“Yeah,” said Maxie. “To have gotten all the way here from Holloway and then die in a stupid squabble with some other kids.”

Blue took her hand and squeezed it. Maxie frowned. Taken by surprise. She didn’t pull away, though. It felt comforting.

Presently there was a knock, and Ollie came in. Blue let go of Maxie’s hand.

“Have I missed anything?” Ollie asked, sitting on the other side of the bed.

“Maxie’s told me everything,” said Blue.

“You should have seen her,” said Ollie. “A proper wartime leader.”

“I’d rather be a peacetime leader,” said Maxie.

“It’s all sorted out now,” said Ollie. “We won.”

Maxie shook her head. “You must admit that it sucked, what went down back there. A fight to the bloody death.”

“No one died,” said Ollie. “And the squatters are on our side now. I don’t see how we could have done that without some kind of fight.”

“It wasn’t our fight, though,” said Maxie.

“If we’re going to stay here, then yes, it was our fight.”

“If we’re going to stay.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I think we should all leave.”

“Wait a minute, Max,” said Ollie. “David’s—”

“Oh, shut up about David!” Maxie interrupted. “I know how palsy you two are, but I want nothing more to do with him.”

“Listen,” said Blue. “Before you two start getting into a fight. While I been lying here I been thinking. About me and David. On the way to the palace I talked to Jester, asked him who was gonna be in charge when we got here. He said we’d talk about it. It hasn’t really happened, except for all that crap about being a general and stuff.”

“It’s not about who’s in charge,” said Maxie. “It’s about what David represents.”

“That’s too deep for me, girl. Far as I’m concerned it comes down to the fact that we’ve got too many bosses.”

“He’s never going to let you take charge, Blue.”

“Then what are we talking about? We either fight David for top job, or we get out.”

“That’s one way of looking at it. . . .”

“It’s the only way I know, girl.”

“Well, we’re not fighting,” said Maxie. “Whatever I think of David, I don’t want to fight him and the other kids here.”

“So we go, then?” said Blue.

“Hold on a minute,” said Ollie. “We need to talk about this properly.”

“Whose side you on, man?” said Blue.

“I’m not on anybody’s side.”

“Then you ain’t on our side.”

“There don’t need to be sides.”

“Well, there are,” said Blue. “You gotta choose.”