‘Sylvia and I want to thank you guys for staying around. We don’t have a lot of time,’ Booker says. ‘Barely any. In two hours the water will be too choppy to boat out of here and they’re saying – they’re saying the whole island’s gonna flood. Southern half, anyway, around the coast, which is us. We need to make sure everyone is out and safe by then. Including Ellis. But do not put yourself in any danger, because then we’ll be out there looking for you too. If the rain picks up, if visibility’s poor, if you’ve just got a bad feeling for any reason, then come back to base, out in the open, where people can find you. I’ll give you all markers – they’re bright pink and reflective and should still be visible while we’re in there. Tie ’em to the trees as you go. This is very important so please listen: if for any reason you become separated or disorientated, do not move. Hug a tree, sit there and scream as loudly as you can for as long as you can stand. We’ll find you and get you out. It can get confusing in there.’

Before this, the primary goal was to get off the boat and find Ellis. Now I’m reminded that in order to find him I do actually have to go back into the woods – and I’m sick with worry.

‘Here’re the markers. Everyone gets a flashlight.’

‘He can’t have gone far,’ Sylvia tells us. ‘He’s probably barely in there and we can go in and pluck him out. How far could he have got? Really? Unless he was, you know, sprinting, unless –’

‘We’re gonna find your boy,’ Booker says, and then we’re in. ‘Be loud. Lots of noise. Sound’ll travel further than our lights will.’ And as if to show us how to yell, he does, and it sounds like thunder. ‘Ellis!’

This sets off a chorus like cicadas and Ellis’s name is on all of their lips except mine.

The trees loom ahead of me.

It’s only half-dark and I can already feel my eyes falling for tricks. My hands are filmed in sweat, my chest scraping my skin seemingly from the inside like barbed wire. I can’t breathe through it. Breaths are sharp and unsatisfying.

Booker turns and sees me, doesn’t understand, but knows enough to realize I’m unwell. ‘You stick with me.’

I know my face isn’t showing it but, even after everything I’ve learned, something about Booker makes me feel safe. I nod.