I nodded my head. ‘Exactly.’
She raised a questioning eyebrow. ‘Under the tent?’
‘I think so.’ I paused. ‘We should have already realised that. I don’t know that it would have mattered before, but it matters a great deal now.’
Alora got to her feet and began to fidget, as if sitting down was too relaxed a position for discussions of this nature. ‘So you propose what? We use this tunnel ourselves to sneak in and out? We get our own supplies and pretend to the rest of the world that we’re still cut off?’
‘That would work for a while,’ Monroe answered. ‘Assuming we weren’t noticed buying cartloads of goods and trundling them along to a hole in the ground.’
‘But,’ I added, ‘it wouldn’t be long before another Fabian Barrett showed up. There will be others like him who think they can control the magic here and use it for their own ends. Maybe they’ll be better than him and want to put it to genuine good use.’ I shrugged. ‘And maybe they won’t. Either way, the magic isn’t anyone’s to control. Anyone who wants it should be able to have it.’
I leaned forward, my eagerness getting the better of me. ‘Barrett knew that by using magic we were also generating magic and releasing more of it into the atmosphere. It’s why he wanted to control the enclave instead of destroying it. He wanted us here. He needed us here. We’ve been concerned that we might cause too much magic to build up again but,’ I beamed, ‘if we can ship that extra magic out to whoever wants it in return for the supplies we need then we all win, at least in the short term. In the end, Fabian Barrett has given us the means for our own survival. He really is our saviour.’
Everyone snorted at that, even Julian. I was concerned that the effort was too much for him. His cheeks went an alarming shade of red although the rest of his skin remained ridiculously pale.
Alora scratched her head. ‘But if our alleged saviour is to be believed, no one on the outside will trust us.’
My smile grew. ‘Fab,’ I said mockingly, ‘was right. People know who he is. They’re inclined to trust him simply because they’ve heard of him. Knowing who he is made us more likely to trust him in the beginning too. Celebrity power is as strong as any of the other power we have at our fingertips. We need the right person at the right time to talk to the rest of the world. I really believe that then we can turn all of this to our advantage.’
Dawning comprehension lit the others’ faces. Monroe, however, pursed his lips. ‘Assuming we can keep her sober for long enough, of course.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
We stood at the spot which marked Fabian Barrett’s hazmat tent. The tent itself had already been ripped down and the material burned in a sort of ceremonial fire. A lot of people had cheered; apparently it didn’t take much more than a few murder attempts to turn the tide of public opinion. If I hadn’t been so nervous about what was to come, I might have joined in.
I pointed at the manhole cover. ‘It’s down there,’ I said. ‘I’m sure of it. It’s the only place that makes any sense.’
Julie looked remarkably dubious. ‘In the sewer? Darling, I know I said that I’d do what I could to help but even I have limits.’
‘I’ll be with you all the way,’ I said briskly. ‘You’ll be absolutely fine.’
‘You can barely stand up and you’re covered in bruises. I don’t think the sight of you will calm anyone on the other side of the wall. And I don’t think you’re in any state to traipse through a sewer tunnel for several miles. Neither is Monroe. He’s looking distinctly green around the gills.’
I opened my mouth to argue. Jodie stepped up. ‘Julie is right. Besides, if this doesn’t work she won’t be able to get back into Manchester. The enclave needs you far more than it needs her.’
‘Pardon?’ Julie didn’t seem particularly impressed by Jodie’s assessment of the situation.
Jodie looked at her. ‘I’ll come with you.’ She flexed her fingers, a flicker of her own newly found magic appearing and disappearing as she did so. ‘If we meet any beasties down there, we’ll deal with them together.’
‘I’m sure the tunnel is clear,’ Lizzy said. ‘If Fabian Barrett and his men used it, it must be fine. But for what it’s worth, I’ll come along for the ride.’
I blinked at her. She shrugged at me. ‘One thing I’ve learnt from you is that anyone can rise to a challenge. We’ve all got power now, we can all save each other. Part of Barrett’s problem was that he wanted to be the one in charge. He wanted to be the supposed hero and drape himself in all the glory, regardless of what happened along the way. What he didn’t realise is that we all have it in us to be heroes.’ She paused. ‘Plus, he didn’t bring in any Vegemite. I know it’s hard to get hold of in this country, but I had expectations which were dashed. If I’m to be satisfied, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.’
Cath hefted the bag on her shoulders and grinned at us. I shook my head. ‘Oh no. Not you too.’
‘I’ve got to keep it 100, Charley. I want things here to work out as much as everyone else does.’
‘Your medical skills…’
‘Are amazing,’ she nodded. ‘I know. But plenty of others have been learning to help out in the hospital and we do have two fully trained doctors. I’m not invaluable.’ Her eyes gleamed. ‘I want some action.’
Monroe walked up slowly, carrying four bags. From the white lines around his mouth, he was in
