He walked off with Joe, Kieran staying behind long enough to nod at Albert. ‘Thanks again, chum,’ he said. Then his face darkened and he hurried to catch up with his companions.

‘Where are they going?’ asked Albert curiously.

Father looked at him. ‘With Colby. He is captain of the unit.’

‘I don’t get it.’

‘Colby lost four men today. Now he has to tell their families.’

‘Mac! Father! Mac!’

It was Theo, tearing down the valley floor towards them, one hand holding her cap as she ran. She skidded to a halt in front of them. ‘You guys gotta check out my tent! It’s so cool!’

‘I’m sure it is,’ said Albert.

‘Yeah, well, you gotta check it out! Now! C’mon!’ She had already begun to tug on his arm.

‘We shall all go,’ said Father, smiling down at her. ‘After all, we need to get Albert and June settled in as well.’

‘All right, then,’ said Theo. ‘C’mon! Let’s go!’

‘Just a moment, Father,’ said Castor, looking at him.

‘Yes, Castor?’

‘Well? Now what do you say?’

‘What would you have me do, Castor?’

‘Stop him from speaking tonight! Or any other night!’

‘That I cannot do,’ said Father, shaking his head. ‘Whether we like what Vail has to say or not, he has a right to his opinion. Such are the trappings of freedom. If we prevent him from voicing his opinion, we would be no better than those above.’

‘You are bringing about your own downfall!’ exclaimed Castor, throwing up his hands in an expression of disgust.

‘Perhaps. But better lose power than a good night’s sleep to your conscience.’

‘All right, Father,’ said Castor. ‘If you will not be advised by me, then there is nothing I can do.’ He walked away, his face dark.

‘We should be going as well,’ said Colby. A moment later, he and his men were walking off too.

Father looked at them, and smiled. The twinkle was back in his eye, somehow it seemed hard now to believe it had ever been gone. ‘Shall we go see your tent, Theo?’

It was a long walk, which gave Albert time to have his first real look at the place. The main valley stretched in a long, low oval, with various mounds and ridges overlooking it. Set back at a bit of a height was a wide shelf of rock all around, and another above that, than another, higher and higher, all the way back into the mountainside. It gave the whole area the look of a colossal elongated amphitheatre. Tents dotted the upper ledges, laid out in rows and columns, so the whole effect was eerily similar to a small town on each ledge, with its own maze of alleys and streets. The main valley was mostly free of habitation, although a few tents did mar the uninterrupted view.