Crowky pauses, the lid half open. “Your friend? Wininja, how stupid are you? Haven’t you ever wondered why your ‘friend’ won’t take you to Home? He’s not your friend: you’re his prisoner, and he keeps all of us trapped in Roar. But that’s about to end!” And with this he throws open the lid.

There’s nothing I can do. Mitch has dived into the sea, but she’s not coming to help us, she’s pushing Rose back toward the Alisha. “Mitch!” I yell, but Rose’s storm continues to swirl above us, sending down flurries of ice and a fierce wind. Mitch can’t hear me. She can barely see me!

My stomach twists as I stare at the black opening of the Box. But nothing comes out. Ice falls on us, the wind howls. Still nothing comes out.

Just when I’m wondering if I’m safe, Win steps toward Crowky. Then, loudly and clearly he says, “You’re wrong. We’re not trapped here. Anyone can get to Home. I’ve been there twice!”

Crowky stares at him, dumbstruck. “What?”

“Win, what are you doing?” I say, but it’s like I haven’t spoken.

Win keeps walking toward Crowky. “I’ve crawled through the tunnel above the waterfall. I’ve visited Home. I’ve seen Arthur and Rose there, and their grandad, and I’ve seen loads of other things too.”

“But . . . how?” Crowky whispers.

“SHUT UP, Win.” I throw myself at him and try to wrap my hands around his mouth, but he pushes me aside with such force that I slide back across the ice.

“Getting into Home is easy,” he says, then he points at the T-shirt Crowky’s wearing. “You just need that, or anything that comes from Home. The T-shirt is a key that will take you there.”

Crowky lets go of the Box and the lid falls shut. The words fade away. My fear has come out.

Crowky stares down at Grandad’s “NO PROB-LLAMA” T-shirt. Then he starts to laugh.

“Arthur?’ Win looks around in confusion, then rushes over, pulling me to my feet. “Arthur . . . What have I done?” Our teeth are chattering and we’re shivering. “I’m sorry,” Win says again and again.

“It’s too late,” I say. “Look.”

Crowky has already left. He’s abandoned the Box and us, and he’s leaping back across the ice, heading for land. No, not land, I think, he’s heading for Home.

Chapter 52

“Crowky’s right,” says Win. “I am stupid.”

“Listen to me, Win. It wasn’t your fault. The Box made you say those things. My fear has always been that Crowky will get to Home. It could have been you saying that stuff, or me, or it could have been written with fireworks in the sky. As soon as the Box was opened it was going to happen.”