‘Anyway, I couldn’t do it,’ said Malik. ‘The way my hands were I didn’t want to risk infection. In the end Henry did it. I remember him going over to the armless man, mumbling and swearing. He leant over him, covering his mouth and nose with one hand. He got hold of the zip of his jacket between his finger and thumb and peeled it back. The jacket was stiff with dried blood. A cloud of flies flew up from underneath it and Henry fell back on his arse, swearing and spitting.

‘The others laughed. Henry really went for it then. Searching all the man’s pockets, but he couldn’t find anything. Susannah suggested he try the woman’s handbag. She still had it clutched in one hand, though the flesh had mostly been eaten, or had rotted away. I remember her hand was bony, the sinews showing like strings. Henry picked up the handbag and yanked it, trying to wrench it from the woman’s grasp, and there was a snap as her hand broke off and came away with it. He flapped about, trying to shake it loose, and it flew away and hit the window. Then he opened the bag and tipped out its contents. There were all the things you’d expect to find in a handbag – a purse, house keys, make-up, a brush, mobile phone, tissues and ta-dah! – a car key.

‘He found a rag and cleaned it. Then paraded round the car park, aiming it like some kind of ray gun at the cars and pressing the unlock button until at last a Ford Focus flashed its indicators and there was a clunk as the locks popped open.

‘Everyone cheered and we crowded round the car. And then we saw what was inside.’

Chapter 21

21

‘What was inside the car?’ asked Ella.

‘There were the bodies of two small children on the back seat. Holding each other in their arms. Long dead, they were covered in a fuzz of green and orange mould and had sort of melted into the seats.

‘Henry dropped the key and walked away, squatted down, holding his knees to his chest. Nobody wanted to get in the car, so I stepped up. This was supposed to be my expedition after all. I was supposed to be the one getting into the supermarket. I picked up the key and opened the door. The stink that came out was so foul that Susannah bent over and threw up all over the place. I quickly climbed into the driver’s seat and just told myself to keep moving. I buckled up my seat belt and jammed the key into the ignition. One twist and the engine started. First time.