As Luke said later, there was no time to think about crocodiles or funnel spiders or jellyfish or brown snakes or sharks or even rabbits. The immediate and present danger was half a dozen settlers on the trail of a couple of rabbit-snatching child molesters.

Jane’s voice sounded in his ear. ‘I’m at the pod. You need to get back here.’

‘We’re on our way back now. Before Australia disappears under a furry onslaught of rabbits.’

‘I think you might be slightly exaggerating.’

‘We’ll never be able to come back to Oz again,’ he panted. ‘Everyone hates us.’

‘Does seem to be a common theme,’ said Matthew, at his elbow.

Ten minutes later and by a circuitous route, they were back at the pod. The sounds of pursuit had faded.

Jane was sitting outside on a log, enjoying the dappled sunshine and sporting the beginnings of a spectacular black eye. ‘What did you do? I could hear the screaming from here.’

‘Don’t ask.’

Luke threw himself on to the log beside her. ‘We need a complete rethink, people. The locals are in an uproar. The rabbit’s buggered off. No one’s yet been bitten by something toxic or savaged by a koala but it’s only a matter of time.’

‘Or peed on by a possum,’ said Jane.

‘What?’

‘Possums,’ said Jane. ‘They pee in self-defence.’

‘I have an uncle who does that,’ said Matthew.

Luke covered his eyes. ‘What sort of country is this?’

‘Continent.’

Luke had had enough. ‘Shut up.’

‘I think it’s time we took you home,’ said Matthew. ‘You’re overtired.’

‘You heard North. We can’t go back without the rabbit.’

‘Oh,’ said Jane, casually. ‘I’ve got the rabbit.’

‘What? . . . You . . . What?’

‘I found her all tangled up in your net. Which had caught on a stick. I picked her up and brought her back to the pod.’

‘It’s in there now?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why didn’t you say so?’ He stood up.

‘Careful – don’t let it out again,’ warned Matthew.

‘It’s fine, I put her in my backpack,’ said Jane.

Entering cautiously, they found Jane’s backpack standing in the corner. A large white head protruded therefrom. The rabbit twitched her whiskers at them in a friendly fashion.

‘Isn’t she sweet?’ said Jane.

They stared at the rabbit. The rabbit stared placidly back again.

‘Actually,’ said Matthew, ‘I don’t want to rush anyone, but we really should get her back before she gives birth in here. Trust me – that would cause no end of complications.’

‘What will happen to her?’ asked Jane, squinting at the console. Matthew gently elbowed her out of the way and began to lay in the return coordinates.

There was a bit of a silence and then Luke said, ‘Well, I expect they’ll put her down.’

She was horrified. ‘What? Why?’

‘Easier and quicker for everyone.’