‘How the hell did you miss this? Weren’t you watching the little bastards?’ I was too furious to keep my voice down. ‘Someone turned off the freezer and set fire to the kitchen! Where were you, Shaun?’

‘Robyn—’

‘I thought you were going to watch them!’

‘We did.’

‘The freezer must have happened last night. Do you realise that? And you’re telling me none of you saw a thing?’ I walked right up to him and stuck my face into his. ‘This isn’t bloody good enough,’ I hissed.

‘I know,’ he said, infuriatingly calm. ‘But the toilet might have been a dopey moment. Even the freezer—’

‘You’re saying I did it?’

‘No.’

‘You’re saying I turned off the freezer and somehow… forgot?’

‘The switch is down near all the mops and brooms. Something could have fallen against it.’ His voice was slowing down as mine sped up. It was an obvious technique and it enraged me. ‘I’m not saying we can rule out the boys,’ he went on, ‘but we can’t jump to conclusions, either.’

‘You think I’m plotting against you? You think this is me trying to make you look bad?’

‘No!’ He sounded shocked.

‘Maybe you think I’m paranoid.’

‘Of course not. But you need to calm down. This isn’t the time or the place.’

He glanced past me. Warren was hovering at the door. Most of the kids were outside, though one or two lingered.

‘You’re right. I need to calm down.’ I took a deep breath. ‘You can clean this up. I’ll take that tech into the bush.’

Shaun blinked. ‘What? Oh, no. You can’t—’

‘I can. I know exactly what to do. You always put your caches in the same place. Half the time I have to collect the marker flags.’ As Shaun opened his mouth to speak, I added, ‘If all four of you can’t keep these kids under control, why risk sending Joe away?’ I held out my hand. ‘Give me your radio. Jake stamped on mine.’

It was a tense moment. Shaun wasn’t used to having his authority challenged. He looked disgruntled.

But after exchanging a glance with Warren, he passed me his walkie-talkie.

I caught Joe just in time. He’d sealed the boys’ tech in waterproof containers and was heading out of his hut. There was a short argument, followed by a quick map check. Having satisfied himself that I knew where I was going, he handed over his gym bag and wished me luck.

I rushed back home for my rucksack and water bottle, then escaped into the bush. My first stop was the zipline. I left the box labelled ‘number one’ next to a red marker flag on the upper platform. I even paused to enjoy the view, but the dazzling sweep of water wasn’t consoling. All it did was remind me how isolated I was.