‘Look, Theo,’ he said, ‘I’m saying this for your own good. It’s not safe for you to leave right now.’

‘Whatever! I’m leavin’!’

‘Just listen to me.’

‘I ain’t listenin’, Mac, an’ I ain’t stayin’!’

‘What do you mean you ain’t—uh—aren’t staying? Do you realize you won’t get twenty feet before a patrol spots you? You know what they’ll do? You remember what—’

‘Well they can try doin’ whatever they want! I ain’t scared! Not o’ ’em, not o’ anyone, all right? S’long, Mac!’

‘Tell me, Theo, where are you going to go? You don’t know the City; you said so yourself. How far do you think you’ll get before they get you?’

‘I know enough to get back. I’ll manage.’

‘All you’ll manage is to get caught. And then they’ll interrogate you and track your movements, figure out exactly where you’ve been and a hundred other things. And they’ll find out I brought you here and then they’ll come for me. Do you understand, Theo? They’ll come for me and that’ll be the end of me, because I helped you. Only because I helped you.’

‘Zat so?’ she said, but much of the belligerence was gone from her voice.

‘Yes, that’s so!’ he said desperately. ‘Why else do you think I want you to stay? Or do you think I enjoy the pleasure of your company that much?’

She snickered. ‘Maybe.’

‘You’re mistaken, believe me. It’s just that we’ll be a lot safer, both of us, once you’re back wherever you belong; but not now! Not until I can figure out how to get you back safely! And safely means safe for the both of us!’

She stared at him, unmoving.

‘Listen to me, Theo,’ he said desperately. ‘I’ve lived in the City all my life. I know this place, I know how it works. And I know they will catch you if you leave now. But if you’ll just be patient, just trust me, I will get you back, I swear I will. I just need some time to see how to do it.’

She started to say something, then stopped herself.

‘Trust me, Theo. You did yesterday and I helped you, didn’t I? I’m on your side. Trust me, and I’ll take care of things. All right?’

She didn’t say anything.

‘All right?’

‘All right,’ she said finally, crossing her arms. ‘Fine. I’ll stay. But only fer a bit, so yer better figure whatever it is you wanna, fast. Deal?’

Relief flowed through him. ‘Deal. Now, just stretch out, relax and enjoy yourself, all right? You’ll find it’s not so bad here.’

The girl looked suspiciously at him.

‘Where you off to, then?’