Ewan left the bottom of the hill, and led the march across the car park towards the school entrance. As Kate followed, she noticed how neatly the abandoned cars were parked alongside each other. When the clones had come, nobody had been given a chance to escape in their own vehicles. She even recognised a couple of the cars as belonging to specific staff members.

Part way across the car park, Ewan removed a bullet from his pistol and lobbed it towards the school. The bullet glided through the air and smacked against the wall without complaint. Oakenfold was unshielded.

By the time they reached the front entrance, Kate was first in line. She lay a hand on the door to her old school, took a deep breath, then paused as Simon started frantically jumping up and down, pointing towards something inside.

‘Simon?’ she asked.

Then they all saw it. In the corner of the entrance hall, a door-shaped shadow fell on the wall opposite the toilets. And where there was shadow, there was light.

‘Well spotted,’ said Raj. ‘Someone’s left the light on in the loos.’

‘So?’ asked Gracie.

‘Well if Jack were here,’ said Raj, in an obvious protest against Ewan’s team selection, ‘he’d tell you that’s proof that the clones have been here. Because all the other lights have been switched off since… since we last saw this place.’

Since Takeover Day, Raj. You can say it.

‘You know what else I’d say?’ came a voice from the radio that made Kate jump. ‘I’d say it’s proof that this place has electricity. By the way, watch the controls on your radios. Make sure you know whether they’re transmitting or not. And only use them if it’s absolutely urgent, or you’re sure there’s nobody around to hear. While I’m at it, don’t use your torches inside until you know you’re alone. Not even lighters. You can’t afford to give yourselves away, even from a distance.’

There was annoyance in Jack’s voice, which he was trying but failing to hide. Kate understood why. He must have wanted to see the inside of the school that had saved him from suicide in his worst years. But Jack of all people knew the importance of duty and following commands, even if it hurt him.

‘Right,’ muttered Ewan, ‘thanks Jack.’

‘Oh, and if they’ve got electricity, they might have set the alarms. Be careful, and remember the code’s 1989.’

‘How the hell do you kn—’

‘Because I spent years looking at the faded one, eight and nine digits every time I walked past the alarm. And the school was founded in 1989, so it doesn’t take a genius.’

Kate looked back at Ewan’s hands. Even in the dark, she could see their tightening, determined grip.