That evening, as they sat with bowls of chicken soup, staring at the red glow in among the white ashes of the fire, she allowed herself to think about the children again. At least she knew now that there were others around. There was more out there than just grown-ups. There must be other farms. Other safe places. This wasn’t the end. Ella would wait. Maybe plan a way to run off, once she knew where the kids were. That gave her something to think about. Making a plan. Even if she never did anything about it, it would stop her from getting bored. She could lie there in the dark and have fantasies.

She just wished she’d been able to see them better, to talk to them. Even if only for five minutes. One minute.

She found a chicken wishbone in her soup and picked it out, sucked the scraps of meat off it and then, when Scarface wasn’t looking, held it behind her back and gently broke it. Made a wish, with all her heart, that she would see some more children soon.

The next day she got her wish.

But like all good things.

It came with bad things.

Very bad things.

Chapter 9

9

It was better hunting the next day. There were two fat rabbits in the traps in the morning. There was a scarecrow in the field that ended up on the bone pile to feed the dogs. Scarface soon found a fresh trail and picked up a scent. Before midday they’d found their prey, hiding out in a house, but they weren’t finished there. Scarface picked up another scent and they were off into a small town, with posh houses among the trees, cars sitting in the driveways.

After he’d dealt with the sickos in the town they set off for home. They were nearly there when Scarface suddenly got excited. He’d seen something. He paced round and round in circles, his good eye scanning the ground. Every now and then he’d stop and tilt his head up and sniff the air, and then he was off and moving quickly, not towards the farm, but back the way they’d come.

Ella wanted to tell him they’d done enough for one day, but she knew there’d be no stopping him, so she tagged along behind, watching his heavy pack as it bounced on his back and trying not to get fed up.