Chapter 2
I pull my hat down over my ears and try to ignore Hanna and Isabelle hopping from foot to foot and complaining about the cold.
They only have themselves to blame. Windbreakers over thin black leggings aren’t going to cut it in subzero temperatures.
We all knew the orienteering test was today.
Our teacher, Mr. Lundin, has been talking about it for weeks.
We will use a detailed map to find various checkpoints around the island.
We’ve already been out in the island’s dense forest to practice a few times.
Fog has rolled in and seems to be getting thicker, even though it should be starting to thin by now. I can barely see Mr. Lundin standing only a few yards away. He is talking to Ms. Granberg, the school nurse, who has just come rushing over to hand out whistles in case we get lost in the fog.
“It’s so easy to get disoriented in this mist,” she says in a concerned voice.
Mr. Lundin looks surprised but doesn’t protest.
“Okay, listen up now,” he says as the nurse turns to head back inside the school building.
Nobody is paying attention. Mr. Lundin always has to repeat everything.
He doesn’t expect anyone to do as he says, so we don’t.
He’s older than the other teachers—probably over fifty—but his voice is soft and high-pitched and trembles when he gets upset.
Axel likes to do an impression of him in that mocking, drawling way of his, and sometimes I laugh along with the others. Then I feel bad.
“Come on now, class,” Mr. Lundin pleads.
People calm down a bit. They’re probably tired of waiting in the cold.
“I know that today’s conditions are different from last week,” he says, “so it’ll be a little tougher than you’re used to.”
His scuffed Adidas jacket is taut over his shoulders. He stomps his feet in place.
“Just stick to the map and you’ll be fine. Remember to keep a close eye on your partner so you don’t lose each other in the fog.”
He pauses and looks at us. He already seems worried about how this is going to go.
“Does everyone have their whistles?” he asks. He sounds just like Ms. Granberg did a moment ago.
Axel lets out a loud sigh and holds up his whistle. Some of the others do the same. I just squeeze mine in my hand.
“If you get lost, blow the whistle and wait. The same goes if you fall into the water. Just get back on land, and I’ll come and find you. Do you understand?”
There is a low murmur of affirmation.
“Great!” says Mr. Lundin with a thin smile. “You have two hours to find fifteen checkpoints! Go for it!”
The pitch of his voice rises slightly higher, until it’s almost falsetto. Someone behind me giggles.
I set off at once.