He walked back to June and Theo and flopped to the ground beside them. Across, Colby and his companions clustered near another wall, muttering among themselves.

‘I don’t trust ’em,’ said Theo.

‘They’re just frightened. And suspicious,’ said June.

‘Lookit ’em, whisperin’ an’ plottin’ an’ plannin’.’

‘They are in exactly the same situation as us. What could they be plotting?’

‘Oh, I bet they’re tryin’ to figure out a way to off Mac.’

‘Thanks for the confidence booster,’ said Albert, lying back on the ground, hands under his head. While he wasn’t anywhere near unconcerned, he didn’t think Colby’s lot would try anything, at least not until they got to wherever they were going. To begin with, they’d had plenty of opportunities while he had been blundering along in the tunnels and furthermore, Marcus’ message had been clear. And they’d seemed genuinely afraid of him, even before he pulled that faster-than-the-eye-can-see business on them. He recalled the way they’d all steered clear of him even at the rendezvous point. Was there some history there? He must remember to ask June at some point.

‘Look, ’e’s comin’ ’ere now,’ said Theo, and nudged him. ‘Look lively, Mac! Danger!’

Albert pushed himself up on his elbows, looking up, as an Outlier walked up to them—the short, squat one. He stopped in front of them and looked down.

‘Cap’n thinks it might be a good idea if you drink some water,’ he said, holding out a container to them. His voice sounded a little gruffer than it had the last time.

‘Is it poisoned?’ demanded Theo.

‘Thank you,’ said June hastily, smiling at him and taking the proffered container. ‘Please thank your captain for us.’

The man nodded.

June handed the container to Theo, who sniffed at it suspiciously, and then threw caution to the winds and drank. Albert waited till both she and June had finished, then gulped down the cool liquid gratefully, feeling the welcome freshness spread across his parched throat. He hadn’t realized how thirsty he was.

They handed the container back to him, thanking him again, even Theo, although if you’d heard just the tone but not the words, you might have come away with a completely different construction of what she said.

The man nodded to them again, as Marcus came back round the turn, and up to them. ‘Have you rested?’

‘What! Already?’ asked Theo.

‘Maybe we should move on,’ said June. ‘It’s best we get back as soon as possible.’

‘Aye,’ agreed the Outlier. ‘Cap’n’s been saying the same thing.’

He turned to Marcus, offering him the container. ‘Water?’

Marcus looked at him expressionlessly for a moment. Then he walked towards the opening in the far wall, where he stood, waiting. The Outlier muttered a swear word under his breath. Then he nodded to them again and turned and went back to his comrades.