Reminds me that we’re on the edge. The edge of the ravine wall and the edge of life. Break an ankle and it’s all over. I decide if something like that happens to me, if I get injured, I’ll tell the girls to go on without me. Send back a rescue crew when you get there. I’ll be fine. I won’t be, but that’s what I’ll tell them.

The top, when we get there, is heavily wooded. A forest of tall pine trees. The floor of the forest is thick with fresh-smelling pine needles.

“Let’s take a breather,” I suggest.

Mia is dropping the backpack to the ground, when a screaming attack explodes from behind the trees.

“DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!”

The enemy is upon us.

29. All the Way Down

Deke charges like a linebacker attacking a dummy. And I’m the dummy, slammed to the ground so hard it knocks the wind out of me. Before I can react, he has me pinned. I’m not strong enough to break free and can only watch as Tony pushes Mia down and snatches up the backpack.

“I got it! I got it!” he shouts gleefully.

From out of nowhere, Imani swarms Deke, jumping on his back. Her eyes are fierce.

“Let him go, you big bully! Let him go!”

Deke shakes her off and leers at me. “I never knew she cared! Is she your little girlfriend, Daniel? K-i-s-s-i-n-g?”

Imani says, “You are such a jerk! We left food for you! Doesn’t that count for anything?”

Deke laughs, very pleased with himself. “That was fine while it lasted, but now we’re hungry again. You had your chance. It’s my turn, and by the law of the jungle, I take what I want.”

“Law of the jungle?” She’s scornful.

“It means survival of the fittest. The strongest survive. And that’s me.”

Mia shouts, “Tony, don’t! You’re too close! Get back!”

She’s worried because Tony is prancing along the edge of the cliff, dangerously close. He swings the backpack back and forth, back and forth. “Deke! Deke! Look at me!”

He twirls around, like the pack is a hammer he’s about to toss. Then, so quick I almost don’t see it happen, his feet slip on the pine needles. As he loses his balance, he drops the pack, and tries to regain his footing, but it’s too late.

Tony falls over the edge. He screams all the way down.

30. Say Hello to Deacon Bailey

After the scream, there’s nothing but silence, terrible silence. We’re shocked into silence, too, because something too awful to think about has happened. That scream, it changes the world. It changes everything.