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“Day One: St Bees to Ennerdale Water”

Marnie catches the train from London to Carlisle, weighed down by her enormous rucksack. She has packed a copy of Wuthering Heights and A Pictorial Guide to the Western Fells and The Central Fells by Alfred Wainwright. Her trepidation fades as she observes the unfolding scenery on the journey. She begins editing her new assignment, an erotic thriller titled Twisted Night. The book opens with an orgy scene so confusing that Marnie draws a diagram to work out its logistics. She finds the content hard to relate to, having been celibate for six years.

As he boards his train at Carlisle, Michael is stuck behind a Londoner changing trains with an enormous rucksack. He resists telling her that her straps need adjusting. On the train, he watches the woman typing and pulling faces at whatever she’s working on. He admires her attractive, expressive face as they pass through small industrial towns. Michael has arranged to meet the others in St Bees at the start of the walk. Three strangers will be in the group, one male and two females. Michael is nervous since he’s unaccustomed to socializing without