‘There’s another thing,’ I say. ‘Mum’s really keen on the idea of me going to sleep.’ Now that I’m saying all this out loud, I’m even more sure that I’m right. I take a breath. Try to calm myself. ‘I think something other than us made it out of that crater.’

5

Karim

We finish our snacks and head out into town. We need answers, and the obvious place to look is at the university. But we need to pick up someone on the way.

Karim lives in a three-storey house on the new estate just outside the town centre. We can’t call or text to tell him we’re coming, but I’m basically his only mate, so I can’t think of anywhere he’d be other than at home. It’s about a fifteen-minute walk from Kat’s to Karim’s, and it’s so good being with just Kat that I honestly almost wish it was further.

‘You’re sure he’s going to be OK with all this?’ Kat says, as we walk up to Karim’s front door.

‘He knows everything that happened at Crater Lake and he’s cool with it.’

‘I don’t mean this in a horrible way, but knowing about Crater Lake and seeing it with 51your own eyes are really different things. I’m not sure I would really understand it if I hadn’t been there myself.’

‘I hear you,’ I say. ‘But we’ve got really close and I genuinely think he can deal.’

‘OK then,’ Kat nods. ‘Let’s ring the bell.’

I hesitate, wondering if she has a problem with him. She goes to Latham so she knows who he is and that he sometimes gets in a bit of trouble. ‘I know he messes around at school, but he’s a good guy. I really think you’ll like him.’

‘If you like him, I know I will too. You’re a good judge of character, Lance. You always have been. Ring it.’

Shouldn’t have doubted her.

I press the doorbell and we watch through the frosted panes as a figure comes to the door. In the distorted glass, he doesn’t look human – his head twice the size it should be.

‘That hair, though,’ whispers Kat, as the door opens.

‘Sparshott!’ Karim says. ‘Have you come to protect me from the pink-eyed devils?’

‘Huh?’ Kat says.

‘Oh, hey,’ Karim says, noticing Kat and 52 immediately pulling out the big smile with the deep dimples (he’s majorly proud of them). ‘It’s Katja, isn’t it? I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced. Damn shame.’

‘Hi Karim,’ Katja smiles back. ‘It’s nice to meet you.’

I’m not even slightly comfortable with this bit of flirting, so I get straight down to business. ‘Is your mum home? We need to ask her something.’