Reid goes slowly, the only speed he has. The further he climbs it seems, the rougher the wall and the more frequent the available perches or jutting support structure, so he has no need to scramble for holds any longer.

His worst enemy is weakness. Days without food, feast or famine when it comes to water and very little rest while driving his body to its limits have taken a terrible toll on him. His knees tremble every time he shifts positions, muscles spasming as he tries to ...