[Doc forces a smile. What can he say? Yes he could be alright, just gone out exploring someplace he didn't think to look. No he could be dead, and they might or might not ever see him again.]

Let me return these to the house, and I will accompany you. I went past a few buildings I had not seen before this morning. The fog had made them unreachable. We could start there, if you have looked elsewhere already.