I stopped, breathing heavily, and suddenly realized: we wouldn’t get far like this. If he continued, I would truly fall and break everything I could. I had to make a decision.

I climbed down, looked him sternly in the eyes, and said:

— Fine. If you’re so smart, you’ll stay on the chain.

The sky was torn by a bright, blinding light. The crash followed immediately. Lightning struck the tree, right on the trunk I had been about to climb.