below. Maximus lets out an excited whinny and nudges me, causing me to lose my left footing. Nearly falling, I swing my loose leg back into position. “Woah, Max halt!” He must be as excited as I am; he hardly ever behaves this way. I resume my mission, hand over hand, foot over foot. The further I climb, the higher the tower appears to be. When I 昀椀nally approach what I assume must be halfway, my muscles begin to quiver. Determined not to let exhaustion best me, I quicken my pace. Hand, hand, foot, foot. It feels as though my muscles have been lit a昀氀ame, a searing reminder that they are all that’s keeping me suspended. Sweat trickles across my brow and down my temple. I risk a glance down and can hardly make out Maximus’ features below. Even the treetops stand impossibly far below me. It’s at this moment I see it. As if it were a living creature, the end of the glistening plait is slithering up the tower beneath me, like a serpent stalking its prey. No time for confusion or fear, no other option than up, I desperately cling to the silky strands between my 昀椀sts and frantically scramble towards the window. Just out of reach, I muster every last shred of strength left in me. Hand, hand, foot, foot. I swing my arm up, grasping at the stone ledge above. My 昀椀ngers rake the smooth surface but to no avail. I fall. Limbs 昀氀ailing, sheer panic coursing through my veins, I plummet towards the ground beneath me. A 昀氀ash of gold shoots past my thrashing arms. Something soft wraps around my ankle. Then, as if attempting to rip my leg from my body, my descent ceases, and I’m 昀氀ung backward against the stone wall. First body, then skull, followed by blinding pain. Vision faltering then failing, I feel my body begin to scrape upwards. ■ ■ ■ That sweet, soft melody is the 昀椀rst thing to pierce my consciousness, like a moment of peace before unbearable agony. I peel my eyes open to 昀椀nd myself suspended, wrists bound above my head, legs drawn apart. My left foot is hanging at a disturbing angle beneath its bindings. My 81 ■ PLAINS PARADOX