‘What do you mean?’ asked the other man on the cushions, speaking for the first time. He was of medium height and bald, which, in conjunction with the fact that he had also shaved off his eyebrows, gave him the impression of being almost ageless. He also had the most perfect teeth Albert had ever seen, pearly white and sparkling, each individual tooth a thing of beauty.

‘One moment,’ said Father. ‘Perhaps we should make everyone known to each other first, so as to make it easier to proceed.’ He turned to look round the room, smiling. ‘Most of you are acquainted already. Albert, meet Ucho and Castor. Ucho commands the fighting men and is also responsible for our security. Castor here looks after the administration and the day-to-day needs of the people.’

He waited for all of them to nod at each other and then continued. ‘Gentlemen, this is Albert, who I believe is the one we have to thank for returning Theo to us. You have my deepest gratitude, Albert. Theo’s grandfather was almost a brother to me, and Theo means a great deal to us all.’

He smiled. ‘And, of course, we are all very interested in what you have to say, too. If what June told me was anything to go by, you have taken a most unusual path to reach us. But we shall come to that. For the moment though, there is a question I have been meaning to ask. Theo, why did you run away?’

Theo started at the sound of her name. ‘I’m sorry!’ she said.

‘Don’t be. You’re back safe and sound, and that’s what matters. But I still want to know why you ran away.’

She coloured. ‘I had my reasons,’ she muttered.

‘And what were those, if I may ask?

‘No, you mayn’t—um, main’t—uh, no, yer can’t!’

‘Theo, you will tell me, please.’

‘No, I won’t! I ain’t a kid no more! You can’t be tellin’ me what ter do!’

‘I’m not telling you, I’m asking you—why did you run away?’

‘Well, I ain’t sayin’ anythin’, so ferget it!’

‘Very well, Theo. We shall speak of it again later.’

She sat half up, the beginnings of a loud and vociferous opinion emerging from her open mouth. He held up a hand and she sank back on to the cushions, still muttering.

‘For the moment, though, perhaps we should deal with what is immediate. Marcus, I suppose you will want to move back to the valley to be near Theo.’

Marcus nodded.

‘Good. I would feel safer knowing—’

‘No!’ shouted Theo.

Father turned to her, looking bewildered. ‘No?’

‘No!’

He smiled at her, with all the patience of a saint. ‘It is for your own good.’

‘No! I don’t want him! He doesn’t even talk to me!’

‘Theo, please?’

‘No! I don’t want no babysitter!’