You know, if you say, 1, 2, 3, Go, then we’d all push.’

Lana nodded. ‘Or do a running jump?’

‘No!’ said Kate. ‘You’re not going to help him do this.’

At the other end of the Jellyfish there was a sudden burst of laughter, followed by a few shouts and calls. It sounded like the morning catch of fish was starting to arrive. It had probably landed on somebody’s face again. It was always brilliant when that happened – there’s nothing funnier than wet fish flapping in somebody else’s face.

With a shudder, Pete stood up. His hair was clumped together and claggy with seaweed, so that it was hard to tell what was beard and what was hair. All the salt water made it stick up like the mane you’d draw on a lion when you were little and you’d run out of yellow crayons, so had to use the greys and browns.

‘You can do it, Pete,’ said James, slapping him on the back. ‘This is your day. Come on, man. We believe in you!’

‘There’s still time to change your mind,’ said Kate. ‘We love you and think you’re great.’

Pete turned and shook her hand, then offered it to the rest of us in turn. We all shook it.

‘Guys!’ I shouted over to the Big House. ‘Pete’s going to jump again.’

‘Come on, Pete,’ said Lana. ‘Go for it!’

He took a few steps backwards and paused.

The tentacles slowed for a split second. There was a light waggle of movement, a lull. The breeze dropped too, and it seemed, for that moment, as if it might just be possible. Even the sway and pull of the waves seemed to pause. But then the larger tentacles swished sharply over to the left again, and the bits of jelly beneath them gave a roll, almost to show off.

‘Good luck,’ I said, and the others offered their goodbyes.

Pitiful Pete gave a nod in reply.

Somewhere behind us, the shouts and laughs came again. Nobody else was coming to watch Pete jump in.

He took a deep breath, looked once more up at the submerged houses and factories on the coastline, then took a step forward to launch himself towards them. He sprinted five paces, his ragged shirt streaming out behind him, and his bare feet slapping on the jellyfish mesoglea. He bowed his head and raised his arms as he reached the edge, before leaping off in a practised dive so smooth he barely made a splash.

There was another cheer from the Big House.

Then that lull again. The tentacles slowed. It was almost as if the world had stopped, as though time had paused. Lana looked round, eyes wide, and Kate put her hands up to her mouth. James raised his hands to keep us quiet.