‘I do?’ Maxie looked intrigued.

‘Yeah, about me leaving.’

‘You’re leaving?’ said Blue.

‘In the morning. Us three and Robbie.’

‘You serious?’ Blue stared into Maeve’s eyes, trying to see if there was any trace of doubt there. He didn’t know the girl well. She wasn’t one of his Morrisons crew; none of the kids leaving were.

‘Deadly serious,’ said Maeve. ‘We’ve been over and over it.’

‘But where you gonna go?’

‘We’re getting out of town. Heading west. To the countryside. Out the way you went, past Heathrow. We’ll keep going until we find somewhere safe.’

‘You might keep going till you fall off the edge of the world, girl.’

Maeve smiled. ‘If that’s what it takes.’

Blue looked at Maxie, who shrugged.

‘I can’t stop them,’ she said. ‘But I wish you weren’t going, Maeve.’

‘Oh, come on!’ said Blue. ‘Four of you? Two little ones? Another kid who can hardly walk. You won’t stand a chance.’

‘It’s a risk we’re willing to take,’ said Maeve quietly. ‘We’ve had enough of London. All this …’

Blue turned his attention to Monkey-Boy.

‘You sure about this?’ he said.

Monkey-Boy looked very scared. He gripped on to Maeve’s jumper.

‘I’m not leaving Maeve,’ he said. ‘She looks after me.’

‘And I’m sticking with Monkey-Boy,’ said Ella. ‘We’re a team. There’s nothing for me here.’

‘What about your brother?’ said Maxie. ‘What about Sam?’

‘He’s dead,’ said Ella quietly. ‘I’m never going to see him again. And I don’t want to stay here in London,’ she went on. ‘It just reminds me of him. We got so far, we did so well, and then …’

Blue didn’t know what to say. He went round the bench and gave Ella and Maeve a quick hug. What he’d seen of Maeve he liked. She was quiet and serious and calm. A good kid to have around.

‘It’s your decision, doc,’ he said. ‘But we could do with you here. What with you knowing about medicine and all.’

‘I don’t know half as much as him,’ Maeve said, throwing a look at Einstein. ‘I think you’ll do just fine without me.’

She stood up and gave Maxie a little kiss.

‘I miss you already,’ she said. ‘But one day … I’m sure we’ll all meet again. In better times, yeah?’

‘I hope you’re right,’ said Maxie. ‘I hope there’s an amazing new life waiting for you out there. Send us a card, won’t you?’

‘I’ll send flowers,’ said Maeve. ‘From the countryside. Freshly cut and smelling of … I don’t know – life.’

‘Good luck,’ said Blue, and as he said it the whole lab was lit a brilliant white as lightning flashed in the sky overhead. ‘Better times.’

Chapter 92

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