Howler monkeys, watching in the dark from the treetops, tensed when the door opened. They sat forward on their branches and trained their eyes on the boy who emerged. The frogs and insects continued to croak and chirrup as if everything was normal, but nothing was normal. They struggled up the incline towards the ridge Isabel had mentioned, the torch lighting their route ahead when necessary. High in the canopy, the powerful monkeys shifted and followed, swinging from tree to tree in eerie silence. Ash was still trying to process everything Thorn had told them. He was filled with anger and sadness, everything whirling in a muddle of misunderstanding. ‘I can’t believe it. I can’t believe what’s happening. My dad . . . and do you think Mum really meant to make something so bad?’ Isabel pushed past a low hanging branch without moving it aside. ‘I think adults do the stupidest things.’ Ash had thought that telling Isabel about Dad earlier had helped him to feel better, but now it was even worse.
