The best fighter of them all, though, was a giant of a boy called Finn. It was just a mighty shame that he’d cut his forearm a few days ago, and the wound had become infected. His arm was bandaged and in a sling. He couldn’t fight and he couldn’t row, but he was determined to come along anyway. He’d been travelling across south London with a group of friends from his school in Forest Hill when they’d been caught up in the fire. They’d separated, some had gone west and one or two, including Finn, had travelled north where they’d eventually come to the Tower. He was hoping to find out what had happened to the others. Finn didn’t say very much and was even quieter since his injury. DogNut was hacked off that he was out of action. He was very strong for his age and looked about eighteen. He’d always been a good guy to have at your side in a fight. DogNut could hardly stop him from coming, though, and even with a dodgy arm he’d be way more use than Olivia.
The final member of the expedition was Courtney, who would be sitting next to DogNut on the boat. Courtney and Aleisha, the girl who’d drowned when the sightseeing boat sank, had been best friends with Brooke, and DogNut knew that Courtney was desperate to be reunited with her. They’d been inseparable and Courtney missed her terribly. She was a big, heavy girl who had grown into a tough and fearless fighter, and DogNut was glad to have her along.
Five fighters and three passengers. Not bad numbers. But eight fighters would have been better …
DogNut supervised them as they stowed food and water, blankets and armour and weapons in the bottom of the boat. He was their boss and was pleased to see that they all did what he told them without grumbling. Here at the Tower he was captain of the Pathfinders, the name Jordan Hordern had given to the kids who went out scavenging, so he was used to giving orders. They were all taking orders from General Jordan Hordern, however. He was the big man. DogNut would only ever be second or third in line. Not this time, though. No, on this expedition he would be number one. He had to make sure the kids remembered that and did as they were told.
He smiled to himself. Numero Uno. Admiral of the Fleet. Top Dog.
There was a shout from the riverside and he looked over to see a small group of kids walking on to the metal pier where they were loading the boat. It was Jordan Hordern and Ed and three of the Tower guards carrying halberds. DogNut went over to meet them.
‘You all set?’ Ed asked.
‘Guess so.’
‘You sure about this?’ Jordan squinted at him through his thick glasses. DogNut shrugged.
‘You’re a useful man to have around,’ Jordan went on.
‘I’ll be back,’ said DogNut theatrically. ‘Bringing treasure from around the world!’
Jordan didn’t smile. He didn’t have much of a sense of humour.
‘Take care of yourself, won’t you?’ Ed gave DogNut a big hug.
‘Gay,’ said DogNut, and Ed hugged him again, harder this time, and lifted him off his feet. They laughed. Ed’s face looked crazy when he laughed. The scar down one side went white and tugged his mouth and eye out of shape.
‘It ain’t too late for you to change your mind,’ said DogNut. ‘Come with us.’
‘I’m staying, Doggo. They need me here. Besides, you got a full crew.’
‘I could kick someone’s arse off. Finn ain’t much use with his arm in a sling.’
‘Nah.’ Ed shook his head. ‘This is your gig.’
Olivia ran over and threw her skinny arms round Ed’s waist.
‘Please come with us!’ she squealed.
Ed picked her up and sat her on his hip.
‘I can’t come, Livvie. You’ll be all right with the Dog.’
‘I’m scared.’
Ed handed Olivia over to DogNut. ‘DogNut will look after you, won’t you?’
‘Course I will.’ DogNut beamed at Olivia and carried her to the boat, then passed her down to Marco and Felix who settled her at the front.
DogNut turned back to Ed.
‘Feels good to be doing something, man,’ he said, breathing in deeply and turning his face up to the sun. ‘It’s safe here, but I been feeling more and more boxed up lately. All we do is get from one day to the next. I’m taking control of things. Hitting back. Not letting the sickos rule my life.’
Ed raised an eyebrow. ‘And of course there’s Brooke.’ He leered at DogNut. It wasn’t a good expression for him.
‘Yeah, Brooke,’ said DogNut. ‘You missing out, man. I’m gonna get in there before you.’
Ed raised his hands in surrender. ‘She’s all yours, dude.’
‘All mine,’ said DogNut.
‘All you got to do is find her.’
‘You had to bring me down, didn’t you,’ said DogNut. ‘Bust my bubble.’
‘You’ll find her.’ Ed sounded very sure of it. DogNut slapped his palm and clambered down into the boat.
‘But a year’s a long time,’ Ed called after him. ‘Maybe she’s changed?’
‘Pop, pop, pop,’ said DogNut, sitting down next to Courtney. ‘All my bubbles is busting.’
Jordan came and leant over the side of the pier, his face unreadable behind his glasses. They were held together with a dirty Elastoplast and were so scratched DogNut wondered how he could see anything through them.
‘I’ll keep your position open for you,’ he said. ‘You can pick up where you left off when you get back.’
‘Cheers,’ DogNut shouted, as he pushed the boat away from the edge. He grinned at Courtney, picked up his oar, slipped it over the side and looked down into the water. And that was when he saw them, looking up at him from the murky depths, with their gaping mouths stretched wide, hands coming towards him. The creatures from his dream.
DogNut closed his eyes to shut out the image and moaned quietly, as if he’d hurt himself.
Then he grunted. Shook himself. Opened his eyes. He had to stay focused on what he was doing. It was time to let the daylight burn off the memories and let the fresh air blow the black tatters of the fading dream away.
Bad thoughts. They couldn’t help. They’d only poison his brain. He was going to leave them behind. Leave Leo behind. Leave his guilt back there in the basement of the bank. He was going to come back stronger.
He looked around the boat at the other kids. They didn’t seem to have noticed him losing it. They were all too wrapped up in themselves, dipping their oars in the water, settling on the benches. Good.
‘OK, let’s do this,’ DogNut shouted, and they were off, pulling fast through the shimmering water.
3
Apart from Finn they’d all arrived at the Tower floating down this stretch of river. After their sightseeing boat had hit a bridge and sank, they’d made it to the Tower on a flotilla of life rafts. The memories of that day were confused and the story of the fire and the battle had been told so many times that it had taken on the status of a myth. Things had been added, kids had enlarged their parts, so that now DogNut wasn’t sure what bits of the story were real and what were made up.
It was going to be interesting travelling back upriver to Lambeth Bridge – where they planned to put ashore – interesting to see what memories it stirred. Brooke’s crew had escaped north over the bridge in a supermarket lorry, and DogNut intended to follow the route they’d taken and try to find out what had happened to them.