‘Oh, I’ll tell you all about it, but let me deposit this one in first. His mind works a little too much.’ He turned around, still smiling, but somehow it seemed much more like a sneer. ‘Well, Albert, you wanted to get to the Pit, and I’m pleased to say you’re going to get your wish. You get to join your little friend.’

Albert looked at him bitterly. ‘So much for doing the right thing.’

‘Oh, but I am. I’m bringing in a dangerous criminal, who wanted to break into the Pit and conspire with Public Enemy Number One. I’d call that doing the right thing. And if, in the process, I get to make some points with the commander, well, I’m sure you can appreciate that, can’t you? I mean, you’re smart.’

Albert swore at him. He laughed, and turned back to the guard. ‘Step aside, man. One promotion, coming through.’ Laughing, he walked away.

‘Say what yer will about the cap’n, ’e’s good,’ said Kieran admiringly, watching him walk through the partition.

‘Aye,’ said Joe. ‘Let’s go.’

They propelled Albert forward, their grip never easing in the slightest. Together, they marched through the partition and into the tent.

The inside was nothing worth describing. Literally nothing, because there was nothing there, just the cloth walls and men with blasters tucked into their belts standing alongside every few feet or so. In front of them was an opening, leading further into the huge tent. From inside it came a sound—no, sounds—distinct yet unclear sounds, like people shouting different things at the same time. Lots of people.

Two men stood in front of the opening, blasters held ready at their sides. Colby walked up to them. Ably aided by Joe and Kieran, Albert followed.

‘Weren’t you here a while ago, Colby?’ asked one of the men.

‘Special delivery,’ he replied airily, waving a hand at Albert. ‘Isn’t that right, Al?’ Albert didn’t answer. Indeed, he could barely stand to look at the man.

‘Special delivery, huh?’

‘Yup. Had grand plans of trying to break in here tonight and free your chief guest.’

‘Oh, did he, now?’ said the man, looking appraisingly at Albert.

‘Yes, he did. Only he tried to recruit us.’

The man gave a short, sardonic laugh. ‘Get off!’

‘Yep. So we asked him to run along, and had a quiet word with the commander, who suggested that if he was so keen to see the Pit, well, we should give him a little tour. A detailed tour.’ He laughed. ‘As a special prize, we’ll throw in a visit to his pal too. Is he giving you any trouble, by the way?’

‘Not in a while,’ said the other man.

‘A while?’

‘Well, there was already a man in there. He didn’t like that.’

‘Killed him, eh? Why?’