‘It’s a quotation of some sort,’ said Ollie. ‘But some of it’s worn off. I can’t read it all.’

‘Try.’

Ollie began to read. ‘Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon – can’t read this bit, um – he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth – next bit’s gone – He deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honour of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived – I can’t read any of this next bit, except – He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number.’

‘Yeah, great,’ said Blue. ‘That’s a real help.’

Chapter 44

44

‘Cats,’ said Kamahl.

Big Mick grinned. Cats. Of course. It was pretty bloody obvious when you came to look at it properly. It wasn’t one creature at the doors, it was about thirty of them. Feral cats. Tangled, writhing, up on their back legs scratching at the glass. Mick had never liked cats, and these ones were horrible. They were scabby, chewed up, half bald, with chunks of fur missing, runny eyes, snotty noses, desperately thin, their bones showing through stretched skin.

He felt suddenly sick. He wanted to get out there and smash them to pieces. Needed to take out his frustration on something.

‘First dogs, now cats,’ said Kamahl. ‘What next? Mutant killer mice?’

No one laughed.

‘What are they after?’ Jake asked.

‘Who cares?’ Mick replied. ‘Let’s get rid of them.’

‘What for?’

‘For fun.’

‘Fun?’

‘I don’t like them.’

‘If we don’t have to go outside let’s not go, yeah?’ said Brandon. ‘We’re supposed to keep watch and wait here for the others to get back.’

Brandon was a bit nervous, careful, but you could always rely on him in a fight. Jake had a habit of being a bit crazy and rushing into things. Brandon and Kamahl used their brains a bit more.

‘We’ll check outside,’ said Mick. ‘See if any more grown-ups have got through the fence.’

‘Mick – if we don’t have to …’

‘We do have to, Brandon. We have to guard the rear, and that means we might have to walk the perimeter.’

‘Mick … They’re cats.’