August sighed. ‘The idea is, we spread out a bit and try and cut off all their exits. The Pod may be singing away now, but we can’t guarantee that it won’t have stopped by the time we get there. All right?’

‘All right!’ Greeneye grabbed the second scanner and marched off determinedly.

‘Sometimes,’ August opined, ‘I wish someone else was the oldest.’ He checked the scanner. ‘Come on then, let’s finish this.’

‘Hello, Tim!’ Smith called brightly. ‘Please, don’t run away, we’ve been looking for you.’

Tim stepped forward uncertainly. ‘Dr Smith, Mrs Redfern… What happened to the school?’

‘It was blown up,’ Smith told him, walking towards him. ‘In other circumstances, we’d have a party, but⁠ —’

‘No you wouldn’t. You liked the place. You liked everything about it.’ Tim began to back away. ‘You’ve come to get me because I ran away. When I was bullied, you told me to put up with it.’

‘Yes. I did.’ Smith stopped and considered. ‘I did that because I was trying very hard. To fit in. To be one of the gang. I wanted to have a place so much that I did things I didn’t really want to do.’ He glanced at Joan. ‘I’ve got a place now, I know who I want to be. I’ve grown up. I’m sorry that I gave you the wrong advice.’

‘So it’s all right that I ran away from school?’

‘If you don’t like a place, you shouldn’t stay there.’

‘And what about the bullies?’

‘They’re the worst thing in the world. It’s a big circle. They hurt people. The people they hurt feel powerless and go on to hurt other people when they’re able to. And the original bullies were once hurt themselves. The wheel keeps on turning. Unless you step off.’

‘That’s what I’m going to do,’ said Tim firmly. ‘That’s what’s in this sphere, you know, the things you need to know so that you don’t have to cause harm.’

Joan spoke up. ‘John knows all about that, now.’

‘Well, that’s good. For myself, I know I shall never hurt anybody again.’ Tim paused for a moment. ‘Were you ever bullied, Dr Smith?’