Susan and I face each other on the scrappy patch of grass.

‘Do I look as rough as you?’ I ask, taking in her mud-streaked, torn clothes, her hair which for once is filthy and messed up, and a deep thorn-scratch on her cheek.

She smiles. ‘No. You look great! Tiptop. Never looked better.’

We both chuckle nervously before a slightly awkward pause.

She says, ‘Good luck.’ Then she leans in and hugs me, pinning my arms to my sides so I can’t hug her back, even though I was going to.

‘Do you know what you have to do when you use the Dreaminator?’ she says.

‘Not really.’

Susan chews her cheek in thought. ‘Go to the edge of your dream and then go further. That is what Mola said.’

‘Do you even know what that means?’

Susan smiles her closed-mouth smile and says, ‘Not really. Sorry.’ We stand facing each other for a moment, then she says, ‘Good luck,’ again before turning and walking away and I do the same.

I’ve gone about ten metres when she calls my name and I look back. ‘I might see you there,’ she says. I nod and wave, not really understanding or even sure that I heard right.

She might see me there? See me where?

But I soon forget about that. Uncle Pete is standing on the front step when I turn up our little driveway, and he does not look happy.

Two Hours Later

Chapter 70

I’m lying on my bed.

Sleep? You’ve got to be kidding. I feel like I have crammed about a week into a whole day, and, if you imagine that that will make me tired, then let me tell you: I am about as far from sleepy as it’s possible to be.

Uncle Pete hadn’t known what to do, and for that I’m pretty glad.

When I turned up looking like I did, with the Dreaminator concealed under my jacket, Uncle Pete was confused. He’s been firm with me before, and once raised his voice at Seb, but I honestly don’t think he’s ever had to tell me off. The confusion was written all over his face, and I decided I would have to bluff this out.

What choice did I have?

‘What the blazes happened to you?’ he said. ‘And where’ve you been? Me and your Mormor have been worried sick. I was on my way out to come and get you.’

Mormor was just sitting on the sofa, shaking her head slightly in sorrow or disapproval: it’s hard to know which.

To be fair, I felt a bit sorry for them: as well as confused, they did look pretty upset. I could tell Uncle Pete was angry, but he doesn’t have kids of his own, so …