Brent looks thoughtful for a moment, then he smiles a sad smile. And calls over his shoulder: “I could show you where Saskia is.”

What’s he playing at? The glacier moves at a rate of about a hundred meters a year—I know because I looked it up.

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Odette shouts. “It’s been ten years. The crevasse won’t be there anymore.”

But I detect a grain of doubt.

“How do you know?” Brent shouts.

“What are you doing?” I whisper.

He ignores me and points up the slope. “It’s up there.”

“Shut up!” she shouts.

“Her final resting place,” Brent says. “Don’t you want to see it?”

Odette stops and considers. “Okay. Show me.”

We change direction. We’re heading up toward where we built our jump yesterday.

I still don’t know what Brent’s planning and it’s making me very nervous.

Brent grips my hand. Lowers his voice. “I’m going to make a break for it. Lead her up there away from you. It’s me she wants. I started this. You two have your boots on. Leg it back to the building and get your boards.”

“No, Brent.”

He squeezes my gloved fingers. “I’m fast. She won’t see me.”

Except he’ll be running in the wrong direction up a crevasse-riddled glacier in skate shoes. And to get down, he’ll have to get past her.

“Please don’t do this,” I say.

But he’s looking up the slope, preparing to run.

I could go after him. But that would mean leaving Curtis.

“I’m giving you a chance, Mills. Don’t waste it.” Brent tugs his hand from mine.

And I let him.

CHAPTER 63

PRESENT DAY

I pretend to trip and throw myself to the snow. My groan isn’t feigned. My poor knee. I think I just tore it some more.

“Get up,” Odette says sharply.

Over my shoulder I see her pointing the rifle at me. Brent’s giving me a chance and I’m returning the favor. Giving him a few precious seconds’ head start.

He’ll need it.

“Now!” she shouts.

It’s working. She hasn’t noticed Brent’s departure. I picture him running through the whiteout in long strides.

“I don’t think I can,” I say.

“I will shoot your knee.”

I clutch my leg, willing him onward. “I can’t walk anymore. It hurts.” A couple more seconds; that’s all I can give him.

“Hey!” She’s realized Brent is gone.

I hold my breath as she makes her decision. Will she shoot us, then go after him?