I sat down and lay back against the wall of the runnel, using my hood to pillow my head. The slight warmth of the sun on my face was very pleasant, as was the heat Darga gave off when he lay down alongside me. Then Maruman climbed into my lap and curled to sleep and a feeling of simplicity and contentment overswept me, despite the fact that our supplies were with Gahltha, we had no blanket, no food nor any means of making a fire. In truth we had been fortunate that it had rained, for we had been able to drink rainwater that had pooled in depressions in the rocks, and refill the single gourd I carried. I doubted we would find any water until we got into the cirque and I could only hope the lake water was drinkable. It was hard to believe I had been so careless as to forget to take my pack when Maruman had dismissed Gahltha before we entered the wolves’ territory. That I had done so seemed to tell me something important about myself, for on past expeditions I had always been meticulous about such things.

Once we got into the valley, I resolved to use the time we spent waiting for the wolves to gather some fodder for Gahltha and to amass another small supply of wood. It would not last long and it would make riding on Gahltha’s back awkward, but on expeditions I had always made a point of taking what the trail offered, no matter how meagre. I would also bathe and wash my hair if the lake was clean, and light a fire to cook a proper meal. I might even manage to get my coat and boots completely dry, whereupon I could apply some more of the waterproofing oil.

I was beginning to feel sleepy, so I stretched out, glad it was not freezing cold. Maruman curled up on my belly without waking, sinking in his claws a little. The slight discomfort made me feel tender towards him. Overhead, the sky was now clear save for a few unravelling grey skeins of cloud, and I marvelled at the incongruity of thinking about clouds and the prick of Maruman’s claws when I was engaged in a quest to find an ancient Beforetime machine that had the capacity to end all life in the world. But how could anyone think about such a task constantly without being crushed by the weight of it?