“This is one of three routes that lead up to the sacred place at the summit. Like the valley behind, it is known only to the current leader of the hunt, though not to Moba who unjustly holds that title. If we stay back from the edge we will be invisible from below, and the smoke from our fire should be dismissed amid the other exhalations of the volcano. Also the birds will raise a commotion at any approach, allowing us to slip back into the caves and away if we are threatened again. Here we will make our new home. Come, slave, let us get settled in.”
In short order we have the hammock strung, the waterskin hung and a fire pit formed close by that stream. With no handy supply of coal we are forced to forage up and down the path to accumulate a large pile of firewood. Left unspoken is how
