‘Told you, it’s a surprise.’ Rave looked towards the bushes. ‘Stash it in there.’

Jeremy sighed. ‘Fine.’ He wheeled the bike down to the bushes. Rave was still sitting on the ground, gazing into the sky. ‘It feels better looking up than looking down, doesn’t it?’

‘Are you sure you didn’t take anything?’

‘Never. Never ever.’

Jeremy pushed the bike into the leaves and bushes as best he could.

‘You’ll find it here, right?’

Rave looked over. ‘A fuckin’ blind man could find it.’ He laughed.

Jeremy joined his friend on the bridge. ‘So, which way?’

Rave pointed up the side of the mountain that swept down to the reservoir. ‘Up there.’

‘No way! We’ll slip and fall.’

‘No, we won’t.’

‘It’s been rainin’ for three days straight – there’s a bleedin’ landslide waitin’ to happen.’

‘It’s grand.’

‘We can’t see where we’re going.’

‘If you’re scared hold on to me.’ He set off.

Jeremy stared at the muddy, uneven ground ahead. Ah, shite.

Before they’d even got off the bridge the rain had started to fall. Rave turned to Jeremy and laughed. It was good to see he was feeling better but still this was lunacy. ‘We’re going to die here,’ Jeremy said, at the foot of the hill.

‘We’ve got to die somewhere, Beany.’ Rave took the first slippery step, turned to Jeremy and held out his hand. Jeremy grasped it and Rave hauled him up. ‘No turning back now, Beany.’

WEDNESDAY,
4 JANUARY 1995

Chapter Seven

‘Patience’
Guns N’ Roses, 1989

Fred

IT WAS A rough night. Fred put Maisie to bed around ten p.m. ‘You should go,’ she said to him.

‘I’ll just wait until you’re asleep.’

‘You should go,’ she repeated.

‘OK.’ He handed her a sedative.

‘I can’t take that.’

‘You need sleep, if you’re to be any good tomorrow.’

‘But my ma …’

‘They’re light. If she needs you, you’ll wake.’

She trusted him, but he was lying. She’d be out for at least five hours. I’m sorry, love, but you’re a zombie and we need you back.