Steve helped Jesse light a fire, but it wasn't the fun task they had imagined it being when they had first arrived at the campsite. A sombre mood hung over them. Jesse was particularly on edge after finding the note on his bed and Steve felt tense too. His face and hands were feeling sore and adding to his discomfort. Almost in silence they cooked a simple meal and ate it. The darkness was soon absolute and they could see nothing beyond a few yards from the fire. Both put on an extra layer of clothing as the air grew colder.

"You might as well turn in," said Steve eventually.

"Are you kidding?" said Jesse. "I'll never be able to sleep. I am afraid of the dark now."

"There's nothing to be gained by sitting out here getting colder," Steve said. "I'm going to douse the fire."

"What! Why?" asked Jesse. "It'll be pitch black if you do! It's comforting having it there."

"Yes, but we can't see anything outside the circle of light it provides, and the crackling its making is covering up noises of anyone trying to sneak up on us."

"Put it out, good idea," Jesse said.

"There'll probably be a tiny bit of light from the stars," Steve said as he and Jesse scattered the wood and kicked soil over the embers. "And I've got a torch handy. But if the fire was going I'd not have a chance of seeing anyone coming up behind the tent."

There was a brief pause, then the two of them looked over behind the tent and stared into the darkness. Jesse shivered. "Thanks a lot for reassuring me."

Steve motioned with his hand. "Go to bed. I'll sit in the entrance of the tent and keep watch. I've got a torch and a gun. We'll be okay." He dragged his sleeping bag outside to sit in to keep warm.

Jesse reluctantly went into his compartment and lay down in his sleeping bag. As soon as he lay still he could hear a multitude of sounds, each one making him tense up until he got cramp in his shoulder. The rustling of a bird in a tree – or someone out to get them? The cracking of a twig, the sound of the wind in the trees. "Steve?" he called softly.

"I'm still here," came the reply.

"It's noisy on this mountain," Jesse said.

"That's just nature," Steve said.

"You won't fall asleep, will you?"

"Course not. Just relax."

Despite his fears, Jesse fell into a restless sleep.

Steve was sure he could stay awake all night. He was more used to outside noises than Jesse but tonight everything was making him jump, although he didn't admit that to Jesse. No sense in worrying him further. But the shock of the stove explosion had exhausted him and the constant throbbing of the skin on his hands and face was tiring. Despite all good intentions, Steve dropped off to sleep.

He was awakened by a yell that he recognised instantly to be Jesse's. Cursing himself for falling asleep, he jumped to his feet, gun in one hand and torch in another, and tripped over as he caught his legs in his sleeping bag. He fell to the ground with a thump and rolled over, struggling to extradite himself from the sleeping bag. Finally he got up and raced into Jesse's bedroom, switching on the torch.

Jesse's top half was out of his sleeping bag, and it was drenched in blood. Jesse looked stricken as he saw the expression on Steve's face then looked down at himself. He touched his chest in disbelief.

"Jesse!" cried Steve. "What happened? Oh my god, you're covered in blood. Tell me what to do, Jesse."

"I… don't feel anything," said Jesse, looking shocked.

"That must be some kind of defence mechanism against trauma," Steve said, dropping down beside Jesse and ripping his shirt open. He examined Jesse all over, but it was hard to see in the directional light of the torch and with all the blood. So much blood, thought Steve, trying to curb his horror. His hands were slick with it as he searched for the wound.

"No, really," said Jesse, his voice shaky but strong. "I'm okay. I don't think I'm hurt. I can't feel anything." He sat up and patted himself all over. "It's not my blood." He looked at Steve in alarm. "So whose blood is it?"

Steve looked around the room and saw a slit in the tent canvas near the floor on one side. He picked up his gun and the torch and slid outside. He stood up and shone the torch all around as Jesse wriggled out after him. "I think we should stay together," Jesse said, his voice still shaky from the shock of waking up and finding himself covered in blood.

Steve grunted in acknowledgement, realising that what Jesse really meant was "don't leave me alone". He moved the torch around in an arc and stopped as it picked out a small mound a short way from the tent. He strode towards the object and gasped. On the floor lay two dead rabbits, cut open in a way that was definitely done by a knife and not a wild animal. "Here's your victims," he said.

Jesse took a look and turned away in disgust. "You mean I've got rabbit blood all over me?" he said. "Yuck!"

"Better than being your own," said Steve, relieved that nothing worse had happened to Jesse. "What is going on? Someone is trying to intimidate us, or injure us, or both, but why?"

"I don't know, but it's creepy," Jesse said with a shiver. "Urgh, this blood is congealing."

Steve shone the torch on him and had to laugh despite the tension. "You do look a sight. Mind you, I've got plenty on my hands, and everything I've touched."

"What time does dawn come?" asked Jesse. "I'd welcome some light."

"You're not the only one," Steve said. "Probably not too long."

"Great," said Jesse as they turned back towards their tent, "Because –"

He broke off as they both heard a crackling noise ahead of them and a light that was definitely not the approaching dawn. "The tent! It's on fire!" shouted Steve, and they raced forwards. Only one corner was ablaze but it was spreading rapidly.

"Surely these things should be fireproof!" yelled Jesse. Steve ran into the living area of the tent and grabbed one of the large water bottles that had been provided for them. He unscrewed the top and emptied the contents on the fire. Jesse joined him, picking up a bottle as he saw what Steve was doing. They managed to get the fire under control.

"What are the chances that that was an accident?" Steve asked.

"I'm sure the remains of our fire are long dead," Jesse declared. "You realise someone was here while we were only metres away looking at those rabbits?"

"Yes," Steve said grimly. "Whoever it was probably attacked you and then just circled round the tent. Kind of makes the blood curdle doesn't it?"

"At least we weren't in the tent," Jesse said.

"I don't like this one bit." Steve gritted his teeth. "Is this person going to allow us to walk off the mountain? We need to keep our wits about us."

Thanks for the reviews, please keep giving your opinions!

Cindy, I'd love to know which phrases in particular show me up as being English! You are right, the show does have international appeal!