The days became heavier the farther we walked. I saw through new eyes the world around us as it changed from something like summer to autumn to late autumn. There was frost on our blankets, coating our eyelashes each morning as we awoke. It was difficult to keep the fire going all night so I awakened cold and my joints stiff. Everyone seemed to be experiencing pain as we trudged on.

But we were getting closer. I didn’t need Aggie to tell me. Our rations were holding out perhaps because we did...