bit of bank in between the stream and the wall of the gorge, and rocks you could scramble over. If that carried on for a while, there was a chance Kenny might make it to a place where he could climb up.