The boss grown-up was surrounded by a little gang, some of whom also carried weapons. They were a mismatched bunch, but they stuck together. One had a metal-shafted arrow through his shoulder, another had a Man. U. shirt, another had no shirt at all, only one arm, and his whole body was covered in blisters. The last one wore a filthy, pinstriped suit and appeared to have a Bluetooth earpiece embedded in his ear.

The worst thing was when the bald fat one looked up and met Callum’s eye. He had seemed to smile.

Callum had worried about them all night. They looked dangerous. And as soon as there had been enough light he had crept out onto the balcony to see if they were still out there.

They were.

He still had two bombs and various missiles ready. If these new grown-ups made a concerted effort to smash their way in, he’d just have to use all his firepower. For the time being all he could do was watch and wait.

He told himself he was just tired. That’s what his mother always used to say whenever he was cross or worried about something—“You’re just tired” or “Have you had a glass of water?” or “Have some fruit, your blood sugar’s probably low. . . .”

The fat ass in the Saint George vest would get bored sooner or later and wander off. They always did. There was no point in getting worked up about it. He’d run a bit longer. That would help. Maybe thirty laps. Maybe forty. Maybe he’d just keep running forever.

42

Blue yawned and looked up at the sky. It was a gray morning with thickening clouds. It wasn’t yet seven o’clock and it looked like one of those days that was going to turn nasty. There was a distant rumble of thunder, and he shivered. He’d rather have been in his bed right now, but there was work to be done.

They’d decided that the best time to go over to St. James’s Park and check out the squatters was first thing, when they’d all still be asleep. Most of the fighters were going. Though Freak and Sophie’s team and a few others had opted out, Pod and Jester had joined them, with a squad of fighters from the palace.

“So what’s the deal with David?” Blue asked. “How come he ain’t with us?”

“He’s not really a fighter,” said Pod. “He’s more of a leader, yeah?”

Achilleus wandered over, swinging a sledgehammer handle.

“And what about all those nerds in uniform?” he said.

“With the cool guns? How come they ain’t with us, neither?”

“If David wanted a show of strength, why didn’t he send them down?”