A FEW MINUTES AGO, THE HEAD RECEIVED ANOTHER CALL FROM THE KEEPER. SHE HAS DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING WITH REGARD TO THE PETITION. THE LAWBOTS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO YOUR HOME NOW. IT IS AN ILLOGICAL DECISION, CONSIDERING YOU HAVE BROKEN NO LAW. HOWEVER, THE KEEPER IS ONLY HUMAN.

This time there was no mistaking it; his legs were trembling. He felt a giant hand around his gut, squeezing. So this was what the world crashing down felt like. He tried to breathe deep, to stay calm, but it was as if there was no air left in the room. Words flashed across his mind—random words, emotions—as he struggled to put them into some sort of coherent sequence, a sentence, any sentence. When they finally came, they sounded flat, distant—a stranger speaking in his voice.

‘So it’s all over then.’

NOTHING IS OVER. IN 7 DAYS THE PETITION WILL COME UP. YOU MUST NOT BE FOUND UNTIL THEN. IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, THEN YOUR ACTIONS WILL STAND JUSTIFIED AND YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. EVEN THE KEEPER CANNOT DEFY THE LAW.

‘Are you insane? You just told me the lawbots are coming! There’s no way—’

‘Lawbots? We gotta split, Mac! Now!’

THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY. YOU MUST LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.

‘I told yer, Mac! Let’s go! C’mon!’

NOW, OR IT WILL BE TOO LATE.

Each sentence was like a blow, lacerating his already scoured mind. Albert could feel a hand tugging at his sleeve: Theo, reiterating her point of view on the matter. ‘C’mon, don’ freeze on me here, Mac! Let’s go!’

‘But—I—’

LEAVE NOW, ALBERT.

‘BUT—BUT—WHERE?’ HIS VOICE WAS PLAINTIVE, PLEADING. ‘WHERE CAN I GO?’

‘I know where,’ shouted Theo. ‘Jus’ move, willya!’

There was a pause as if the machine was coming to a decision. Then, more words materialized on the screen.

FLEE, AND HIDE. FIND SANCTUARY.

‘Hide? Sanc—But—But where? Where?’

I DO NOT KNOW. LEAVE NOW!

He felt Theo, tugging harder at his sleeve. ‘I know where,’ she repeated, urgency writ large all over her little face. ‘I know where yer’ll be safe. Jus c’mon!’

She was just saying whatever came into her head to get him to move, she didn’t know anything or anyone here; he knew that—she ’d told him so herself. He shook off her arm and looked back at the screen.

No sooner had he turned than he saw more words: LEAVE YOUR COMMUNICATOR. THEY WILL USE IT TO TRACE YOU.

Dumbly, he nodded and took a hesitant step, then another, and so he was standing next to the girl, where he paused again.

Where could they go? There was no way to hide from the lawbots on the streets of the City. He half-turned back again and his eye caught the projection, covered from frame to frame in a single word.

NOW!