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Maybe he had already sussed the bloke out and knew he was okay. Maybe he had asked all the catch-you-out-questions, and hadn't caught him out. The man did seem to know tons about music – but when Sam thought about it, he hadn't actually said that much. He'd laughed a lot. It was Lloyd who was doing all the talking. So how did Lloyd know he was okay?
    He didn't. He'd been sidetracked, as Sam's mother would have put it. She was always saying that about Sam. Sam could hear her warm, patient voice now, 'Don't digress so much, darling, you lose track of the point.' Which was true, Sam supposed. Well, his mum would have been proud of him now. He hadn't lost track.
    The problem was how to get Lloyd back on track. He'd lost the plot completely, but he didn't have a clue about it. Sam would have to say something that snapped him out of it. The only thing was that Sam wasn't sure how to do that without alerting the man to the fact that they thought he might be a bit suspicious.
    And then he had a brainwave. 'So can we come back tomorrow and meet them?' he said.
    'Too far,' the man said, breezily. 'You might as well stick around. There's plenty of room, and it's all sorted with your parents.'
    'Cool,' Lloyd said. 'Can't wait 'til tomorrow.'
    Sam wished Lloyd would shut up or wake up. But he wasn't doing either. Open your eyes, you idiot, he's trying to fool you. Why do you believe him? Why don't I?
    Sam wished he could communicate telepathically – but if he could do that maybe the man could do it too, and that would be worse, wouldn't it? You'd end up with strangers inside your head all the time, and someone would have to manufacture a pop-up blocker that blocked everyone else's thoughts from popping up in your head. When Sam thought about it, maybe telepathy wasn't such a great idea. And maybe this was exactly what Sam's mum meant about him digressing and losing track of the point. Focus, Sam. The man was talking again.
    'Well, they might show up later tonight. No telling with these young – people. Almost let the cat out of the bag then, didn't I?' The man cackled. 'Tell you what, as you're so keen on meeting them, I'll wake you up when they arrive. How's that?'
    'Brilliant!' Lloyd exclaimed.
    'But you don't even know who they are!' Sam snapped. He hadn't meant it to come out like that, but it was too late, the words were out. The man looked at him appraisingly, and then raised an eyebrow. Lloyd hadn't even noticed. Not Sam's tone, and not the way the man had looked at him.
    'I think I've got an idea about that,' Lloyd said, grinning at the man as though they shared a private secret.
    When had it all changed? Sam didn't know. But it had. Maybe that's why Lloyd made friends so easily, because he was so open and trusting by nature. Sam wasn't going to let it go now, though. He had to make Lloyd aware of what was going on before . . . before it didn't matter any more. 'Who is it then?' he demanded.
    'Not telling,' Lloyd sang. 'I'm not gonna spoil the surprise for you,' he said, colluding with the man.
    'You know I don't go in for surprises, Lloyd. I hate them. I'd rather know. Please.'
    'You big liar! You said you love surprises!'
    Sam could have hit him. But he didn't. Obtuse and naïve were two pretty good words that Sam's sister would have used then. Tab often sounded like a walking dictionary, unless she had friends over and then she sounded completely different. Lloyd was being those words so incredibly that if there had been a role for a Mr. Gullible in The Incredibles and Lloyd had auditioned for it, he would have got it hands down. In fact, if they'd known about Lloyd, they would have written the part into the film just for him.
    'It's okay. Don't tell me. I'm not feeling that great anyway,' Sam said. He turned to the man and concentrated on speaking in a light, bantering non-suspicious way, which was extremely hard when the blood was pounding in your head, and everything looked wonky and kept tilting from side to side,