“Wait your fucking turn.” A hand circles my wrist as Johan yanks me away from Leanne. He half walks, half marches me towards the door and plunges my hand into the metal bucket I kicked over. There’s barely any water left in the bottom but the relief is immediate.

“Thank you,” I gasp as he crouches beside me. “Thank you.”

His lips part as though he’s about to reply, but then he shakes his head and looks away, his hand still gripping my wrist.

“Ladies, gents!” Isaac rises to his feet. “Now the town drunk is receiving medical attention, I thought I might say a few words.

“Abigail, Lesley, Caroline and Jake, I can only apologise for the meagre meals we’ve served you today. We might have the best chef in the whole of the Annapurna range” – he nods towards Raj, and Kane gives a solitary clap – “but he can’t work miracles when we’re running low on food. Not to worry, though, because we’re going on a Pokhara run tomorrow. I say we, but I actually mean Gabe and Al.”

The new girls cheer drunkenly, totally oblivious to the concerned looks being passed between the established members of Ekanta Yatra.

“Any questions?” Isaac asks, his arms crossed over his chest, daring someone, anyone, to ask the obvious question about Gabe and Al’s safety. When no one speaks up, Isaac sits back down and Daisy leans in to him and kisses him hard on the mouth. A second later, the drumming, singing and chatter resumes and Johan stands up, tugging me onto my feet. The instant my hand leaves the water, my palm pulses with pain.

“So you’d do anything for Ekanta Yatra, would you, Emma?”

He pulls me away from the group, towards one of the smaller firepits that light the steps down to the garden.

“Please.” I try to dig my heels into the soft earth, but he’s too strong. “Please, don’t make me put my hand in the fire again. Please, Johan. Please.”

He reaches into the back pocket of his shorts and hands something to me. “It’s Al’s passport. Throw it into the fire, Emma.”

I look at the small, maroon book in my good hand. Al’s passport isn’t just her way out of the country. It’s proof of who she is. Without it, they could dispose of her as easily as they disposed of Ruth.

“Do it, Emma.”

I look past the patio to the gate. Without the key, my only way of escaping is to go over it. There’s a broken ladder patching up the goat enclosure. If I could find a way to untie it, it might still be useable.

“Now!”

I was going to take Al with me, but then I found my tablets in her backpack. Why would she do that? I thought I could trust her, but then I thought I could trust Daisy, too.