‘Shut up, Zain!’ Colby said heatedly. ‘You’re going to be fine! We’ll get you back and—’

The man held up a hand weakly, interrupting him. ‘No. I’ll only slow you down.’

‘I said shut up!’

The man smiled, the red around his mouth and its contrast with the white of his face forming a ghastly imitation of a clownbot. ‘Sorry, Captain. I’m staying.’ He looked around at them, daring them to contradict him, defiance shining in his eyes.

The whirring was so loud now they were shouting to make themselves heard over the din. The wounded man turned to Ollie. ‘I know I’m not much good, sir, but give me a blaster and I might be able to buy you a minute or two.’

Ollie looked at him, his face surprisingly gentle. ‘So it’s like that, eh?’ he said softly. Then he nodded. ‘All right.’

He turned his attention to Theo, who was looking at him, a strange expression on her face. ‘Yes? You want to say something, too?’

‘You’re cool,’ she said. ‘I’ll stay with you, too.’

He chuckled. ‘Sudden love for the fat man? But no, you won’t, sweetheart. Be off with you now!’

She stamped her foot. ‘No! You can’t tell me what to do! I’m staying!’

‘I’m getting tired of all this drama,’ said Ollie easily, shifting to look at the tunnel the noise was coming from. ‘Marcus,’ he said without turning around, ‘take her.’

Quicker than the eye could follow, Marcus picked Theo up and slung her over his shoulder in one fluid motion. She hammered at his back with her small fists, kicking her legs. ‘No! Let me go!’

He ignored her and took a few steps towards the tunnel, before turning back towards Ollie. There was a strange look in his eyes. Was it anger? Regret? Sadness? It was impossible to say.

‘Farewell,’ he said, and turned and began walking towards the tunnel. Ollie stared at his retreating back, a strange smile playing on his face. ‘Would have been fun,’ he murmured. He turned, looking sharply at June. ‘You’re not getting any ideas,’ he said.

‘You know I can’t leave,’ said June.

‘Oh yes, you can. You’ve done all you can, but you need to know when to quit, or at least take a break. Off you go, now.’

‘No!’

‘Don’t you get it? You won’t find him if you’re dead, and dead’s all the payoff you’re getting if you stay here!’

‘I can’t leave.’

He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. ‘You’re not going to help him by staying! Go now, girl! That’s an order! Do you understand?’

Dumbly, she nodded, eyes blazing furiously out of the dust-covered visage. Then she reached across and hugged him, clinging fiercely to his broad frame. ‘Goodbye, Ollie,’ she said. ‘I’ll miss … I’ll—’