I couldn't sleep after that. I was still angry, as much with myself for losing control as I was at Zoot. I returned to the former cleaning storeroom less than an hour after I'd left.

Zoot was still trying to eat the beans, unsuccessfully. He glared at me as I entered, but didn't stop. I went over and took the tin and the spoon from him, then stood facing him. Feeling a little awkward, I held a spoonful of beans through the mesh for him to eat. Without protest he did, but there was suspicion in his eyes.

"Listen, Zoot, I shouldn't have lost my temper like that. I was... There's no excuse. I'm sorry."

I waited for him to reply.

"What's this about? What are you doing?"

"Treating you like a human."

He took the spoon from me to eat the beans on it, then passed the spoon back through the mesh.

"Yeah. Sure."

"Where does it all come from, Zoot? The anger, the hatred. Why did you become like that when Bray turned out the opposite? It can't just be because of your parents."

"Power and Chaos is the only way."

"Right. It's been like that for nine months, huh? Only because of you, though. Maybe if someone else, like Amber or Bray, had come out on top it'd be Peace and Co-operation instead. How many of the Locos are people from school who saw you snap?"

He didn't answer, but then I hadn't expected him to.

"This world has crumbled, Zoot. It began with the virus, and continued with Power and Chaos. We've returned to the Dark Ages, when what we needed was to get the farms running again, the water supply working, the electricity back on, and everyone working together so that there is a future for the little ones to grow up into. A future for Trudy's baby. Your daughter."

"How do you know she's mine?" Zoot sneered.

"You and Trudy were together nine months ago, right? Besides, I asked her earlier today. That little girl is yours."

"I want to see her."

I nodded. "I'll speak to her. You thirsty?"

I spoke to Trudy the next morning. She was up getting some water in the café when I got there. I said good morning.

"You're up early today," she observed, swaying from side to side with the baby on her hip.

"Not been sleeping well," I told her as I fetched some water for myself. "Actually, I'm glad I've got the chance to speak to you. There's something you should see. Before everyone else wakes up would be best."

"What is it?" she asked, frowning curiously.

I led her down to the door to where Zoot was, explaining quietly as we walked.

"This has to be kept a secret from everyone else. We'd both be in trouble if Amber or Lex found out. Bray would too, though he has no idea. So I need you to promise two things." I stopped outside the padlocked door and faced her.

Trudy hesitated before answering. "Go on."

"That you'll keep the secret."

She nodded.

"And that you won't get angry at me."

She smiled uncertainly. "Why would I get angry with you?"

"Do you promise?"

"Of course. Now what is it?"

I took a breath and looked away from her. "Martin," I whispered.

From the corner of my eye I saw her jaw drop. She hoisted the baby a little higher on her hip.

"Martin?"

I nodded without looking directly at her.

"Zoot? But... how?"

"Bray brought him in the other night, but in the darkness I could only tell he was a Loco, so, well, I ambushed him and put him in here."

"I need to see him," Trudy insisted.

I met her eyes again. "I know. He asked to see you. Wait here."

It didn't take long to put the combination into the padlock and remove the chain holding the door shut. I slipped through, quickly moved the stacked food into a smaller cleaning supplies room, then unlocked the second door into Zoot's room. He was asleep. I crouched down near his head and poked his shoulder through the mesh.

"Hey Zoot, wake up. Trudy's here to see you." I poked harder. "Zoot, come on, wake up. You wanted to talk to Trudy, right? So get up."

At last he stirred and groaned. His hand snapped out in an arc and crashed against the mesh. He swore, and finally came awake properly. He was on his feet within mere seconds, and swayed a moment before focusing his eyes on me.

"Trudy's here?" he asked more sharply than I'd expected from someone so recently awakened.

"Yes. I'll bring her in."

"Wait," he suddenly whispered at I turned towards the door. I turned back. "Does she have the baby with her?" he asked. I nodded, but when he said nothing more I went out to bring Trudy within.

She seemed a little nervous. Her steps were small and hesitant as she crossed from one door to the other, and she paused for less than a second before going through the second door. There was concern on her face which turned to relief when she saw him – had she believed him badly injured from my ambush, I wondered, then pushed it from my mind. The baby she held close to her, wrapped in blankets so that Zoot could not see so much as a tiny finger of his daughter.

"Trude. Babe," Zoot said quietly.

"Zoot," Trudy whispered back. She shifted slightly turning and revealing the baby's face to him.

Instantly Zoot's face softened as he looked at the baby. I slipped away through the door and sat myself in the corridor to give them time to themselves. I could hear the murmur of their voices through the door, but not their words. It didn't matter. This was a private moment for them both, and I had neither the right nor the wish to eavesdrop on them. I sat for several minutes, thinking of nothing, then rose to find a tin of food for Zoot from the store cupboard. On the other side of the door they continued to speak quietly. Either they did not want me to hear them or their words were without anger or malice. I suspected a mixture of both.

They'd been speaking alone for perhaps ten minutes when Trudy pushed the door open to find me.

"Can you open the cage?" she asked. "He wants to hold her."

I nodded, and followed her back into the old storage room, using chain and padlock to secure the door behind me. Neither said anything as I did this, but waited patiently for me to unlock the door to the cage. Zoot stepped out and approached Trudy, who handed him the baby. He held her awkwardly, uncertainly, and stared down into her face. I thought I saw tears brimming in his eyes, but looked away, embarrassed.

"Hello," he whispered to his daughter, then without looking up addressed Trudy. "Does she have a name?"

Trudy shook her head. "Not yet. Do you- I mean, would you like to name her?"

Zoot didn't say anything for nearly a minute.

"Sunshine," he said at last, then looked up at Trudy. "What do you think of Sunshine?"

Trudy smiled. "I like it. It's perfect." The two of them bent over their daughter. "Hello little Sunshine." Her fingers brushed Sunshine's cheek. They stood like that for a moment, then Trudy took the baby back and turned to me.

"Thank you," she said to me softly, and smiled.