“It might be that we find random things in a random order,” said the sheriff. “And, of course, it might be that we find something else we hadn’t planned for. It might not be a bomb at all.”

The candle’s flame flickered and Peter’s imagination started to wander. “But what?”

“We won’t know until we start searching now, will we?”

Peter looked back towards the front window where Teddy was standing and gazed through the snowy pines to the lake below. “The tree houses were built after.”

“After the original community of Returnees, you mean?”

“Yes. My dad helped build those when we arrived.”

“I see, son. So, we need only concern ourselves with the rest.”

Peter nodded. “I guess I’ll make a start in the bedroom.”

“I’ll get a fire going. Then if Teddy takes the kitchen, I’ll make a start in here.”

“OK.”

“And,” said the sheriff, removing his trapper hat and waggling it in Peter’s direction, “if you find anything, call me.”

“I will.”

“Don’t touch it.”

“I won’t.”

“In case it’s dangerous, I mean.”

“I understand.”

The sheriff smiled. “Course you do. Sorry, I’m just bein’…”

Peter presumed the sheriff meant to finish off by saying protective. But his sentence tailed off. Instead, he held back a moment as if to communicate his concern for Peter and how difficult this was going to be for him. Peter felt tears well from deep inside him. They were close to finding out the truth now. He could feel it. But he didn’t want the sheriff’s sympathy. He didn’t want anybody’s sympathy.

The three of them split off into their separate searches. And as the clatter of drawers opening and closing again was followed by the screech of chairs scraping back across the floorboards, Peter entered the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

“Rider,” he whispered. “What have you done?”

That day out in the woods, Rider had saved his life. He’d watched the Bearskin leave Peter at the foot of the falls to die at the hands of the Dead and Rider had rescued him. Until now, Peter had always been so sure that the reason he’d helped him rescue Cooper was because he’d witnessed the possibility of love again, in them, when his wife had rejected him the moment he’d turned. But what if it was never that at all? What if Cooper was only ever the Returnee Rider could finally share his plans with?