Soon another path cuts straight across mine. It’s the safety road, partially paved in some places, gravel in most others, built to allow vehicles to ascend at least part of the slope. To my left the safety road runs back down the mountain; to the right it plunges into the trees where it will eventually turn uphill and run parallel to the walking path. As I look that way, someone in a red shirt slips behind a tree. I stop and try to peer into the fog.

My phone rings and I almost jump. “Hello?” I answer.

“Hanging in there?” Finn asks. “How’s your heart rate?”

“I’m just fine. Let me talk to Tane.”

“That’s cute. And no. Keep walking.” A click and he’s gone.

I slip my phone back into my jacket pocket and bend to touch my toes. “Frankie,” I murmur, “are you on the safety road?”

“The what?” Frankie says in my ear.

“It crosses the main path. What are you wearing?”

“A red T-shirt and jeans. Just went behind a tree to take a leak.”

“Try to keep up.” I stand, put my hands at the small of my back and stretch, then continue climbing.

Up ahead the walking path seems to peter out into a thin screen of trees. A few steps further and the fog recedes enough to show me the path is still there, but the trees are encroaching upon it, a few even growing right up in the middle of the rocks. The path is more uneven here, like rough-hewn steps carved into the hillside. A group of people all wearing identical blue T-shirts reading Christ Is King walk downhill through the trees, helping each other over the rocks. Visibility drops to maybe twenty feet, with few clear lines of sight unbroken by a tree trunk. Even if the drone is still flying, there’s no way it can see me clearly. “Caesar, you on my six?” I say.

“Maybe a hundred yards behind you,” he says.

“Frankie?”

“I’m on the safe road or whatever it’s called. If Finn’s up here, he might be using this like a back route.”

“He’s up here,” I say. “Keep your eyes peeled for the drone. Ethan?”

“Still driving around the mountain. Uncle Gavin’s getting loads of pictures. You see anything yet?”

“Just a lot of rocks and trees. I’ll keep you posted.”

I climb on.