““I don’t remember much after that. It was the smoke, I think. I know there wasn’t anyone in the huts.” “Why not?” said Finn fiercely. “They promised they’d look after you.” “There was a wedding--an important one. They all went. And Minty, she went somewhere, too,” said Maia. “She’s left me.” “No.” “What do you mean, no? She wasn’t there--she didn’t come back from her day off.” “Maybe. But she won’t have left you. That isn’t what will have happened. What about the others?” “They escaped. I saw the river ambulance take them away, but I hid. I couldn’t bear to be with them anymore. They were all quarreling and screaming. So I hid in the trees, I didn’t notice my leg at first, but then…” She shook her head. “But it doesn’t matter, Finn, none of it matters, because you came back.””
