I followed Daniel, of course, out of the cabin and down a short distance over exposed granite. He’d found some trail markings, and he was looking for more, walking in their direction as they appeared.
Maybe it was the hot lemonade, maybe it was Daniel’s look of chagrin; whatever, I felt a surge of energy. It was small, but it was noticeable. I took the orange from my anorak pocket and stuffed the socks in. I peeled the fruit, dropping bits as I walked. At one point I turned, and my eyes followed the brilliant spots of orange peel back toward the cabin. The bits that had landed on the pure white snow stood out like beacons. Behind and to the left of the cabin was the summit. I stared at it.
"How unfair," I said quietly to the mountain, "that I have suffered so much here without ever getti
