Page 57

‘I have to find a rock. I need to go.’ Her words were ragged as she fought for breath.

‘Only a couple more minutes. Come on.’ Graysen gripped her hand firmly and pulled her along. ‘We’re almost there. We’re safe now.’

His words reassured her slightly and she focused on the landscape around them, and away from her threatening anxiety. One of the things Sandra had had to fight when she was recovering, was not focusing on Peter’s fear and distress when he had known he was going to die. The counsellor had taught her to focus on physical objects and she did that now.

‘Stop it. Look at the trees. Look at the sky,’ she muttered to herself. The stubby trees were covered with fluffy yellow balls of flowers and a couple of tiny birds chirped as they flitted in and out of the bush. Sunlight glinted on a small pool of water ahead of them, and the tight pressure on Sandra’s chest began to ease. Her thoughts moved from her immediate fear, and she began to wonder what was happening up at the ridge, worrying about the safety of the others.

Finally, they turned into a narrow gorge, and Graysen stopped. He let go of her hand and bent over dragging in deep breaths. Sandra leaned against the rock wall behind them and closed her eyes. The pressure on her bladder had eased and her hands had stopped tingling. After a moment she opened her eyes and tipped her head back as she inhaled and exhaled evenly. Above, the sky was clear, and a single bird was riding the thermals above the top of the cliff.

Finally, she faced Graysen as he straightened.

‘There’s a break in the cliff over there that’s private. Keep an eye out for snakes.’

‘The urgency has passed,’ she said. ‘I can wait a while. It was more fear than anything.’ She pushed herself away from the wall and walked over to him. Her legs were still shaking, but she’d managed to overcome the panic.

Graysen rubbed his face as Sandra stood beside him. When he looked at her, his expression scared her.

‘What did you see?’ she whispered. ‘Tell me, please.’

His mouth was set as he stared at her, obviously weighing up his words.

‘Please tell me the truth. I know it must be bad for you to feel as though we had to hide. What did you see?’

‘I worry about you, Sandy. It wasn’t a good thing. I don’t want you to be upset. ‘

‘It’s too late for that, Graysen. I saw your face, and I heard your cry. I’m not going to lose it. I’ll be more worried if you don’t tell me what happened. You said Zed had a gun, are you sure? It wasn’t his walking poles?’

Graysen reached out and his arms went around her. He held her close before he spoke; her head rested on his shoulder. His heart was still racing; she could feel his pulse against her cheek.

Slowly Graysen moved back, but kept his arms around her. His eyes were bleak as he held hers. ‘It was a rifle. He was up higher on the ridge, out of sight of anyone on the track.’

‘What was he doing?’ she whispered.

‘I followed his line of sight. He lifted the rifle and was looking through the scope so I knew he wasn’t looking at me. Miska was right on the edge of the path and she was behind Maggie. Maggie had her arm out pointing at something.’ His arms tightened around her. ‘If it hadn’t been for the rifle pointing at them, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but Miska lifted her hand high and then stepped back. Then there was a small crack, and Maggie fell. Miska lunged forward and pushed her.

Sandra gasped. ‘Zed shot Maggie?’

‘And then Miska pushed her over the cliff.’

‘Why? Why would they do that?’

‘I think they might have done more than that over the past couple of hours. Not being able to see any of the others, and Paul and Cecily and P.D. disappearing, makes me worry for our safety.’

‘I don’t understand. Why would they do that? How could they? Surely not,’ Sandra said. ‘They must be mad!’

‘No, I think that’s the reason they’re on the trek. He was here to kill someone, and if I’m right he’s getting rid of all of the witnesses.’

‘He can’t do that.’

‘I’m afraid he did. Maggie’s dead.’

‘Maybe she’s not. Maybe she’s just hurt at the bottom of the cliff. We should go back and try and help her, Graysen.’

Graysen tensed and shook his head. ‘No, Sandra. She’s dead. Whoever or whatever Zed—and Miska—are, they are professionals. It was a head shot. Maggie had no chance at all. We need to be extremely careful, but we need to try and find the others. Maybe they need help.’

Chapter 18

Heading east