When the trail turned upward once more, hiking grew more difficult, an extra force pushing against them like an invisible hand. They dug their poles into the ground, staking their claim, their right to finish this race. At some points it seemed her poles were the only things keeping her from tumbling backward.
The last vestiges of day tripped over the horizon.
“Time for light.” Marc’s words were nearly lost on the wind that howled through the tunnel of mountain walls sloping upward around them.
Eva pulled her rucksack from her shoulders, which were shaking from the cold. She unzipped the pocket where she’d placed her headlamp. As quickly as she could manage, she secured the lamp to her forehead, tightened the strap until it was snug, and flicked on the light.
As Marc and Angela’s lights joined hers, more strongly illuminating the path before them, Eva was once again grateful for the benefits of teamwork. If she’d been alone out here, there was no way she’d still be going. She’d thought she was strong, that her motivation would keep her warm and moving forward even in the toughest trials, but today was proof yet again that for Eva to be happy, she needed strong people in her life.
Although Marc’s words from yesterday had played on a loop in her brain: “That inspiration came from somewhere inside of you.”
Was it true? In this moment it felt anything but.
As they continued up the trail toward the top of the hill, the dirt became mud. Her feet slipped a number of times, aggravating her ankle despite the secure tape. Finally, they crested the hill. Thick fog spread across the valley below, reminding her of how the clouds had looked on their plane flight coming into Queenstown nearly four months ago. If it wasn’t for the reflective nature of the pink flags lining the trail, they’d have no hope of finding their way to camp.
The next two miles were slow going as the rain continued to soak not only them but the earth. How she longed to curl up under a few rocky ledges they passed, sheltered from the storm for just a few moments and resting her ankle. But when she brought up the idea to Marc and Angela, Marc frowned. “We can definitely stop if you need to. But do you think you’d be able to keep going after that?”
He didn’t have to say the rest—that they had no guarantee it wouldn’t rain all night long, and they still weren’t halfway through the Long March. If they didn’t make it to a decent stopping point tonight, there was a strong likelihood they’d not make it to the final Stage 5 checkpoint in time.
“You’re right. Let’s keep on then.” Eva forced a brave smile that she couldn’t feel. She rubbed her hands together and tried to ignore the trembles racking her body.
“Uh, guys.” Angela pointed to the path ahead. It curved narrowly around the next mountainside. “That doesn’t look good.”
Eva squinted in the darkness, and her heart skittered at the sight of a washed-out road.
What? No, no, no.
Everything went numb inside Eva.
Marc jogged over, Eva and Angela following at a slower pace. When they arrived at the spot, Marc’s tone was grave. “I think the rain caused a mudslide.”
“Can that actually happen on an established trail like this?” Angela tilted her head as if examining the road more closely.
“Yeah. It’s all about the pull of gravity on the slope, and something like a heavy storm can shift the rocks and debris just enough. The slope’s probably been moving a little every year, and the rain might have been the push it needed to fall.”
“What do we do?” Despair rose in Eva’s throat and threatened to cut off her air supply.
Marc indicated a ledge behind them. “Looks like you’re going to get to rest after all.”
“No. We can’t stop.” Her voice sounded like a toddler whining for ice cream. But this was so much more important than dessert.
This was everything.
“Come on, Eva. Let’s at least get out of the rain.” Marc held out his hand, and she took it begrudgingly.
The ground beneath the ledge was dry. Eva settled on the cold dirt between Angela and Marc. “Do you think they’ll come looking for us and realize the road washed out?” Eva threaded her fingers together and covered her mouth, breathing warmth into them. Breathing hope into them. Trying, at least.
Despite her gloves, her hands remained stiff with cold.