“I didn’t hear her going up the steps, so I went to check on her. Then I heard her crashing through the bushes. She was making so much noise, she probably scared the jaguar off.”

George said, “Wow. You should’ve come and got me.”

“Didn’t have time. I didn’t want her to go too far. Anyway, it turned out okay.”

Alice said, “And you talked her into coming back.” He nodded, hoping she didn’t press him for the details, knowing that he didn’t want to talk about those things again. But Alice nodded too, as if she knew exactly what that conversation might have been like. “I’m impressed. You should be proud. Anything could’ve happened to her.” He smiled, and she said, “I’m serious, Tom.”

“I know. Thanks.” He glanced back across at Jess, who was sleeping peacefully. “Maybe it’s stupid, but I just… had a moment, I guess, and decided if it’s in my power at all, I’m not letting anyone else die.”

George looked confused. “You haven’t let anyone die. I mean, it’s all so random anyway, like me leaving the football team.”

Alice turned to him now and said, “Why did you leave? I remember Ethan saying no one could understand it.”

“Yeah, they all tried changing my mind. And it made them mad that I wouldn’t give them a reason they could make sense of.”

“Maybe because you were so good.”

“I was pretty good.” He laughed, not taking himself too seriously, but then grew somber. “No disrespect to those guys, but I’ve got other dreams, you know—the athletic black kid doesn’t always have to be on the football team.”

Alice put a comforting hand on George’s shoulder and Tom said, “Well, I’m glad you left.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that. But I meant what I said just now. The people who’ve died since the crash, they might have died anyway, but if it’s anyone’s fault, it’s Joel’s.”

Before Tom could reply, a low rumbling sounded across the sky, a long way off. They all stopped and looked up, because at first, it could easily have been a plane, but they faced each other again as they recognized it for what it was. Tom thought of the clouds he’d seen stacked up on the horizon and wondered if it was part of the same weather system, and if it was heading their way.

Finally, he said, “Maybe, but all the same, I’m not letting anyone else die, not if I can help it.”

“You’re right,” said Alice. “It’s what we should aim for, isn’t it? Getting everyone out alive. Including us, obviously.”