‘All of it. They drilled it into us well enough at the Academy. But what’s that got to—’

‘Why was it built?’

‘Because it’s the City! All mankind under one roof. One World, One City. Or so they said. What’s the point of all this?’

‘Do you know what the Dome is?’

Albert stared at the man, scarcely able to believe the question. ‘Well, I’ve lived there all my life, haven’t I? And what’s the point—’

‘Just answer me. What is the purpose of the Dome, Albert?’

‘It keeps us alive and in the safe zone and—’

‘I see,’ said Father, cutting him off again. ‘And what is this so-called unsafe zone, Albert? What is outside the Dome?’

‘Nothing!’

‘And do you believe that you need protection from “nothing”?’

‘I—uh—’

Colby gave a short laugh. Albert glared at him. ‘What’s so funny?’

Colby shook his head, turning to look at Father. ‘He doesn’t know,’ he said. ‘He really doesn’t know.’

‘No, he doesn’t,’ said June. ‘Ollie and I didn’t have time to give him the proper … um …’

‘I am not surprised,’ said Father, nodding. ‘But perhaps it is time he did know.’

Albert looked from one of them to the other. ‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘What? What don’t I know?’

‘That is what I am about to tell you.’

Colby turned to Albert. ‘Look, I’ll pass on this. There’s something I want to … um … check out. I’ll see you in a while.’ With that, he turned and walked out of the tent.

Albert looked curiously at his retreating back, and decided not to think about it. He looked back at Father. ‘Look, Father, none of this makes sense. The Code is real? Are you trying to tell me there’s some secret hidden message that everyone is looking for?’

‘It is not a message—it is the Code. But yes, it is hidden, so well that that only he who hid it knows where, and I fear nobody will ever find it.’

Albert shook his head. ‘Well, what’s any of this got to do with Theo anyway? How could she possibly know anything about any of this? She’s a kid!’

Father sighed. ‘I had expected this. Perhaps I should begin at the very beginning.’

‘Yes, perhaps you should!’

‘Let us sit down,’ said Father, gesturing towards the silk partition behind them. ‘If we are going to get into this, I fear it will take some time.’

He turned and looked at June. ‘Would you prefer not to be present?’

She looked at him for a minute, then shook her head. ‘No. I’ll stay.’

‘Very well. Follow me,’ he said, leading the way through the partition into the interior of the tent.