They were hungrier than ever.

The kids trudged up Holloway Road. It was full of memories for Arran—eating at McDonald’s, shopping with his mom, going to the movies. . . .

He tried to shut the memories out. They only made him feel worse.

When they came to Archway they moved more cautiously.

There was a tube station here, a perfect hiding place for grown-ups.

“Which way?” said Deke.

“Highgate Road,” said Arran. “We’ll work our way toward the Whittington.”

“Ain’t going in no hospital,” said Achilleus.

“What’s the problem?”

“There won’t be nothing in there,” said Achilleus.

“Maybe drugs?” said Ollie. “Paracetamol and antibiotics and that.”

“Doubt it,” said Deke. “When everything kicked off, it would have been the first place to be looted.”

“We’ll take a look anyway,” said Arran. “Just in case. But let’s try the houses around here first.”

“Ain’t going in no hospital,” Achilleus repeated.

“What about the swimming pool, then?” said Freak.

“What about it?” said Achilleus.

“Worth a look, eh?”

“Why?” said Achilleus. “You feel like taking a swim?”

“Nah,” said Freak, “but there was always a vending machine in there.”

“Never worked,” said Achilleus. “Always stole your money.”

“Worth a look,” said Freak. “Think about it . . . Mars Bars, chips, chewing gum . . .”

“Won’t be nothing in there,” said Achilleus. “Not after all this time.”

“Listen,” Freak insisted. “Far as we know, us and the Morrisons crew are the only kids around. And they never come up here. All I’m saying is we should look. Okay? If we’re looking in the Whittington we should look in the pool as well. We search everywhere, in’t that right, Arran?”

“Suppose so,” said Arran.

“Waste of time,” said Ollie. “When have we ever found a vending machine with anything in it?”

“You agree with me, don’t you, Deke?” said Freak.

“He agrees with everything you say,” Achilleus scoffed.

“Try me,” said Deke.

“The world is flat,” said Freak.

“Yes it is,” said Deke.

“Penguins can fly,” said Freak.

“Yes they can,” said Deke.

“I am the greatest kid that ever walked the earth,” said Freak.

“Yes you are,” said Deke.

“Ha-ha, very funny,” said Achilleus.

“Akkie is a jerk,” said Freak.

“Yes he is,” said Deke.

“I think you’ve made your point,” said Arran, trying not to smile. “We’ll take a look.”

Ollie sighed. This was a waste of time. What they needed was proper food, not junk. But Arran had spoken, and he was their leader.

Ollie shoved a hand into his jacket and rolled the heavy steel shot between his fingers. The cold hardness comforted him.

He didn’t like the idea of exploring the swimming pool. He was always scared on these hunts, and going into the unknown like this just made his heart race faster.

“Come on,” said Arran. “Let’s go.”

“Searching the swimming pool is a genius idea,” said Freak.

“Yes it is,” said Deke.

The glass doors of the swimming pool were cracked and so covered with dust on the inside that it was impossible to see anything through them. Deke hefted his sledgehammer and took a swing, aiming for a spot next to the handles. The glass exploded with a bang and fell out of the frame in sparkling nuggets.