‘She’s coming round,’ said Foster. ‘She’ll be even moredisorientated, more frightened, than either of you.’

Maddy slurped a hot mouthful of coffee from the mug in her hands. ‘I seriously doubtthat.’

The girl’s murmuring turned to a frightened whimpering that quickly intensified. Fosterstood up and leaned over the top bunk.

‘Shhh… it’s OK, Saleena,’ he cooed reassuringly. ‘It’sall over. You’re safe now.’

The girl’s mewling voice became a sudden shrill shriek as her eyes snapped open and shesat stiffly upright on the bunk.

Foster held her narrow shoulders firmly. ‘Saleena.’ He spoke quickly and softly.‘You’re safe; no one can hurt you here. It’s over.’

The girl’s breath came in short stuttering gasps. Her eyes, thickly rimmed with darkeyeliner, widened behind a drooping black fringe that slanted across her narrow face. Theydarted from one thing to another, for the moment it seemed making sense of absolutelynothing.

‘It’s over, Saleena,’ said Foster again. ‘You’re safenow.’

Her gaze settled on the old man. She flicked her fringe away from an almost ashen face; hercoffee-coloured skin was drained to an almost corpse-like grey.

Liam stood up and peered over the edge of the bunk, cocking a bemused eyebrow at her strangeappearance: a dark hooded top with some scruffy wording splashed in neon orange across it;thin drainpipe jeans ripped and patched, with patches on top of patches; and boots that lookedtwo sizes too big for her, laced up past her ankles… And a small stud pierced her upperlip.

‘Uh…’ He did a double take before extending a hand in greeting. ‘Myname’s Liam O’Connor. Pleased to — ’

‘Give her a moment, Liam,’ said Foster. ‘Just amoment… her extraction was particularly traumatic.’

‘Is it you?’ Her voice was small, shaken, uncertain. ‘The man… theman in the flames.’