All at once, people started to stir inside the plane. Alice awoke and sat up as Shen and Barney came around the corner.

Alice said, “Morning. Is it late?”

“No, only just light.” He saw her glance in Jess’s direction. “She’s fine. She’s just saying good-bye.”

Alice shook her head, apparently left speechless by the enormity of what Jess was going through, but then she sighed and said, “I need to pee.” She got up, exchanged greetings with Shen and Barney, and walked to the plane.

Somehow, Shen had managed to save and rearrange the food in such a way that there was something to cook and they all ate breakfast. The mood was better as they sat there eating too, a nervous energy but upbeat, perhaps because they knew there would be something to do today, and they would be heading somewhere, even if no one was sure where exactly.

The preparations for leaving took about an hour. Joel was in charge, making sure everyone had the right things in their backpacks, though he still needed key reminders from Alice—that waterproof gear shouldn’t be left behind, that people should be wearing their boots rather than carrying them.

Joel also didn’t seem to notice that there was a separate organization going on, as Shen and Barney worked methodically through the camp, taking down the mosquito netting, stowing key supplies in certain people’s backpacks, trusting only Alice and George with the alcohol and first aid equipment, but distributing the food and drink items across the group.

Tom had been rooting around in his backpack that morning, for what he imagined might be his last change of clothes before they reached civilization, and hadn’t noticed anything.

But Shen took him to one side as the group were getting themselves together and said, “There are a couple of lighters in the side pouch, and one of the knives. Barney’s got the other one. Both flare guns and spare flares are under your clothes. Me and Barney have got some of the first aid supplies, the rest of it’s with Alice and George, so is the alcohol. The boats have equipment stowed with them.”

Tom nodded, but could see that Shen wanted more, some sort of approval, so he said, “I keep telling you, I’m not the leader. But I won’t let you down.”

“I know it.” He smiled. “If I didn’t, I would have kept one of the flare guns for myself.”

Tom laughed, but it was cut short by Joel’s voice rising up, saying, “Okay, it’ll take four people to carry the cases with the two boats in. We’ll take it in turns, but how about George and Chris, Sandeep and Nick for the first section?” It wasn’t a question, and they all nodded. “Now, we need to look at a route. Shen, you said the river’s over there, right?”