Ed had to admit that the kids Blue had brought back with him from the last expedition out of London made him a little uncomfortable as well.

‘The disease did something to them in the womb,’ said Ollie. ‘It’s not their fault.’

‘They are mutations,’ said Ebenezer.

‘They’re kids,’ said Ollie.

‘You were on Blue’s expedition, Ebenezer?’ Ed wanted to change the subject.

‘Yes. I will go again. It does not scare me. I have seen what is on the road.’

‘Ebenezer’s good with a javelin,’ said Ollie. ‘And he knows Ella well from Holloway days.’

Ed looked to the last member of the group, who seemed to be half asleep.

‘What about you?’ he asked and the boy lazily opened his eyes just enough to give Ed a once-over.

‘Lewis,’ he said and scratched his bushy Afro. ‘I’m in, dude. I got to know that little girl on the way over here. She’s brave as they come. I liked her. I’ll do it for her and the boy. Small Sam. He done well an’ all. Staying alive. Is all cool. I’ll come.’

Ed smiled and they bumped fists. Lewis might be dozy-looking, but several people had told Ed what a good fighter he was.

‘So that’s six of us then.’ Ed counted on his fingers. ‘Including my lot. Not exactly an army, but the car only seats seven anyway. You ready to leave now?’

Ebenezer nodded and Lewis shrugged.

‘I’d really hoped we could persuade Achilleus. He seems like a pain in the arse, but he’d be really useful from all I hear.’

‘Akkie definitely won’t go with you,’ said Ollie.

‘You know that?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I thought nothing fazed him.’

‘Nothing does,’ said Ollie and he took Ed to one side.

‘Akkie, he’s like me and Lettis,’ he said when they were out of earshot of the others.

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah.’ Ollie nodded. ‘You see that little Irish kid he always has with him?’

‘Yeah. Bit of hero worship there.’

‘Kid’s called Paddy. We picked him up on the road. He’d been living with some nutters in a crappy camp in Green Park. A right wild bunch. Paddy jumped ship and came with us. He’s a tough little bastard, but, like a lot of kids, he’s not as tough as he’d like everyone to think.’

‘What do you mean?’ Ed asked.