Brooke took a few paces from under the climbing rose and stood in the sun. Lewis realized he hadn’t seen her here in the garden before. She spent all her time with Macca …

He felt suddenly cold.

‘Is he asleep?’ he asked. Brooke shook her head, said nothing, looked like she’d crack into pieces if she tried to speak.

Ed put his arms round her and she collapsed against his shoulder, shaking with sobs.

So that was it then. The holiday was over.

Chapter 44

44

‘We’re thinking we’re going to stay here.’

‘Yeah? You sure? We could really use you guys.’ Ed looked at Trinity. He was still trying to get his head round the memory of the little guy on their back coming alive.

‘Well, you’ll have to admit we haven’t exactly been a lot of help so far,’ said Trio, and she looked down at her feet embarrassed.

‘You mean Macca?’ Ed asked.

‘Yeah.’

‘To be fair, you did try to warn us.’

‘It wasn’t good enough.’

Ed shrugged. He wasn’t going to argue the point.

‘The thing is,’ said Trey. ‘We think we can be more use here. There’s so much Amelia knows, and together with what we know about Promithios, and, well, how we are and everything.’

‘It’s your decision.’ Ed turned away. He was trying to get the car ready. Packing supplies into the boot. Trinity followed him, walking fast on their two good legs.

‘Amelia’s old,’ said Trey. ‘She might not live much longer. This is our last chance.’

‘Last chance of what?’ Ed asked, hefting a box of beans that Amelia had given him into the back of the car.

‘Of finding a cure,’ said Trio.

‘You really think that’s possible?’ Ed stopped what he was doing.

‘There’s a chance,’ said Trey. ‘A chance we might be able to work out a way to fight this thing. It’s got to be worth it.’

‘You mean it’s more important than chasing off around the countryside looking for Ella?’

‘That’s not what we meant,’ said Trey.

‘It’s true, though.’ Ed held out his hands in a hopeless, empty, gesture. ‘I don’t even really know myself why I’m doing this. So I’m not arguing with you. You’re right. Stay here. Talk to Amelia. Work out a way to kick the disease in the balls. Do it for Macca, and all the other kids who’ve died. Once we’ve found Ella – if we find Ella – we’ll come back and pick you up before heading back into town.’

Ed smiled, trying to reassure Trinity. It all seemed so simple and straightforward. But so far one of them had been killed and they hadn’t even begun to look for Sam’s sister.