Chloe looked reassured by the departure of the three boys, as if simply going might be enough to bring some other people back alive, but she turned to Joel then and said, “What do we all do now, Joel?”

“We have to organize. It looks like we might be here for a day or two so we need to get hold of everything that could be of use. First off, collect all our backpacks and all the suitcases, even the ones that belong to the other passengers. There could be useful stuff in a lot of them.”

Shen said, “Shouldn’t we build a fire first?”

Joel shook his head, nonplussed, and sounded vaguely patronizing as he said, “I hardly think we need to worry about getting cold, Shen. That can wait until later. In fact, if you find some, you should all apply sunscreen. We’ll burn easily out here.”

“Even me?” Everyone turned to look at George.

Joel looked uncertain how to handle the question, the future politician stumbling over his words as he said, “Uh, well, you know, uh, even black skin… I mean…”

George smiled broadly. “Relax, I’m just messing with you.”

“Oh, okay, well… I guess there’s always a place for humor.” Joel turned his attention back to the wider group. “Okay, everyone, let’s get busy.”

There was an immediate burst of activity, and the people who’d been desperately huddled together before were now dispersing across the narrow slope, searching purposefully through the debris.

Alice put her backpack down and said to Tom, “Could you keep an eye on this for me? I’ll help the others find theirs.”

He nodded, and she walked off to join her friends farther up the slope.

Joel was the third last to leave the imagined base camp. He glanced over at Tom but, probably sensing his authority didn’t extend in that direction, he nodded, the meaning of which was lost on Tom, and simply walked away. A moment later, his voice started carrying back as he answered questions and gave instructions.

Shen was the only one left, and he looked at Tom now and said, “A fire is more important than luggage.” He frowned. “Lots of things are more important than luggage.”

It was pretty weird that both Barney and Shen seemed to choose Tom as the person they could complain to. If they thought he’d step up as an alternate leader, someone who’d challenge Joel, then they’d thought wrong. It was true, Joel struck him as someone who liked to lead rather than someone who was actually any good at it, but Tom had no desire to take his place.

He slipped his backpack off his shoulder, then took another bottle of water out and handed it to Shen.

“Thanks.” He opened it and took a swig.

Tom put the carton down on the ground and said, “What would you do first?”