Unconvinced a strong figure in her life is entirely at a loss of how to handle having a Number, she latches onto the one vague idea, “Then we help keep you and everyone else out of trouble. Mum already offered to be Sadie’s doctor if her eyes need to be looked at.” There is the ethical issue of doctors treating their own family except in emergencies, however, Nel is fairly certain this can constitute one if she or her grandfather get very sick or hurt.

Which, come to think of it, means keeping her Mum safe is very important to more than only their family now.

“And maybe if we ask we can get more people to help.”