“It’s that far? The escape route? And a difficult climb?”

“Yes, but there’s no other option.”

Faye nodded.

“We should both get going, now,” he said. “Will you go back and wait with Clare? Until they get to her?”

“Of course.”

“Please don’t leave her. I’ll make sure someone gets to you. Dear God! Why did I leave her? Thank you, Faye. I don’t know what to say . . . ”

He was pacing, his cap wound into a ball in his hands.

“I’ll get back to her. You go and tell Derek what’s going on. Who knows, perhaps the rangers have arrived on your side?”

“They haven’t.” It was Derek. He hobbled towards Geoffrey. “What’s going on?”

Faye stared at her husband. It had been just two days, but it felt like a lifetime.

“Clare’s injured,” she said. “She needs medical attention urgently.”

“What? What happened? What did you do?”

Geoffrey turned to look at him. “She fell,” he said. “We have to—”

“Fell? Is that her blood?” Derek pointed at Faye’s chest.

“No.”

“Thank God!”

“Yes, thank God,” said Faye, a cold wave of weariness washing over her. She didn’t want to have this conversation or experience the hopelessness she felt when Derek was around. She wanted to get back to Clare. She wanted Geoffrey to go and find help.

Derek put a hand on Geoffrey’s shoulder, leaning on him. “How badly injured is she?”

“Her ribs. Faye’s worried about her breathing . . . thinks she might’ve perforated a lung.” Geoffrey turned back to her. “Listen, Faye, just to confirm that—”

Derek transferred his attention across the river. “Her lungs? Like your mother? But that . . . that’s life-threatening.”

“I’m not sure, Derek. I’m not a doctor. It doesn’t look good. But wait, please.” Faye looked at Geoffrey. “What were you asking, Geoffrey? You must get going. So must I.”

“She’s on the Heuningbos side of the first forest of the trail, right? There’s an open piece of fynbos just before you get there. Is that it? I want to be sure that I pass on the right—”

Derek shook Geoffrey’s shoulder as if to quieten him.

“Tell her . . . ” He leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees now. “Tell her that I—”

Faye ignored Derek and addressed Geoffrey. “Yes. That’s right. The first section of the forest. We’re close to the edge, near the opening. I think a helicopter could land there.”

Derek raised his voice. “Tell her I—”

She looked at her husband. “Sure. I can guess what you’d like to say, Derek. It’s one of several things I’ve learned over the past two days. But not now. I have to get back to her. Good luck, Geoffrey!”

“God, woman! What are you on about?” Derek was shouting now, louder than was necessary across the water. “Just bloody well listen to me!”