“Too big for a squirrel,” said Maxie, who had also heard something and had come over to consult with Lewis.

“Well, I ain’t climbing up there to find out,” said Lewis.

“Look out, we’re getting split up,” said Ben, pointing to the front of the column where the fighters were walking on.

Maxie swore and ran after them, shouting to Blue to stop.

“What is it?”

“Wait for the others to catch up.”

“Why have they stopped?”

“The little kids are getting scared. There’s something in the trees.”

“Yeah, we heard it. We reckon it’s best to push on.”

“Can you see anything up there?”

“Too many leaves. Whatever it is, it’s good at hiding.”

“Shouldn’t we at least warn everyone to be careful?”

“We start shouting orders, the kids’ll get even more scared,” said Blue. “You go around and tell them. And get the others to hurry up.”

Achilleus came over. “Why ain’t we moving?”

“We need to look up, Akkie,” said Maxie quietly. “There’s something in the trees.”

“I hate to say it, but there’s something in the grass too,” said Achilleus, peering into the darkness.

“What?”

“Something’s crawling about in there. Not big enough to be grown-ups.”

“What is it, then? Could it be other kids?”

“Dunno,” said Achilleus, and before Maxie could stop him, he put a hand to his mouth and shouted, “Hey! Who’s there? Show yourself.”

Nothing. The grass was absolutely still.

“We need to press on,” said Blue, and he started walking again.

“Wait,” said Maxie, but it was no use.

Her heart was thumping as she made her way back to the huddled mass of smaller kids.

“You have to hurry up,” she said, glad, in a way, to be doing something to take her mind off Arran.

“I don’t like it under the trees,” said Ella.

“Don’t go in the grass,” said Maxie. “Don’t you dare go in the grass.”

“Why not?”

“Just don’t.”

“Why? Is there something there? Is there something in the grass?”

“No. We just need to stick together, is all.” Maxie sensed a mounting panic among the smaller kids.

Whitney had sensed it too, and was going around telling them not to be scared. Maxie looked to the front. Blue and Jester and the others were getting farther away. She felt like she was slowly losing control.

“Get going,” she said, hustling kids forward.

Half the small kids walked on, the rest milled around fearfully. Some were even heading back the way they had come.

“Hold still!” Maxie shouted, but at that moment something dropped from the trees and landed with the effect of a bomb going off among the children. In an instant they were running, screaming, in all directions.

Before Maxie could do anything, something else dropped from the trees. Then another. Gray blurs that shrieked as they came down. She gripped Arran’s club.