She stretched her back. The seat wasn’t too comfortable. She was beginning to wonder whether it wouldn’t be better just to go to bed and get a good night’s sleep. Leave Cameron to it. The long, dull hours of night-time stretched out ahead of her and she seriously doubted that Blue was going to stroll up any time before daybreak. She was jealous of Cameron. He looked very peaceful, and stupid, in that way that sleeping people do, his mouth hanging open, dribbling slightly, head lolling over on his neck. Vulnerable too. He looked much younger asleep than he did awake. She guessed he was about thirteen, maybe just fourteen. They’d all had to grow up bare quick, but like this, defences down, she was reminded that they were just children.

She heard a noise and glanced round quickly. It was only the patrol. Two boys and two girls, coming in from the right, where the museum shop was. They must have finished their circuit of the green zone.

‘He asleep already?’ said one of the girls. ‘Cameron’s so lazy. He’s always asleep.’

‘He’s a useless guard,’ said one of the boys. ‘He should stick to the day watch. You OK with him?’

‘No problem,’ said Maxie. ‘I think we’ve got everything covered down here.’

‘OK. See you on the next circuit.’

She watched them walking off into the blue zone, their torch beams zigzagging on the floor, heard their chatter and a burst of laughter. It was a comforting sound. She supposed she ought to be more scared of Paul, but she had no real sense of him, couldn’t picture him, didn’t know how dangerous he might be. She understood sickos; she knew to be properly careful of them. She also knew their limitations. What they could and couldn’t do.

A rogue kid was something different.

She got up and went over to Cameron. He’d started to snore. She kicked his leg and he came spluttering awake, looking confused and bleary, wide-eyed, like he’d been caught doing something wrong.

‘What is it?’ he said when he saw her. Relaxed a little.

‘You’re sleeping on the job, Cam.’

‘Was I? Sorry. How long have I been asleep?’

‘Not long. I was going to let you sleep a bit longer.’

‘Yeah?’ Cameron scratched his head and sniffed. ‘Why didn’t you?’

‘I wanted to ask you something.’

‘Go on then.’ Even though he was in the wrong, Cameron had that grumpy, feeling-sorry-for-himself attitude of someone who’d just been woken up.

‘It’s about Paul,’ said Maxie.

Cameron grunted.

‘What was he like?’ Maxie went on.