Must have drifted off. Next I knew, a series of rhythmic raps on the door made me start and leap up, disoriented and flailing. “They’re back!”

Dark Boy looked up from his stacks of paper. “Relax. It’s Dan. That’s his knock.”

“Daniel? Here? He’s alive?”

“He better have dinner with him or he won’t be.”

I was at sea again. “How did he find us?”

He patted his jeans pocket as he crossed to unbar the door. “GPS, stupid.”

It really was Daniel, leaning breathless against the doorframe in the pale creep of light from outside. He was drenched and sooty, wearing new cuts and bruises and a fired-up wariness more like a warrior than a bookseller. He slipped in with a furtive backward glance, shutting the door quietly. “Everyone okay in here?”

I didn’t realize how tense I’d been until my joints all went liquid. I stayed where I was.

“Danny boy!” crowed Dark Boy. “About time! I’m fucking famished!”

“Hello to you, too, Jules.” Daniel slung a weighty backpack off one shoulder and tossed it to him. “Your order, sir. Save some for us.”

“You’ll have to kill me first.”

The backpack delivered, Daniel sagged against the closed door, chest heaving. “Whew. Break time. Haven’t slowed down in twenty-four hours.” He looked my way. “You okay, Glim? Julie behaving himself?” He registered my stare and cocked his head sternly. “What’s he done?”

“No, no, it’s . . .” I looked from one to the other, and back again. “He really is your brother.”

Side by side, even in the dim light, the resemblance was obvious, once you had the idea of it: Daniel, the rounder, more restrained version of Dark Boy’s lean and scowling good looks. With Daniel gone all filthy and feral, they made a pair. I reckoned eight to ten years between them.

“Sorry.” But his smile was unapologetic. “Couldn’t stop for introductions.”

“He’d rather no one knew.” Dark Boy dug eagerly into the backpack. “I’m the Nathans’ best-kept secret.”

I noted the plural. Were there more of them?

“Actually, he washed in with the tide.”

“You wish.” Out came bread, cheese, apples. Dark Boy set them alongside a sleek thermos. No mention of us having met before. I didn’t bring it up either.

“You’re a mess.” I pulled the towel from the sink and passed it to Daniel.

“Thanks.” He blotted bloodied mud from his face and hands, watching me. “Sure everything’s okay?”

I reached for my battered water bottle. My throat had gone dry. “Sure.”

I had a head crammed with questions and no idea where to start. Food was a safe beginning and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “Apples! They even look fresh!”

Daniel put the towel aside. “Toss one over, will ya?”

“There’s only two.”

“Give her mine, creep.”