He stared down at what was left of the guide’s rappeling line, which lay looped chaotically near its piton anchor. When the line’s sheath and multi-stranded core had parted, the sudden release of tension had flung the loose end back. He bent to examine the end and found it frayed, as though cut. Neither Jason nor Gray Otter—for all of McAlister’s harassment—would have had reason to kill the guide. They knew as well as Sam that he was the only one who knew the way. As for Harrier, hed had some history with McAlister and so might have had a reason, but he hadn’t been near the line.