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Back Time for the Dead
Chapters (94)
  1. Cover
  2. Time for the Dead
  3. Dedication page
  4. Map
  5. Epigraph page
  6. Prologue
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. 81
  88. 82
  89. 83
  90. 84
  91. Epilogue
  92. Acknowledgements
  93. About the Author
  94. By Lin Anderson

A sudden flashback of that smothering green prison brought the same taste to her mouth as before. Rhona coughed and, spitting out her fear, replaced it with a deep breath, then marshalled herself to enter. Recall told her it was a ten-minute walk to the girl’s camp in the clearing. I can manage that if I move swiftly and focus only on the path.

At this point, Blaze came running back as though he had sensed or scented her rising anxiety.

‘Thank you,’ Rhona said, ruffling his head in relief.

Blaze gave a little whine and, staying in front of her on the narrow track, checked back periodically to make sure she was still with him. Minutes later they were through and stepping into the clearing that held the campground.

The tent, Rhona was relieved to see, was still there, zipped up, and she now registered why the location had been chosen in the first place. It was certainly secluded, given that the few walkers making for the trig point would use the clearly marked path that led up directly from the turning circle.

It was sheltered, the cold wind that had harassed her as she’d climbed unnoticeable here. To the east was a small stream for fresh water. A place had been marked out for cooking, but there was no evidence of a fire having been lit, so presumably Seven had been using a gas stove.

One thing she hadn’t noted on her first visit, focused as she had been on the girl, were the probable marks of other tents, at least three of them. Suggesting the likelihood that the others had also camped at that spot at some time.

As she took this in, Blaze remained beside her, apparently awaiting instructions, his lack of agitation suggesting the girl wasn’t in the vicinity. Rhona tried anyway.

Her call of ‘Seven, are you there?’ brought forth a couple of startled ravens to rise from the treetops, cawing their escape, but no human response.

As her second attempt faded and died, Rhona approached the tent.

Entering would be an intrusion, but one she deemed necessary. The dog too had begun snuffling and whining, pawing the ground at the entrance. If Blaze was interested in what was in there, then she should be too, Rhona told herself as she reached for the zip.

41

Ordering the dog to stay, Rhona unzipped the tent flap and crawled inside.

In here the dimness of the winter light was exacerbated, and she put on her torch to view the contents more clearly. A winter sleeping bag was rolled at the back, with a few items of clothing folded nearby including a pair of trainers, with a single soiled anklet sock lying next to them. Hanging above all this was a drawstring bag.