They cut down two sapling trees and strung jackets between them and made a stretcher to carry Vicky, threading the wood through the sleeves. David had been thinking again about all those they’d lost along the way. ‘Did you know Gary used to be a marathon runner?’
‘What, our Gary with the dodgy knees and ankles?’ Sam said. ‘I don’t believe it.’
‘It’s true. When things were getting really shitty, he’d tell me all these running anecdotes to make things seem better.’
‘And did it work?’
‘Sometimes, I guess. Passed the time.’
‘Have you got a nugget of Gary’s wisdom to share with us now then, Dave?’
He shrugged. ‘Maybe. He used to say that no matter how knackered you were, how hard you’d run, when the finish line comes into view, you’ll always somehow find your second wind. All I’m saying i
