The darkness amplified everything in its embrace and as she listened Inteachán could hear someone sobbing and groaning.

She had been so caught up in the repetitions of her effort that Inteachán was shocked to discover that the noises were coming from her. She paused but as she did so the enormity of everything crushed her.

Was it an hour?

Ten minutes?

Three miles?

A metre?

Inteachán couldn’t be sure.

All she knew was that she couldn’t climb anymore.