I look across the room at Ama. She’s still chatting to Noon, who’s sitting on the top bunk where the spider was living. Noon doesn’t speak much but Ama fills in the gaps. I wonder whether Ama wants to be my friend or does she prefer Noon now because Noon doesn’t speak as much as I do. I feel sad when I think that. I wonder what Ama’s really thinking. Ama is a secret agent. She hasn’t told me her secret yet. Maybe I’ll stay up all night wondering what her secret is. She said, ‘I’m here to find my—’

What has she lost? What is she looking for?

Chapter 09:00: Cake

Chapter 09:00

CAKE

I don’t have a chance to speak to Ama again before lunch, when they announce an Oops. Due to the heavy rain, they’ve postponed the tour of the grounds till tomorrow. Our cookery session with Season will take place instead. I like cooking but I find it difficult to edit the changed timetable in my head. Mrs C Eckler has to sit with me at the end of lunch because I haven’t eaten my potato soup. It feels like my voice is stuck halfway down my throat.

‘Elle,’ she says, ‘how about a walk outside? Season won’t mind if we’re a bit late back.’

I nod. I think I need to do some running. Big Ben is running up and down the café. I think he could do with some running too. As if Mrs C Eckler reads my mind, she calls Big Ben over and we put our waterproofs on.

It’s raining cows and bulls, hurting my face as it turns to hailstones the size of golf balls. But it’s still mild. Big Ben and I start running as soon as we get outside and Mrs C Eckler’s finding it difficult to keep up with us. There are lots of woodland paths and we have no idea where we’re going but Mrs C Eckler says we have brilliant voice-activated maps on our Chronophones so we can ask them to direct us back to the centre. We MUST stay together and keep our phones on so she can track us.

‘I know I can trust you both.’

‘What do you mean?’ I say.

‘Not to get lost. Or . . . leap somewhere else.’ Mrs C Eckler looks like she’s aged ten years since this morning.

‘We wouldn’t do that. We’re running.’

I look at Mrs C Eckler. Does she know I did a solo leap on Wednesday?

Big Ben and I accelerate into the woods. The hail is falling through the leaves like an orchestra. Everything’s green and shiny. I love it here.

‘Am I your boyfriend?’ says Big Ben, jogging beside me on his tiptoes.

‘No,’ I say.

‘Can I time you?’

‘OK.’