The truth is the truth. The truth is what happened. Telling the truth might – might – help Seb. I don’t know what these doctors can do, do I? So I decided that I would tell her exactly what I was doing just before it all happened.

‘I was … I was trying to steal meat … And they were all waving their spears at us and –’ this sounds stupid, I know it – ‘at Kobi.’ I looked at Nisha and added, ‘I was dreaming.’

Her patient smile became a full one. ‘All right, Malky, I don’t mean …’

‘And Seb was there too. And he was captured by the big people, and …’

‘Yes, yes. It sounds like quite a dream.’

‘But we were in the same dream, do you understand?’ I waited to make sure I had her full attention, then I said, ‘And he’s still there. I think.’

Dr Nisha lowered her eyelids and looked at me sideways. ‘No, Malcolm. I’m not sure I do understand. But I hardly need to remind you that this is very important. I need you to be serious.’

I fought the urge to let my voice get higher and louder, in my agitated way. I took a deep breath.

‘I am being serious. Honestly. Seb and I can … we can share our dreams. That is, we … we experience the same dream at the same time. You see …’

‘Hang on – what?’ Dr Nisha had stopped leaning towards me and was sitting back, arms folded.

‘Our dreams. We agree beforehand: we read and watch stuff to make sure it’s right and then we fall asleep together under our Dreaminators and then …’

Mam and Dad came back in with baguettes from the shop downstairs. Mam’s eyes were red from crying and I stopped because I knew what Dad’s views are on the Dreaminator. Unfortunately, he heard the last of what I was saying.

‘Oh, I’m sorry, doctor. Is he on about that flamin’ dream thing again?’ He shook his head, angrily, like a dog dodging a wasp. ‘It’s a toy, for heaven’s sake. A child’s mobile that hangs above his bed and he reckons …’ He tailed off and turned to me, a pleading look on his tired face. ‘Malky, mate. Dr Nisha’s very busy and this is very serious. She’s got no time to listen to this.’

‘Dad!’ I protested, and this time my voice did actually go higher and louder. ‘I was there!’

‘Malky, if I hear one word …’

‘Mr Bell. Please.’ Dr Nisha stood up. ‘Malcolm has suffered quite an upset. This, this … “dreaminator” is not something I have ever heard of, and I certainly don’t think it’s possible for it to work as Malcolm describes. But …’