Something broke in Conor’s heart, and tears came to his eyes. “I have to press it,” he said, his face crumpling. “I just have to press it once and it’ll all be over. I’ll be able to walk away and never think about it again.”

“Pressing that button will hurt a lot of people.”

“It’s just a box,” Conor sobbed.

“It’s more than a box.”

“It’s just a box, I’m telling you. It doesn’t do anything. I’m not a scientist or an engineer. I’m just a man. I’m just ordinary. I wouldn’t know how to build anything that would hurt people. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to be able to walk away.”

There was a sound outside. A car pulling up. A line of light swept in through the crack in the curtains and brushed by the man’s jaw. It looked like his skin was white as chalk, or he was wearing a mask or something.

“Be right back,” said the man, and slipped through the door.

“Who’s out there?” Conor asked.

“Some people,” said the girl. “There’s been a race to find you. We got here first.”

“What do they want?”

There was a cry from outside, and a sudden light like a bursting flame, and then it was gone again.

“They want the box,” said the girl. “They want to sell it, or use it, or worship it. I don’t know. Some of these people just don’t make any sense to me. You look tired.”

“I feel sick.”

Outside there was another sound. Loud. Abrupt.

“Was that a gunshot?” asked Conor.

“It was,” said the girl.

“Aren’t you scared?”

“You’ve got your finger on a button that will end the world,” the girl said. “Why should I be scared of guns that aren’t even aimed at me?”

“I’m not going to end the world.”

“You’ve got your finger on the button.”

“I can barely work out how to make calls on my own phone – why do you think I know how to destroy the planet? This is ridiculous. Please leave me alone.”

“I wish we could. But if we do, you’ll press that button, and you’ll kill us all. You’ll kill my friends and my parents and my little sister. I can’t let you do that, Conor.”