He looked right at her. ‘Oh, I do know. And I don’t have to look at the world to know, June, I just have to look at myself. Because I’m the best example there is. Should I tell you something? I used to think the same thing, every day for more days than I care to remember—that nobody cared, that there was nothing worth caring about, that I didn’t care. But then, when I was in danger, every single time I had to run, or hide, I realized fast enough that I did care. I cared enough to run as fast and hide as well as I could, to do everything I could. Because we care, June, it’s what we do, what makes us human. And machines too, considering I’m here because a machine—a machine—cared about dying badly enough that it was willing to force me to get myself killed just to get what it wanted. If it weren’t for that machine caring so deeply about what it wanted, I wouldn’t be standing here. Not to mention all the others who cared enough to help, present company included. So ask me who cares, June, I’m living proof, so you can take my word for it. Everyone cares. Sometimes they just have to realize they do, that’s all.’

She was looking at him wonderingly. He smiled at her. ‘And you care too, much as you’re making a case for the contrary. You care all right, which is why you’re determined to go back. Not to mention, it’s why you agreed to do what Father asked, and be on the Council in the first place.’

‘I did, didn’t I?’ She sounded bitter.

Albert looked at her. ‘Are you all right?’

‘Yes. No. I don’t know. Look, I’m sorry. Pay no attention to me, I’m just tired. I haven’t slept since we got here. I’ll be fine once I’ve rested.’

‘Should we go to your tent first?’

‘No, you don’t have to walk me there. In fact, I think you and Colby should carry on now. I’ll turn off here. It’s just round the corner.’

‘All right,’ he said, more than a trifle reluctantly. There was still a lot he wanted to know, not least why she was obsessed with saving the chap who—if he wasn’t the world’s deepest interred corpse, as he’d assumed all this while—must at least be its best guarded prisoner. But he had no choice; short of physically preventing her from leaving, there wasn’t much he could do. He’d have to let it go. At least for now.

‘Good night, June.’

‘Good night,’ she said, nodding at them both. ‘See you tomorrow.’

Then she walked away, to the left and out of sight behind the outcropping of rock. Albert turned to Colby. ‘Shall we?’