Mia uses the blade to cut a length of rope. She wraps it around Deke’s hands and wrists and ties it, not too tight and not too loose.

“I thought you were letting me go,” he protests.

“We’re bringing you with us. You’ll hike with us, drink with us, eat with us, rest with us. Share whatever danger we might run into. But the ropes stay until you show you can be trusted.”

“Ropes?”

Mia cuts away the rope that holds him to the tree, but leaves a length around his waist. There’s an extra ten feet or so. She hands it to me.

“Your new job, Daniel. Keep hold of the rope. If he tries to run, or attack any of us, trip him up.”

Deke doesn’t look happy about his new situation. “I’m not going to do any of those things. I gave my word.”

Mia looks at me and Imani. “Should we tell him?”

I shrug. Why not? Imani nods her okay.

“We made a pact, the three of us. A friends-forever pact. We call ourselves the Dream Team because we like the sound of it. Also because that was the name of an Olympic basketball team. Imani’s dad is a big fan and that’s what gave her the idea. It means we’ve got each other’s backs, no matter what.”

Deke has this look, very still, almost blank. Like he doesn’t want anybody to know what he’s thinking. “I get it,” he says. “Friends forever. The Dream Team. That’s cool.”

Is he sneering at us, or is he envious? Impossible to tell.

We pack away the tarp and prepare to go, even though the sun will be setting soon enough. Like staying near the scene of the accident would be bad luck, or make us feel spooky about the body in the ravine. Better to hike in the rain for a while, and put a few miles between us.

When Imani suggests we get moving, Deke tugs on his rope.

“Let me near the edge. There’s something I want to say.”

Mia shrugs, Why not? but gives me a look that says, Be careful.

I stop Deke a few feet from the edge. Last thing we need is another accident. He looks down at the mound of stones covering the body. He places his roped-up hands over his heart, and with a strong voice shouts, “Sorry, Tony! Sorry! Sorry! I’m so sorry! I should have protected you!”

He turns away from the cliff, shaking his head. The sadness in his eyes looks real to me.

“Wait,” Mia says. “He’s right. We need to say a few words.”

We gather at the edge, although not as close as Deke went.

“What do we say?” It makes me feel stupid having to ask, but I’ve never been to a funeral.