The window. It’s coming from the window. Somebody is throwing something at the window. I shake off my duvet and open the curtain at the exact second a foam dart hits the glass and makes a much louder thump, making me jump back, startled.

In the little backyard, I can make out a figure with dark hair and a buttoned-up jacket, about to fire another missile. Susan sees me and lowers her arm. She’s holding Seb’s Nerf gun that he left under the hedge. I open the window.

‘I wasn’t sure whether to disturb you,’ she hisses.

‘I was nearly asleep,’ I whisper back, trying not to sound angry.

‘Good,’ she says. ‘Catch this. Then go back to sleep. It might help. Good luck.’

She fishes in her jacket pocket and pulls out something. Her aim is good and I catch it first time. I look down at the small packet tied with string, and by the time I look back she’s gone, the yard door slamming behind her.

Chapter 72

There’s a note taped to the package.

Dear Malky,

Sorry I disturbed you. I lay awake wondering whether I should, but then I thought this was too important.

Do you remember the first time you shared your dream with Seb? You said you remembered the smell of yak’s butter.

And then yesterday – at school – you said you had smelled it again and you had a sort of ‘flashback’.

And again – in our garden, when you suddenly smelled our tea.

And finally – Mr McKinley lighting the cigarette but not smoking it.

Smells and sounds can often trigger the deepest memories. I love meditating under the soft flapping noise of our prayer flags, for example.

And so inside this packet is some yak’s butter. Open it, smell it, leave it open near you.

You are a good person, Malky Bell. You deserve to succeed, so I hope this helps.

Your friend,

Susan

And now I really am tired. I fumble to open the packet, and, as soon as I do, the sharp smell of the yak’s butter begins to fill the room.

I get back into bed and close my eyes. And this time I really do fall asleep, while the Dreaminator hangs above me almost completely still.

Chapter 73

It’s different. That’s all I can say right now, looking round the familiar cave where Seb and I have started so many of our adventures. This is the biggest adventure of them all, and he’s not here. I was hoping I’d start this dream where I left Seb – in the clearing with the big guys who captured him. That would have saved time. My subconscious had other ideas.