‘The water came so fast . . . We were all pressed up to the ceiling, thrown around by the current, taking our final breaths. But because the water pushed us up to the ceiling, I found an opening up there, a passage. It was a squeeze, it was so narrow, but I was just about able to get in. But . . . the other two didn’t fit. I watched . . . I saw them . . . when the water came into the opening, I had to leave them behind. I dunno how, but I made it out.

‘I ran all the way home. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I was going to get help from Dad, but when I got home, Jesse was there. He was at my dad’s place. That’s when I knew it wasn’t safe for me. Not at home, not anywhere in Shacktown. And . . . and you know the rest. Dad got blamed for the disappearance, and he vanished himself. I’ve been hiding from Jesse Dempsey ever since.’

Huck finished talking. His story was over. He wiped at his eyes again.

Forest wrapped his friend in a hug, feeling sick. He couldn’t believe he’d gone through this. He couldn’t even imagine how scary it would be to be trapped like that, buried alive, left to drown . . . but Huck had stopped crying.

‘Get off me,’ he said, but without any force behind it. ‘I don’t need your sympathy. I just want to get back at Jesse. I want justice for Forest and his mum.’

‘There might be a way. Do you remember the map?’ said Forest, pulling away.

‘What?’

‘The map Alexandra drew, to the Treasure Cave. Do you remember where it pointed?’

‘Do you have any idea how scared I was? How it felt to know that . . . that I would die? That map was the last thing I was thinking about!’

‘But if no one’s ever found it . . . the map would still be there.’

‘In that cave? That tomb? Don’t even think about it.’

He knew how painful this was for his friend. Telling that story must have felt like reliving it . . . but that was exactly why he needed the map: to make things right. ‘I need that map,’ said Forest.

‘You’ve already stirred up Forest’s ghost enough.’

‘You said you’d be there for me, whenever I needed.’

‘You’re the one who broke the oath of secrecy!’ said Huck.

‘I haven’t,’ said Forest. ‘I haven’t told a soul what happened to Forest. Please. I’m doing all of this for you.’

‘I never asked you to!’

‘Then why are you still here?’ demanded Forest. ‘Why haven’t you run away again?’

‘Shut up!’

‘Face it,’ said Forest. ‘I’m the only one you’ve got, in the whole world. It’s you and me. Once I clear your name, we can . . .’