‘And don’t make anything personal,’ she added. ‘You’ll want to, but don’t. If my father or Oliver Roth is right in front of you, don’t waste any time thinking about your dead family. Just keep calm and take the shot, no matter how much they try to wind you up.’

Oliver Roth’s pretty good at winding me up. The way I fought him after Charlie died, I’m amazed he didn’t kill me.

‘Thanks, Shannon,’ he said. ‘I think that’ll help—’

She leaned in for what Ewan thought was a hug, but she ended up heading for his face. Before Ewan could react, he was being kissed.

Ewan had never kissed anyone and meant it. During his younger teenage years he had had casual girlfriends who he had kissed because he was supposed to, but none of them cared like Shannon did. This was a kiss that had real affection in it, from a girl who truly liked him.

It felt like it lasted for ten whole seconds, but it could have been twenty, or one. It was difficult to tell. When Shannon pulled away again, her face was red.

‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’

Wow, thanks.

‘…Why not?’

‘Things are… complicated,’ she answered, rising to her feet. ‘That’s all.’

‘Yeah, you just snogged the guy who’s leading the charge against your dad. I thought you’d enjoy doing that!’

‘I did! I just…’

Whatever the true reason was for her reluctance, she wasn’t planning to say it. But Ewan could guess.

‘You’re afraid that once I go to New London, I won’t come back. Or we’ll lose and the war will be over.’

Shannon didn’t say a word.

‘For what it’s worth,’ he continued, ‘it terrifies me too. And I’m not going to lie, success isn’t likely. If there’s a single mission in the history of the Underdogs we’re likely to fail, it’s this one.’

Shannon headed for the bedroom door and yanked it open.

‘You need to brush up on your comforting skills,’ she said as she stormed out. ‘You’ll need them for when you get a girlfriend one day.’

‘Girlf—’

The door slammed shut.

Ewan decided not to waste time trying to decipher what Shannon meant. He had already avoided the downstairs gathering for too long. After waiting long enough for Shannon to have a decent head start, Ewan left his bedroom for the final time, and headed for the living room.

All of his housemates were present, but he was struck by how empty the room felt. The eleven of them were only a third of the house’s wartime residents.