Phil turned aside and at the same time accidentally knocked an apple to the ground. He bent to pick it up, Rocco eyeing him narrowly in case he tried to slip it into his pocket. But Phil did not get up at once. Instead, he said:

“Oi! What’s this?”

“W’at you find?”

“What’s this, Rocco?” Phil rose from in front of the stand, with the package in his hands. “I found this under the counter.”

Rocco stared. His mouth opened in dismay. For, sounding clearly from the inside of the package, came a steady tick-tock, tick-tock .

“A bomb!” he shrieked. “Put heem down!”