The blade of the saw had glinted in the moonlight. That blade had sawn through its last tree trunk but it had gleamed for me. By now the moon had gone. Stars had escorted it away. Instead sirius shed its white light over moor and marsh. There was nothing to fear. I might well freeze to death out here but it was a gentle death unlike drowning.

Thinking seemed set on a delay function. I looked at the map without seeing it. Walking was all I could do.

I can’t keep going anymore I said to the dwarf pines. I’m freezing to death you see.

No way they told me. Just carry on. Soon you will be in the old forest. The trees there have lived for hundreds of years. They know things. More than enough to help a wee lass to get home.

Home. Was I going homewards. Then this was the wrong direction. The arms of the trees were at my back pushing me forward but they did allow me a little rest against a trunk.

I used up the last seconds of battery power to phone john.

I’m getting lost I said. Find me. 227

A little later or if it was a long time later I glimpsed him between the trees. I had sat down under a fir as children do when they get lost in the forest. He made me stand and I tried to walk but my legs wouldn’t obey.

You have to he said. He took off his hellyhansen and pulled it on me. It was like a dress and helped a little. He walked behind me and supported me until we reached a hill. All we must do now is get up here and then we will be there.

Now I understood why we had never hunted here. The shallowest part of this one was as steep as the steepest rockface of afta hill.

Let’s wait here for a bit I said. I must rest.

You’ll just get cold again he said. Not far now. Focus on the fir seedlings they’ll give you handholds. I’ll be right behind you.

Step by step. Heaving with my last strength I tipped myself over the rock edge and lay there in the moist scented greymoss. Before john got up I had a few seconds to catch my breath.

Can you walk a little he asked and I said yes. When I tried to stand my legs went on strike again. They were trembling and folding under me. He crouched and told me to cling to his back. That way we crossed the last stretch and reached a cottage. Timberclad as it was it was hard to spot between the fir trees. Only thin trails of smoke from its chimney revealed that it was there.