‘It’s all right,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Don’t panic, we’re at the hut I showed you. If we can get inside, we’ll be safe. Try to move towards me.’

It was hard to move with her skis impeding her but, with him drawing her towards him, she finally managed it, parting the snow until she could just see him.

‘The door’s just to my left,’ he said. ‘Let’s hope it isn’t locked.’

For once, luck was with them. After rattling the door for a moment, Renzo managed to get it open, but at once snow began to pour in through the gap.

‘We have to get in fast,’ he said, almost dragging her sideways and through the door. ‘Push!’ he yelled.

Together they shoved hard, pushing the door closed with agonizing slowness, forcing the threatening snow back and back until they had defeated it, at least for the moment.

‘Thank God!’ he gasped. ‘It’s a heavy door. It should hold.’

‘Does that mean we’re safe?’

‘Of course we are. We can hole up here until they find us, which shouldn’t be long.’

As he spoke he gave her a bright smile, and its very cheerfulness told her that he didn’t believe a word he was saying. They were trapped, perhaps for days, perhaps for ever.

But this wasn’t the time for talk. There was too much to be done.

‘Let’s get these awkward things off,’ he said, beginning to pull at his skis. ‘Mandy? What’s the matter?’

‘Just a minute,’ she choked. ‘I just-’

‘Here, sit down,’ he said, guiding her to a sofa, making her sit down and kneeling to remove her skis. Then he sat beside her and put his arm around her. ‘All right, give yourself time.’

She was shaking violently, tears pouring down her face.

‘They’re dead,’ she cried. ‘They must be dead-Joan and Peter, Henry-they’re out in the open-they must be swept away-’

‘We don’t know that,’ he tried to soothe her. ‘Mandy, Mandy-’

Renzo pulled her against himself in a big hug, then rocked back and forth, murmuring soothing words and stroking her hair. But nothing could stop the tears. Submerged in agony, she flailed her arms, thumping him fiercely.