‘I don’t know. Robert said it was all actually quite simple, that once you knew the way lawbots were designed, how they were programmed, then it wasn’t difficult, really.’

He held up his hand. ‘Hold on. How on earth could he have known anything about how lawbots are programmed? Or, for that matter, designed?’

She gave him a strange look. ‘Because he designed them.’

Then she walked away from him and went round the bend. As far as Albert was concerned, that had happened to him a long time ago, anyway.

12

The path went on, on and on, slowly and ever so gradually narrowing, the walls growing closer and closer so they were forced to walk in single file again. Even so, it was a tight squeeze, especially for the overgrown Kieran, although the big man didn’t say anything. The walls were changing again, getting harder and stonier, until they were pure rock. And then they reached a point where it got so snug that they couldn’t proceed at all.

Marcus turned around. ‘Through there,’ he said, pointing at the small, tight space between the towering walls.

‘I don’t like the look of this,’ said Colby, frowning. ‘Isn’t there a way round?’

‘No. It will take us too long and through places I do not want to go.’

‘Hmm. It seems an awfully tight fit, though. You sure we can get through?’

‘Yes. I have been this way many times. But to be on the safe side, this one,’ and here he pointed at Kieran, ‘should come last.’

‘Why?’

‘So that if he gets stuck, he will not block the others.’

Nobody said anything, but they all knew what he meant. If Kieran couldn’t squeeze through, they would leave him behind.

Marcus looked round at them. ‘Move sideways and look straight ahead.’

‘Why straight ahead?’ asked Theo, a suspicious look on her face. ‘What’s below?’

Marcus looked her in the eye. ‘Nothing.’

‘Nothin’?’

‘Nothing,’ he repeated. ‘Follow me.’