They headed towards the tall building Maria had pointed out. The wind had strengthened, blowing into Ujurak’s face, its bitter cold even penetrating the thick pelts Maria had given him. As he shivered, Toklo and Kallik moved closer to him, warming him with their fur.

Though the BlackPath was quiet, Ujurak stayed alert for sounds of pursuit, wishing for a bear’s sharper senses of scent and hearing. The tall building was still a long way off when he heard the roar of a firebeast rapidly growing louder. Glancing back, he saw it sweeping towards them, a whirling blue light shining from the top of its back.

‘Not again!’ Toklo growled.

‘Quick, hide!’ Ujurak ordered. ‘Down there!’ He pointed to the end of an alleyway a few bearlengths ahead.

The bears bounded forward and disappeared into the darkness. Ujurak was running after them when he heard a shout behind him. ‘Hey, you! Boy!’

His heart sinking, Ujurak halted and turned. The firebeast had drawn to a halt and a male flat-face was climbing out of its belly. He had a small firestick clipped to a tendril around his waist.

At least he’s not pointing it at me!

‘Boy! Come here!’ the flat-face ordered.

‘Me?’ Ujurak tried to sound innocent. Resisting the impulse to look round and make sure that his friends were out of sight, he walked back towards the flat-face.

‘What are you doing out so late?’ the flat-face asked as he approached. ‘Don’t you know bears have been spotted in town?’

‘Bears?’ Ujurak widened his eyes in pretend surprise. ‘Really?’

‘Really. So it’s no time to be wandering about on your own.’

‘I . . . er . . .’ Ujurak tried to think what excuse a flat-face would accept. ‘I had to get some medicine for my baby sister,’ he said at last, hoping that the flat-face wouldn’t ask to see it. ‘She’s sick.’

The flat-face grunted. ‘Were you at the hospital? Did you see anything of a runaway boy? Or any bears?’

Ujurak shook his head. ‘I didn’t go to the hospital. I had to get the medicine from . . . from Maria’s house. Just down there.’ He gestured wildly in the direction they had come.

To his astonishment, the flat-face smiled and nodded. ‘Dr Green, huh? He’s very good to his patients. I’m sure his daughter, Maria, will make a great doctor too.’

Ujurak returned the smile, relief washing over him. ‘I guess she will.’

‘OK, get yourself home quickly,’ the flat-face went on, his tone friendlier now.

He turned away and got back into the firebeast. Ujurak waited until it had roared off, then headed for the alley.

Toklo, Kallik and Lusa appeared from the shadows as he approached, their eyes anxious.

‘What happened?’ Toklo demanded. ‘What did the flat-face want?’

‘He asked me if I’d seen any of you,’ Ujurak replied. ‘We’ve got to get out of here as quickly as we can.’