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muscley kid with close-cropped hair. Ol ie smiled at him, being as open as he could, showing that they meant no harm. A couple of the Morrisons crew nodded at them as they arrived, showing no expression. Blue noticed the dog, stil strung across Arran’s back.
    He looked from the dead pit bul down to the German shepherd.
    “You do this?”
    “Earlier.”
    Arran snapped out of his weird mood. He knew he had to put on a brave face. It was important not to show any weakness. They had nothing in their camp the Morrisons crew could want, but there was always a danger that they might lose some good fighters if the Morrisons thought they’d have a better life in the rival supermarket.
    “You look pretty messed up, man,” said Blue, staring at Arran and then at Freak. “Was it the dogs?”
    “No,” said Arran. “Grown-ups. At the pool. Don’t go up that way.”
    “Never do,” said a big, slightly stooped kid who looked almost like a grown-up. He was Mick, the Morrisons equivalent of Achil eus. Their top fighter.
    “There’s been a lot of attacks lately,” said Blue.
    “Too right,” said Arran. “They’re getting desperate.”
    Blue looked at him. “There’s been some trouble up at Waitrose,” he said.
    Ol ie’s heart caught in his chest. His stomach flooded with acid. Now what?
    “What sort of trouble?” said Arran.
    “Some sort of an attack. There’s been grown-ups hanging around al day.”
    “Oh crap,” said Arran, and he ran off down the road, the rest of his group struggling to keep up.
    The Morrisons crew had been unusual y friendly and helpful, Ol ie thought. Which probably meant that they were getting scared. When it came down to it, the kids had to stick together.
    The grown-ups were the real enemy.

    T hey’re back!” Josh ran up to Maxie.
    Maxie’s heart thumped against her ribs. She had been desperate for Arran to get back, but she was also terrified of what he would think. He had left her in charge and she had mucked up.
    She didn’t want to show how she was feeling in front of everybody. She couldn’t lose it twice in one day.
    “Get the gates open,” she said, pleased that her voice sounded strong and clear. “Who’s on lookout now?”
    “Cal um,” said Josh.
    “I didn’t real y need to ask, did I?”
    “He practical y lives up there.”
    “Get someone to ring the bel ,” said Maxie.
    “I’l do it.” Josh hurried off. In a moment Maxie heard the clang of the bel that told everyone to get ready to open the gate.
    Maxie went over to the speaking tube. She banged on it to alert Cal um, then cal ed into it.
    “Cal um?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Can you stil see Arran and the scavs?”
    “They’re nearly here.”
    “Is it safe to open the gates?”
    “Yeah.”
    There was a pause and then a shril whistle.
    Al clear.
    Soon afterward there came the sound of the steel shutter being cranked up. The shutter was the old security gate that blocked off the main entrance to the store. It was operated by turning a big wheel set into the wal .
    Maxie stood there, listening, but not daring to look. Trying to slow her breathing and take control of herself. Once the shutter was up the gate crew could move out into the mal and open the barricade.
    The barricade was a huge fortified gate that opened on to the street. It had been built by Bernie and Ben in the early days. Bernie and Ben were two emos who looked identical, even though Bernie was a girl. They had straight black hair and wore black combat trousers, black T-shirts, and black sweatshirts. Both of them were into robotics and used to watch programs like Scrapheap Challenge on TV. They had built loads of modifications around the shop, including the speaking tubes. They were also in charge of opening and closing the barricade.
    In a moment there was a flood of light and then the hubbub of voices from the street. Maxie tensed. The last two hours had been hel . An eternity of fear and apprehension. She had a horrible sick feeling in her