‘We’ll be back tonight, tomorrow at the latest.’

Blue and Big Mick joined her at the balustrade.

‘Don’t do anything crazy, will you?’ Maxie said and Blue looked at her like she was an idiot. Maxie apologized. ‘I know you won’t, but … Sometimes I wish we were still back in Holloway. Things seemed so much simpler there.’

‘Life is better here, Max,’ said Blue. ‘I don’t doubt it. We just got to prove to the nerds that we ain’t the enemy.’

‘I don’t want anyone else to get hurt,’ said Maxie. ‘I don’t want you to get hurt.’

‘If it looks ugly out there I’m bringing everyone straight back, no chat.’

‘Promise me. Don’t be a hero, yeah?’

‘I’ll leave that to Achilleus,’ said Blue and they looked down to where Achilleus was showing off to a group of the museum kids, working through his collection of weapons one by one, with Paddy looking on proudly.

‘Idiot.’ Blue chuckled and rolled his shoulders and picked up his backpack. It looked heavy with food and water. He gave Maxie a hug.

‘Don’t get fazed if it takes us longer, will you?’ he said. ‘We none of us know exactly what to expect out there. And it’s possible this Einstein dude might want to do some more shopping.’

‘Where exactly are you going then?’

‘The nerds checked out the suppliers for the museum labs, where they used to get all their chemicals and equipment from. And they’ve found where the suppliers was based. The best bet seems to be a place called Promithios out near Heathrow Airport. There’s some sort of science and technology park over there. Is only about ten miles away, straight down the M4. Should be a fairly safe route once we’re on the motorway.’

Blue seemed so together, so confident. Maxie resisted the urge to kiss him. She wasn’t sure if they were officially an item now. And none of the other Holloway kids knew that they’d got close during their time locked up together in the sick-bay at the palace.

Then, without warning, Blue suddenly kissed her. She must have looked surprised because he laughed.

‘Whassup, girl?’

‘Nothing. I just wasn’t expecting it.’

‘Well, you can expect a whole lot more where that came from.’

So that answered that one. She laughed now and threw her arms round him, giving him an over-the-top hug.

Big Mick made a rude comment and Blue swore at him, but before Maxie could say anything else Mick pointed down to where Einstein was marching along the corridor that led from the orange zone with an entourage of kids in white coats. Justin was trotting along behind, trying to catch up.