It was dark outside and bitterly cold as they made their way to the abandoned street where the Bandits had their burnt-out house. The wind made their lab coats billow behind them, and the snow was so icy and wet that it soaked them right up to the knees.
When they finally arrived, shivering and sneezing, the orphaned children huddled round them, demanding to know where they’d been. Johnathan hadn’t expected there to be a dozen of them, he’d thought four or five at the most. Now he knew how convenient it had been for the Bandits to steal for their income; not even the four of them could earn enough to feed these many mouths three times a day, as well as wash and cloth them.
Lighting the Kerical lamps in the sitting room, Erin handed out cosy blankets to everyone and made mugs of hot choco
