‘Well, I’m sorry if you feel that way, but it’s the truth.’

‘The truth as you see it, maybe. But no matter what you say, I’m not going to subvert the system!’

‘We’re not subverting the system, Colby. We’re aiding it. You said it yourself, nobody can reach Ucho or Father till this whole Reckoning business is over. And you know by then it might be too late. We’re just doing our best to find her. And I’m not talking about breaking him out, just talking to him.’

There was a short silence, and then Colby broke it. ‘Look, this is madness! Breaking into the Pit to talk to Marcus! It’s doomed to fail, will get us all killed and, if not, get me and Kieran cashiered and put in the Pit with you and it’s just wrong to begin with!’

‘Who said anything about you, Colby?’

‘Oh yes, I forgot. You’re not asking. You sure have a funny way of not asking.’

‘All right, I’m asking. Are you with us, Colby?’

Colby glared at him. ‘Yes, damn you! Happy now?’

‘Yes. Very.’ Albert smiled at him. ‘You’re doing the right thing.’

‘Am I? I’m not so sure. But yes, I’m with you and we’ll see what comes of it. What’s happening here is no fault of that little girl’s, it’s true, so I guess you’re right when you say this is our best chance of saving her.’

‘It is our best chance.’

‘Unless he doesn’t help us.’

‘He’ll help us,’ said Albert, with a confidence he didn’t feel. ‘He cares about Theo, too. He’ll help us.’

‘Not if he’s dead already.’

‘Doom and disaster,’ said Joe from behind him. ‘I predict that this whole thing is going to end in doom and disaster. Oh, well. At least we know, now. I should go pack some gear.’

They all turned to look at him. Colby was the first to speak. ‘Look Joe, you don’t have to do this. Nobody’s asking you to come. You can stay behind and—’

‘What? So that after you all get caught, because you didn’t have me around to save your hides, I can have Ma tell me about my traitorous friends every single day for the rest of my life till I kill myself, or her? I’d rather end up in the Pit, thanks.’

‘All right, Joe,’ said Colby, but his face was warm.

Albert looked at the three of them—Colby, quiet and determined, Kieran, bobbing his head up and down with his jaw set, and Joe, who showed no expression at all, standing there, solid and immovable and comforting as a rock. He felt a lump in his throat, gratitude for these men, who till yesterday had been strangers, but were now risking their lives for him.

‘I guess this makes us friends,’ he said.