On the other side of London, Sam was standing on the battlements of the Tower of London, staring out at the great swollen River Thames, a wide strip of silver in the moonlight. It had risen a few feet since the disaster, and the Tower once more had a water-filled moat around it, just as it had hundreds of years ago. Sam felt as if he were living inside a medieval story. When they’d arrived, he and the Kid had eaten some hot food and drunk some clean water and rested in soft beds. Sam still couldn’t quite believe they were here. Living in a castle, safe at last from all the dangers of London.

The Kid was standing next to him. His chin resting on his arms on top of the wall.

“What are you thinking about?” said Sam.

“Cheese.”

“Cheese?”

“The Kid used to like cheese. Hasn’t eaten any for a wicked long time. Tasty cheese. Cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese . . . Did you spot it? Down there?”

“What?”

“They got a genuine hundred percent cow. A living breathing lawn mooer.”

“I saw it, yeah,” said Sam. “And chickens and pigs and a goat.”

“Well, if there’s a cow, there’s milk, ain’t there?” said the Kid. “And if there’s milk, there’s possible cheese.”

“Could be,” said Sam. He didn’t want to disappoint the Kid, but he was pretty sure you needed a bull if you wanted a cow to make milk, though he wasn’t quite sure exactly how it all worked. Who knows? Maybe they had a bull as well.

“What you thinking about, over there yourself, Babybel?” the Kid asked. “If not cheese.”

“My sister, Ella.”

“You think she’s all right?”

“I hope she’s still alive somewhere,” said Sam. “I hope she made it to the palace and they’re looking after her like we’re being looked after here. I mean, if I can make it. Me. Small Sam. All the way across London all by myself—”

“Hey! Don’t I count?”

“You know what I mean,” said Sam. “If midges like us can do it, then surely Ella, with all those other kids—Akkie and Freak and Josh and Arran and everyone—surely she can do it too.”

“I’m sure she’s hunky-dory,” said the Kid, and he put an arm around Sam.

“Is that a good thing?” said Sam.

“The best.”

“You’re quite weird, you know?” said Sam.

“I’m different,” said the Kid. “My gran always said I was half clever, half stupid, and half crazy.”

“That’s three halves,” said Sam.

“Yeah. I told you I was different.”

“When we’re strong enough,” said Sam, “will you come with me?”

“Where? To Bucko Palace?”

“Yes. To find Ella.”