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alleyways were deserted. A pall of smoke lay over the Hill, as though it had a storm cloud all its own. The bakers’ shelves on Bridge Street were empty and the tiny cafes were locked and dark; around the corner, the window of the antique jewelry shop was smashed and its alarm sirened into the morning. All the banks were battened down, but their security guards were nowhere. Twice I heard glass shattering a few streets over – whetherlooters or hostiles, I didn’t know. Either way, I didn’t want to meet them.
    I could imagine them though – hostiles going house to house through riverside homes and shops. Maybe they’d got further into the city by now, and maybe the streets were empty because the casualty count was high: people shot or their throats cut, or bound up inside their homes ready to be trafficked over the river.
    By the time I got to Skinners Lane and tripped over old Lev I was pretty freaked out and I was glad to see a familiar face. I picked myself up and crouched down to say sorry. The words dried up in my mouth.
    Lev was dead.
    I don’t even know how – caught by a flying piece of building in the night maybe, or knocked about by looters or hostiles, or trampled by people escaping north, or he might’ve just keeled over with a heart attack. But, the thing is, no one had noticed. It was the middle of the day, and no one had noticed a dead guy propped up on the edge of the square.
    That’s when I let myself hear what I’d been thinking all morning. No one is coming. No troops in their jeeps. No police. No emergency services. No one.

CHAPTER 08
    St John’s was teeming with people , all of them arguing. They crowded the steps and the wide-open doors, eyeing me as I went through. Inside they’d reorganized pews and occupied side chapels; piles of belongings were strewn everywhere. Downstairs in the crypt, I found Dash with Fy and Sol, and, unfortunately, Jono.
    Dash stormed over to me as I came down the stairs. ‘
Where have you been?
We thought they’d got you.’ She grabbed me in an almighty hug and I figured I was forgiven, temporarily anyway. Jono and Fy were sitting together on a bench. Fy looked exhausted. Sol was roaming around the crypt. He arrived at my elbow and said, ‘Hi, Nik. Did you find Macey?’
    Jono looked up. ‘Macey? Why were you looking for him?’
    What would I have given to have Lou there insteadof Jono? Anything at all, that’s what. ‘No reason,’ I said. ‘Just to say good-bye.’
    ‘Is that so? How friendly of you.’
    ‘What does that mean?’
    ‘Nothing. Just you and your secret squirrel ways. Anything you’d like to tell us?’
    ‘Sure. I know where there’s a secret lunch stash with bread and cheese and pickles …’
    Sol’s eyes lit up. ‘You do?’
    ‘No. Sorry. Kidding.’
    ‘But I’m starving.’
    Dash put an arm around him. ‘Me too. If these guys can just lay down their weapons for a minute, we might be able to think about food and how to get it. What d’you say?’
    ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Good idea.’
    But Jono pushed on. ‘Did you find out what ISIS wanted you for?’
    ‘Nope. Do you want lunch or what?’
    He gave me a narrow stare then turned to Dash. ‘What can I do?’
    Dash had become team captain, which was fine by me. She was easily the best at it.
    ‘We’ll go and look,’ she said. ‘You and me and Nik. Fy, you stay here with Sol.’
    Sol grabbed my arm. ‘No! I’m going with Nik.’
    He was wound up tight as a top. I could feel himtrembling. I looked at Fy. She was sitting on the edge of a bench staring through us. I said, ‘You know, I think I’ll stay. You ISIS-types don’t need me.’
    Jono turned for the stairs, muttering, ‘That’s for real. C’mon, I’m tired of doing childcare.’ Dash looked from Fy to Sol, said, ‘Yes, that makes sense,’ and followed Jono up the stairs.
    ‘Dash?’ I called after her. ‘Careful, yeah?’ She gave me the thumbs up, and was gone.
    We found some blankets and cushions in the