Sam looked. There was a big ginger cat lying on one of the seats. The woman scooped him up and tickled him behind his ear. He purred happily.

“You have a cat?” Sam said, sitting down. He couldn’t quite believe any of this was really happening.

“That’s right. Plenty of food for him down in these tunnels,” said the woman. “I’m Rachel, by the way. Old grumpy face there is Nick. He don’t say much, so I’m guessing he’s not introduced himself. Am I right?”

“He hasn’t,” said Sam.

“Less of the ‘grumpy face,’ woman,” said Nick.

“Oh, I know you’re not really grumpy inside; it’s just your manner. But the poor lad’s probably terrified. You need to show him a bit of kindness.”

“I’m all right,” said Sam. “I’m glad Nick rescued me.”

“So am I, my love,” said Rachel. “So am I.”

She tinkered about at the stove, stirring the contents of a pan with a big wooden spoon. The smell was overpowering. Sam’s mouth was filling with saliva, his stomach shouting for food.

“Be ready in a jiffy.”

Sam felt warm and safe and sleepy. He was on the verge of crying. He looked across at Nick, who was sitting on the bed. Nick winked and his face creased into a smile. Sam smiled back.

“So what were you doing, all alone down there?” Nick asked, taking out a tobacco pouch and rolling a cigarette.

“I’d gone into the station to get away from some grown-ups,” said Sam, yawning. “Then I got stuck down there. Every time I tried to get out, there were more of them.”

“They’re like big old rats,” said Nick, making a sour face. “The sick ones. We’re pretty safe around these parts, though. They’ve learned to leave us alone. They don’t bother us none.”

“Why didn’t you two get sick?” asked Sam. “We thought everyone over sixteen got ill.”

Nick shrugged. “Dunno,” he said. “There’s probably others like us, somewhere. When we’re ready I guess we’ll go looking for answers. For now we’re just glad to be alive and healthy.” He tapped his head. “Knock on wood.”

“So you were by yourself, young Sam, were you?” Rachel asked.

“We got split up,” said Sam. “I was trying to find my friends. They were on their way into London to Buckingham Palace.”

“What on earth for?”

“It’s safe there.”

“Yeah?” said Nick. “First I heard about it. Mind you, I ain’t been over that way since this all started.”

“So, these friends of yours?” said Rachel. “Are there many of them?”

“About fifty, I think.”

“Fifty?” said Nick. “You’re joking, aren’t you? We never found that many kids together nowhere.”

“You’ve found other kids, then?” said Sam. “Alive?”