The trek through the rugged wilderness into Aliak took most of the day. Though the settlement hadn’t seemed too distant through Emmett’s binoculars while they had still been up on the ridge, it remained just out of reach, as if it moved farther away with each step. Below the foothills, the land was dense with firs, their evergreen branches blocking the horizon. Whenever Emmett managed to catch a glimpse of the town, thin lines of smoke from fireplaces and the far-off hint of rooftops shimmered through the trees like El Dorado in the sun.
The three men traveled in silence. Monty ventured ahead, his long legs easily crossing the distance at a fast pace, and more than once he had to stop, waiting for the others to catch up with him. Emmett kept a safe distance behind the newcomer, not quite
