Hutchinson started to say something, but it came out as a roar. He sprinted towards the pit and the other boys followed, yelling shrill cries.

Hutchinson grabbed one of Greeneye’s swords from the ground where it lay and Merryweather grabbed another. The rest of the boys formed a rough circle around the pit as the alien climbed out of it, clutching their rocks and clubs.

Only Anand stayed back, beside Alexander. ‘Are you going to help them?’ he asked Bernice.

Benny realized that she’d just been staring at the scene, absolutely useless to everybody. She was feeling sick inside. It took her a moment to realise why.

She’d seen this before.

She started forward. ‘Wait⁠ —’

Greeneye was now fully emerged from the pit. ‘Well then?’ he shouted. ‘Who’s first!’ He grabbed for his gun.

Hutchinson lashed out and Greeneye clutched at his upper arm, the gun tumbling from his numbed fingers.

Merryweather ran in and struck him across the leg, the ultrasharp blade bursting a line of blood from Greeneye’s thigh. He roared and lashed out, knocking Merryweather to the ground. He stumbled forward, felling boys to the left and right with his fists. Hutchinson went flying too, dropping his sword.

But the boys still closed in, swinging their rocks and clubs.

Benny shoved her way through the crowd, pushing them aside to get to the man.

Lashing out all around him, he was blindly groping to get a hand into his boot.

He pulled out a small black capsule.

Benny leapt through the boys, straight at him. She knocked him over, landing on his chest, blows still falling randomly around her.

‘You can’t stop us!’ Greeneye was roaring. ‘I⁠ — will⁠ — see you all die…’

His fingers squeezed the end of the capsule. It was about to burst.

Benny felt something give inside her, an internal explosion of some vast rage she’d never known. ‘Nobody else dies!’ she shouted.

And she punched him.

Very hard.

The body slumped back on to the ground, unconscious.

The capsule fell from his hand. The boys fell back.

Hutchinson swayed into view amongst them, having recovered the sword. He swung it up overhead, about to behead the alien.

But Benny threw herself on to the body, clutching him tightly to her, slamming her head against his. ‘Nobody else dies! Do you hear me?’ She glared up at Hutchinson.

‘Do you understand?’

‘She’s hysterical.’ Alton stepped forward. ‘Let’s get you⁠ —’

‘I am not bloody hysterical, I’m not the one trying to kill the hostage!’

There was a general mumble of agreement. The boys started to drop their improvised weapons.

Hutchinson placed the sword on the ground, visibly controlling his anger.

Alexander helped Benny to her feet. She was shivering. ‘Busy day.’ She flapped her hand, wincing. ‘Ow, I think I’ve broken my knuckle.’