He walked back, to the stairs and up to the second level, where he had last seen Colby and the others. He spotted Joe first, squatting by the steps, scraping something with a stone. Something metal from the sound of it. At the sound of his footsteps, Joe looked up, dropping the stone. In his hand was a small, wicked-looking knife.

‘He’s here, Cap’n,’ he said.

‘Ah, good,’ said Colby, appearing behind him, with Kieran by his side. He nodded at Albert. ‘All set?’

‘Yes,’ said Albert.

‘Good. You done, Joe?’

‘Aye,’ said Joe, tucking the knife carefully into the fold of his sleeve. He looked up, saw Albert looking curiously at him, and grunted. ‘Always have that,’ he said.

‘But why?’

‘Pa always said a man can never be too careful.’

Albert nodded, not really sure what Pa had wanted to be careful about.

‘OK, everyone,’ said Colby. ‘Listen up. Everyone’s here now, so let’s get on with it. We’re running against the clock on this one. Time to move out.’ He turned and walked away, up the stairs. Joe and Kieran followed.

‘Wait!’ said Albert, scurrying to catch up. ‘Shouldn’t we go over the plan first?’

Colby turned back to look at him. ‘No, not really. Now let’s go, shall we? Time’s a-wasting, and all that.’

‘But—’

‘All in good time, Al,’ said Colby, turning to walk away again. ‘All in good time.’

Albert frowned at his back. This easy insouciance, even casualness, wasn’t like the usually serious Colby. He must be confident of the plan. One by one, he looked at all of them as they walked, noticing the relaxed cheerfulness on their faces, and how it was undermined by the seriousness in their eyes.

‘Well, Colby. What’s the plan?’

‘See, I’m a big believer in not complicating things with too much information. It’s best everyone knows only what they need to know, when they need to know it.’

‘So what do I need to know?’

‘As of now, nothing.’

Albert looked sharply at him. ‘When, then?’

‘Later. When we’re closer.’

‘Colby, this seems odd.’

Colby stopped and swivelled to look at him. ‘You trust me?’ he asked softly.

‘Well, yes, of course I do. Why do you think I asked for your help?’

‘No, I mean, do you trust me—us—to know what we’re doing?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Albert was beginning to feel flustered, wondering if he’d somehow offended the man without meaning to. Not that he saw how he could have. What he’d said had been innocuous enough.

‘Well, then, trust us to know how to do this. Or at least give ourselves the best possible chance. All right?’ He waited for Albert to nod, nodded back at him and grinned, before turning back and resuming the climb.