Awnya says. ‘It’s in Bow, in an old factory where they used to make matches.’
That rings a bell. ‘I think I know the place you’re talking about. It was turned into flats. The Bow Quarter, near Victoria Park?’
‘Yes,’ Cian says, impressed. ‘How did you know?’
‘I used to live over that way. I’ve passed it loads of times. It was an eye-catching place.’
I consider the walk to Bow. The twins are right, it’s not far away, an easy hour and a bit if I was in good shape. But in my current condition it’s an
unappealing prospect.
‘I’m not up for the journey,’ I tell them. ‘It would take hours. I can barely manage a crawl.’
‘We could carry you,’ Awnya suggests.
‘I don’t think so.’
‘We’re strong enough,’ Cian growls, puffing himself up.
‘I’m sure you are,’ I reply, ‘but I’d slow you down, and speed is important. Mr Dowling’s mutants will start looking for me again when they’re finished
at County Hall. The sooner I can link up with Dr Oystein, the better.’
Cian rubs his chin thoughtfully. ‘So what do you want us to do? We can’t just leave you here, injured and alone.’
‘Tell you what,’ I decide, thinking about the route east. ‘You guys can help me get to Brick Lane. You need to pass close by it anyway. There’s an old brewery there that I know well, where I can lay low. Drop me off and
I’ll wait there for you to bring Dr Oystein to me.’
‘Are you sure?’ Awnya frowns. ‘Maybe it would be safer if one of us stayed with you.’
‘No,’ I tell her. ‘You two work better as a team. I’ll be fine by myself. It’s a nice place to rest. Mr Dowling has no reason to suspect I’ll head
there.’
The twins glance at one another, think about it, then nod.
‘OK,’ Awnya says.
‘If that’s what you want,’ Cian chirps.
Then they move to either side of me, link arms with mine and we’re off, like Dorothy and her friends on the road to Oz. But there’s no way I’m going to sing ‘Follow the
Yellow Brick Road’. I was always a lousy singer, even when I had lungs to sing with.
ELEVEN
It takes even longer than I anticipated to cross the river and complete the short march to Brick Lane. The twins are shocked when they see how hard I find it to drag one leg after the other.
Awnya suggests I stop before Brick Lane and rest up in the Tower of London or Aldgate. But I have the Truman Brewery in my head now, and the lure of it keeps me going. I want to lie back
somewhere familiar, study Timothy’s paintings, reflect on all that has happened. I’ll feel safe there. I’d be uneasy anywhere else.
The twins are wearing hats, sunglasses and jackets to protect them from the daylight. They offer to find the same for me, but I barely notice the discomfort that walking around in the sunshine
usually causes. I have far more painful crosses to bear.
Eventually we get to the turning for Brick Lane and I smile painfully. ‘Home sweet home. You can leave me here. No need to come all the way.’
‘Are you sure?’ Awnya asks.
‘What if you’re attacked?’ Cian says.
‘And what if a meteor falls on me?’ I respond tetchily. ‘Look, even if I collapse, I won’t fall far short, so you’ll know where to find me. By the time I get there,
you’ll be halfway to Bow. Coming any further with me would be a waste of time.’
‘In that case we shouldn’t have bothered bringing you this far,’ Cian says and I feel like giving him a slap. But then he sticks out his tongue and laughs, and I forgive
him.
‘Take care, B,’ Cian says.
‘I will.’
‘You’re sure you don’t want one of us to stay with you?’ Awnya asks.
‘I’m sure.’
The twins shrug and turn to leave.
‘Hey.’ I stop them. ‘Thanks. You saved me. I won’t forget it.’
‘You’d have been fine,’ Cian snorts.
I shake my head slowly. He catches my dark look and his grin fades.
‘You guys hurry on back,’ I mutter.
They wave at me and set off, fast
That rings a bell. ‘I think I know the place you’re talking about. It was turned into flats. The Bow Quarter, near Victoria Park?’
‘Yes,’ Cian says, impressed. ‘How did you know?’
‘I used to live over that way. I’ve passed it loads of times. It was an eye-catching place.’
I consider the walk to Bow. The twins are right, it’s not far away, an easy hour and a bit if I was in good shape. But in my current condition it’s an
unappealing prospect.
‘I’m not up for the journey,’ I tell them. ‘It would take hours. I can barely manage a crawl.’
‘We could carry you,’ Awnya suggests.
‘I don’t think so.’
‘We’re strong enough,’ Cian growls, puffing himself up.
‘I’m sure you are,’ I reply, ‘but I’d slow you down, and speed is important. Mr Dowling’s mutants will start looking for me again when they’re finished
at County Hall. The sooner I can link up with Dr Oystein, the better.’
Cian rubs his chin thoughtfully. ‘So what do you want us to do? We can’t just leave you here, injured and alone.’
‘Tell you what,’ I decide, thinking about the route east. ‘You guys can help me get to Brick Lane. You need to pass close by it anyway. There’s an old brewery there that I know well, where I can lay low. Drop me off and
I’ll wait there for you to bring Dr Oystein to me.’
‘Are you sure?’ Awnya frowns. ‘Maybe it would be safer if one of us stayed with you.’
‘No,’ I tell her. ‘You two work better as a team. I’ll be fine by myself. It’s a nice place to rest. Mr Dowling has no reason to suspect I’ll head
there.’
The twins glance at one another, think about it, then nod.
‘OK,’ Awnya says.
‘If that’s what you want,’ Cian chirps.
Then they move to either side of me, link arms with mine and we’re off, like Dorothy and her friends on the road to Oz. But there’s no way I’m going to sing ‘Follow the
Yellow Brick Road’. I was always a lousy singer, even when I had lungs to sing with.
ELEVEN
It takes even longer than I anticipated to cross the river and complete the short march to Brick Lane. The twins are shocked when they see how hard I find it to drag one leg after the other.
Awnya suggests I stop before Brick Lane and rest up in the Tower of London or Aldgate. But I have the Truman Brewery in my head now, and the lure of it keeps me going. I want to lie back
somewhere familiar, study Timothy’s paintings, reflect on all that has happened. I’ll feel safe there. I’d be uneasy anywhere else.
The twins are wearing hats, sunglasses and jackets to protect them from the daylight. They offer to find the same for me, but I barely notice the discomfort that walking around in the sunshine
usually causes. I have far more painful crosses to bear.
Eventually we get to the turning for Brick Lane and I smile painfully. ‘Home sweet home. You can leave me here. No need to come all the way.’
‘Are you sure?’ Awnya asks.
‘What if you’re attacked?’ Cian says.
‘And what if a meteor falls on me?’ I respond tetchily. ‘Look, even if I collapse, I won’t fall far short, so you’ll know where to find me. By the time I get there,
you’ll be halfway to Bow. Coming any further with me would be a waste of time.’
‘In that case we shouldn’t have bothered bringing you this far,’ Cian says and I feel like giving him a slap. But then he sticks out his tongue and laughs, and I forgive
him.
‘Take care, B,’ Cian says.
‘I will.’
‘You’re sure you don’t want one of us to stay with you?’ Awnya asks.
‘I’m sure.’
The twins shrug and turn to leave.
‘Hey.’ I stop them. ‘Thanks. You saved me. I won’t forget it.’
‘You’d have been fine,’ Cian snorts.
I shake my head slowly. He catches my dark look and his grin fades.
‘You guys hurry on back,’ I mutter.
They wave at me and set off, fast
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