‘Well, if DogNut was some kind of spy for David,’ said Jackson, fighting the rising passion in her voice, ‘you don’t have to worry about him any more, do you? Unless you think his dying was some sort of clever plan.’

‘I’m sorry, Jackson …’

‘He saved my life,’ said Jackson. ‘Me and Robbie and Ethan. He held the sickos back so that we could get away. I’ve never run from a fight in my life, but I had to save Robbie. So don’t you ever say anything about DogNut ever again. OK?’

‘OK. OK. As I say, I’m sorry.’

‘You better be.’

Chapter 11

11

Achilleus was only just waking up. He’d slept long and deep, untroubled by dreams, but as soon as he woke his body told him it wasn’t happy. He felt like he’d been run over by a steamroller. He ached everywhere, his stiff muscles solid and creaky. The fight at the palace had taken more out of him than he’d realized at the time. His ear was the worst. Just John had cut it half off with his evil three-bladed spear, and that girl at the palace, Rose, the nurse, had clumsily stitched it back on. Now it burned and throbbed so intensely it made him feel sick.

He needed some heavy-duty painkillers, and he needed them fast. The bed was warm and soft, though. He could lie here forever. Wait for the pain to flow away. Maybe if he could go back to sleep …

‘Hi there, how’s it going?’ Achilleus couldn’t turn his head. His neck had seized up. He didn’t recognize the voice. A girl’s voice.

‘Been better.’

‘They thought it was best to let you kip.’

‘They thought right.’

‘Hurts, huh?’ The girl leant over him, far enough for him to see who it was. A bandage covered half her head. What he could see of her face was bruised and swollen.

‘You’re the girl we rescued from the park, right?’

‘Yeah. My name’s Brooke.’

‘Yo, Brooke. I’m Achilleus.’

‘I know. Everyone knows. You made enough noise about it last night.’

‘True that.’ Achilleus sniggered.

‘You like bigging yourself up?’

‘Wasn’t no bigging up. Just telling it like it is, yeah.’

‘Well, Mister Big, you and me have got something in common.’

‘Yeah? And what’s that?’

‘We both got pretty slapped about. Man, we are flattened. In my case it was sickos, but I hear you was swinging with another kid.’

‘Yeah, the wiry tosser cut me up with his spear and put a few, like, dents in my skull with his shield.’

‘I bet it hurts.’

‘Like a bastard.’

‘Me too.’ Brooke sat on the edge of Achilleus’ bed.

‘Got bitten?’ Achilleus asked.

‘Nope. This one grimy mother had a knife.’

‘She was carrying?’

‘Yeah.’

Achilleus sucked his teeth noisily.