“Got him,” Deke spluttered. His face was glowing white in the gloom so that it looked almost luminous.

“Come on,” said Achilleus. “Let’s go.”

But the attack wasn’t over. An enraged father bundled into them, knocking Deke hard into the vending machine and smashing the glass. Deke grunted, winded.

Achilleus dealt swiftly with the father, striking him in the mouth, and with that the remaining grown-ups gave up. They fell back as Achilleus and the other two waded toward the edge. Achilleus started taunting them, cursing and swearing and calling them all the names he could think of, daring them to attack.

“Come on, you lazy sods! Attack me, you cowards, come on!”

But the grown-ups were melting away, slipping back under the murky surface of the pool. Achilleus felt a surge of relief; his bravado had been all show. He was exhausted, Freak and Deke had lost their weapons, and if the grown-ups did mount a full-scale attack, the boys would stand little chance. He looked back. The other two were still stumbling through the water. Deke looked like he was on his last legs. Achilleus went to him, grabbed hold of Freak around the waist, and pulled the two of them along until, spluttering and slipping and stumbling, they staggered to the poolside.

“What kept you?” said Arran as they joined him and Ollie, who had secured the seating area.

“I had to rescue the Chuckle Brothers,” said Achilleus.

“We couldn’t leave without having a swim,” said Deke, his voice hoarse and cracked. He coughed and doubled up in pain.

“Is he all right?” Arran asked Achilleus.

“Think so. Come on, what’s the holdup? Let’s get out of here.”

“Easier said than done.” Ollie loosed a shot at a black silhouette in the reception area. “They’re blocking the exit.”

Achilleus swore. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. These are some clever bastards. They set a trap for us.”

“These guys are getting scary,” said Ollie.

“We’ll get our breath back and take them,” said Achilleus. “They don’t scare me.”

Deke was coughing again and shivering. He moaned. He looked whiter than ever. Freak seemed to be coming out of his daze, though. He shook his head and rubbed his temple with the heel of one hand.

“My ax?” he said.

“It’s gone, Superman,” said Achilleus. “Forget it. We’ll find you another one. For now we’ve just got to get clear of this dump. You reckon you can walk now?”

“I’m fine,” said Freak.

“Deke don’t look so hot.”

Freak turned to his friend.

“Thanks for getting me out of that, bro,” he said.

Deke nodded. “No probs.” But his breathing was fast and shallow, and there was a bubble of blood on his lips.

“You hurt?”

Deke forced a feeble grin. “I think I’m poisoned.”

“You was under the water for a long time, man, a long time,” said Achilleus.

“I feel sick.” Deke swayed to one side, and Freak caught him.

“You’re bleeding,” said Freak, putting a hand to Deke’s side. His clothes were stained black by blood. Achilleus lifted his arm; a large shard of jagged glass was sticking out of his side.