Albert looked straight at him, at all of them. ‘Yes, I realize that too,’ he said quietly. ‘Look, it’s like this. I’m not crazy or stupid. I know nobody will help me, and I’m not going to ask anyone to. I realize that it’s probably going to fail, and all the rest of it. But it’s the one chance, the only chance we have of figuring out where we can find Theo, so alone or not, I’m going—’

‘I’ll come with yer,’ said Kieran unexpectedly.

Albert broke off halfway through the sentence, blinking at him. ‘You will?’

‘Aye.’ He turned to Colby, who was staring at him, shocked. ‘Reckon as I owe ’im one, Cap’n. And both of yer’s right. If we don’t talk to ’im we ain’t got no chance of findin’ the kid.’

‘Kieran—’

‘So I’m goin’ with ’im an’ yer can say what yer like, Cap’n, but I’ve made up my mind. I’m gonna go with ’im.’

Albert nodded, too grateful to speak. He knew that Kieran was putting everything—his position, his place in the valley, his life—on the line, all to repay a debt Albert had neither claimed nor had the right to. ‘Thank you, Kieran.’

‘Mind you, I still think ’e’s gonna try an’ kill us the moment we let ’im out, an’ I’m tellin’ yer now that if he tries and fails, then I’m gonna kill yer myself.’

‘I think he’ll understand we know he’s innocent.’

‘Oh I dunno ’bout that. Or if we even make it to ’im. But we’ll find out, won’t we?’

‘You’re both crazy!’ said Colby, shaking his head. ‘Joe, tell them, they’re crazy.’

‘You’re crazy,’ supplied Joe.

Albert turned to look at Colby, raising an eyebrow.

‘I thought you said you wouldn’t ask,’ said Colby.

Albert smiled. ‘I haven’t.’

‘Look, I’m not going to!’

‘Why not?’

‘Why not? Why not?’ He wasn’t beside himself, but he wasn’t exactly with himself either.

‘Yes, why not? Just last night you told me you wouldn’t stand by and see another person die for no reason. You said you wouldn’t fail anyone again.’

‘That’s not what I meant! That’s different!’

‘How is it different if you go back home now, secure in the knowledge that you tried to do your duty? If you stand by and let Marcus die, if you let the only chance there is of finding Theo die, how is that not failing her? Tell me this, Colby. We talked about teams. If you had a chance to save your team, the guys whom you lost yesterday to the bots, wouldn’t you do everything, every last thing you could to save them?’

‘That’s not fair and you know it.’