‘Leaping’s not my forte, darlings, but I just leapt over a century. Solo. And . . .’

Big Ben’s staring at her. His eyebrows almost meet in the middle. ‘You’ve changed,’ he says.

Eve laughs. ‘You’re 36 hours behind, Big Ben. I’m Eve. Noon’s twin sister. Noon’s missing. We think she might be with Kwesi.’

Big Ben freezes for a few seconds and then says, ‘There’s TWO of you.’

‘Yes. Identical only in looks. I’m the noisy one.’

It takes Big Ben a few seconds to smile. What a relief. I thought he might struggle with meeting someone new. But maybe it’s OK because the new person looks identical to the person he already knows. Maybe he finds it exciting to meet an identical twin.

Ama’s shuffling around in her seat. ‘Guys,’ she says. ‘Focus! Anyone else volunteer to leap?’

‘What date and time and place?’ says Big Ben.

‘The 28th of Feb. Or the 1st of March. We couldn’t agree on a time.’ She pauses. ‘And never discussed place.’

‘Place is important,’ I say. ‘If you leap without focus you could end up in Brazil. That would be stupid.’ I thought of Brazil because we studied the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest in geography. Everyone looks at me, then looks away. They’ve all learnt I don’t like people staring at me.

‘They must be HERE,’ says Ama. ‘Otherwise why would Kwesi text Leap 2100, like it was a trip. But WHERE here?’

‘How about The Round? MC2 said “leap in The Round an’ you’ll never be seasick”. I saw the Infinity signs.’

‘Elle, spill the beans,’ says Ama. ‘No more secrets.’

It wasn’t a secret. There’s been so much happening, I forgot. I tell them about MC2’s infinity tattoo and the extra signs appearing on the trees.

‘MC must’a put them there!’ It’s GMT speaking for the first time. I thought she’d fallen asleep. She’s taken her shoes off and stretched out on the sofa. Her nails are painted sparkly silver. ‘“Once upon a time, a boy wrote a message on a tree.” His story.’

Ama sighs. Maybe she’s as tired as GMT.

‘OK. The Round is significant. Any more volunteers?’

‘Me!’ Big Ben and I say at the same time. We look at each other. I speak first.

‘I was scared before but I leapt yesterday and I still have some sweets so I can eat one if I vomit.’

‘No,’ says Big Ben. ‘I’m a boy. Boys are stronger than girls. I should do it.’

‘WHAT?’ I say. Big Ben doesn’t usually say things like that. He knows I can run faster than boys. But that’s not the point.

‘It’s not about strength,’ I say. ‘It’s ACCURACY. I’m good at concentrating . . .’

‘Like yesterday?’ says Ama.

‘I couldn’t see you,’ says Big Ben quietly.