North shrugged and began to gather her briefing notes. ‘Presumably because they can.’ Her tone left them in no doubt as to her opinion of people who did things just because they could. ‘Don’t just stand there. Drop everything, get yourselves to 1837 and sort it out.’

‘Do we go now?’ asked Jane, slightly aghast.

‘Ten minutes ago would have been better.’

‘But . . .’

Luke laughed at Jane’s consternation.

‘Lockland, it’s not as if you had anything on. Your evening plans invariably involve washing your hair and going to bed with a good book.’

‘Is that some sort of metaphor?’

‘No, it’s a way of life. Your way of life.’

‘Next time I find you about to be on the receiving end of a good kicking I’ll join in.’

‘I thought you already had.’ He turned to North. ‘So we’re supposed to find one rabbit?’

On her way to the door, she paused impatiently. ‘Yes.’

‘In Australia?’

‘Yes. Why are you still here? Coordinates and everything you need have been flashed to your scratchpads. Go now and don’t come back without the rabbit. Or possibly, given the way you’re wasting time . . . rabbits.’

‘How will we recognise it?’

‘It’s the only one in Australia.’

‘Have you seen the size of . . .?’

‘Parrish, just get your arse into a pod and out of my sight. Now.’

‘All right. Which one of us in charge?’

She shrugged. ‘Sort it out for yourselves.’

Parrish turned to Farrell. ‘Do you want this one?’

He shook his head. ‘Absolutely not.’

‘Jane?’

‘No.’

‘Well, someone’s got to be team leader.’

Silence.

‘Why is it always me?’

More silence.

He said hopefully, ‘Can we go armed?’

North briefly closed her eyes. ‘Against a rabbit?’

‘Vicious little buggers. And you yourself said this one was a super rabbit.’

‘Explain to me why you’re still here and not in 1837, Parrish.’

‘I am endeavouring to equip my team appropriately for the forthcoming assignment. Ma’am.’

‘You can take a net.’

‘Electrified?’

‘Against a pregnant rabbit? For God’s sake, Parrish, what sort of a monster are you?’ She turned to the other two. ‘Get him out of my sight before I put you all on a charge.’

Twenty minutes later, she was reporting to Major Ellis.

‘They’ve gone, sir. I saw them off myself.’

‘I gather you volunteered them for this one.’

‘I’m trying to get them out of the building as often as possible. Until memories of the scene in the library have faded. Or Parrish learns to keep his mouth shut. Or the earth is engulfed by the sun. Or Farrell gets a proper haircut. Whichever comes first.’

‘We’ve never actually been at war with Australia, have we?’

‘I don’t believe so, sir. Why do you ask?’

‘No reason.’