‘Enough! Both of you!’ said Father loudly, raising his hands for silence, looking at each of them in turn. ‘Ucho, I’m sure you can understand that Albert is just worried about Theo. Albert, you might do well to remember that Ucho does not answer to you. I know you are anxious to find Theo safe and sound, but that is no excuse for this behaviour. You aren’t the only one who is concerned. Believe me, we all are, and believe me when I tell you we are doing all we can. We all know how special she is.’

‘Hold on,’ said Albert, looking hard at him through narrowed eyes. ‘You said special. Again. You’re not the only one saying it either. Everyone seems to be saying it! You, that kidnapper, her grandfather, everyone!’

Father’s brows shot up. ‘Did you say her grandfather?’

‘Yes, I said her grandfather! Theo told me about it, how Robert used to tell her the same thing, that she was special, and that he called her the key, too. And you’ve said it before as well. As a matter of fact, that’s why she ran away!’

The air in the tent was very still now.

‘What?’

‘Yes, she told me. She told me that she heard you discussing her with Ucho and Castor and that you said she was special and the key, whatever that means. And that’s why she ran away! Because she was unhappy at letting you and everyone else down by not feeling special or being able to solve everyone’s problems!’

Father groaned. ‘No!’

‘Yes, and that’s not all, either! Ucho talked about Seekers? Who are these Seekers, as you call them? And what’s so special about Theo, huh? What does she have to do with Seekers?’

‘Albert, this is not the time,’ said Father, and moved to the side to walk past him. Albert stepped in front of him, arms spread to block his passage.

‘I’m not going anywhere, Father,’ he said quietly. ‘And neither are you, till you tell me what I need to know.’

‘Here! Think you can threaten him?’ rasped Ucho, springing forward, but Father waved him back.

‘No, Ucho.’ He turned to look at Albert. ‘You do know if you continue to pester me I could have you put out of the tent.’

‘Yes, and I’ll keep coming back in and asking you till they get tired of throwing me out, or you come out,’ said Albert. ‘And then I’ll follow you wherever you go and ask you again. And believe me, you’ll get tired of avoiding me long before I tire of asking you.’

Father looked at him, taken aback.

‘He means it,’ said Colby. ‘He’s a stubborn one.’