The weather grew steadily colder as Ben and the others climbed higher into the mountains. The trees thinned out as well, and they walked through thick forest at first, then into more spacious woods, and then it was mostly clear with occasional groves. Benayeem missed the cover of the trees when they were gone. The wind blew until their faces were chapped, and their eyes streamed with tears.
They needed warmer clothes. At night they huddled together, and Ben worried about Ibba and Dawit. But one night, they saw lights in the distance, and the next day they found the source of the lights: a small city on a stony hillside. There were sighs of relief and weak cheers from the weary travelers. Ben picked up the pace, excited about the thought of food cooked somewhere other than their meager fir
