Mister Three had a shrunken, shrivelled-up appearance, with a squashed nose, a few strands of greasy hair and little grey teeth. His skin was so wrinkled that he looked older, like a little old man, or a goblin, but Lewis knew that must be an illusion. The guy was the same age as Trey and Trio. Had to be. He was part of them, had been born with them. He was twitching and blinking, coughing to clear his throat. He blinked again and peered around at everyone with bloodshot eyes.

‘What are you looking at?’ he said in the nasal, hard-edged voice of a teenager whose voice was breaking. ‘You never seen a talking growth before?’

Nobody knew what to say to this.

‘So? What am I, late for the party?’ he said. He had two skinny arms that flailed about and thrashed in the air as if he wasn’t used to using them.

‘What’s the matter?’ he said. ‘Didn’t expect me to show up? Law of three, peeps. If you want Trey and Trio you get me as well. We come as a set.’

‘What have you done to the others?’ Amelia asked.

‘Done, Granny? I haven’t done anything. We’re just readjusting, kind of recalibrating, yeah? I mean, when all’s said and done, we’re one. Don’t worry. I won’t be here long. They’ll come round in a minute. I’ve had a sudden rush of blood to the head, if you see what I mean, and they’ve had a sudden drastic oxygen shortage. Once in a blue moon I get a chance to sing – I’m coming out! That’s me. Jack-in-the-box. Mister Three. It’s demeaning, don’t you think? That name. Like I’m some kind of a freak. Circus performer. The Amazing Mister Three! You know what I always wanted to be called?’

‘What?’ said Lewis.

‘Colin,’ said the little creature. ‘Call me Colin.’

‘Why Colin?’ Lewis asked.

‘Why not? You got a problem with that name?’

‘Nope.’

Mister Three coughed again, retched and then spat out a sticky yellow gob of phlegm, laced with blood.

‘Are you all right, Colin?’ Amelia asked. ‘Can I get you a glass of water?’

‘Oh, stop it, stop it,’ Three cackled. ‘I can’t take it any more. Stop with the Colin stuff.’

‘But you said …’

‘Stupid old git!’ Three shook his head at Amelia, laughing horribly. ‘Course I don’t want to be called Colin. Who’d choose to be called Colin?’

‘Well, what then?’ said Lewis. ‘What you want us to call you?’