‘I have a very serious matter to report,’ Rocastle began. He was standing on the stage, his hands gripping the edges of a wooden lectern. Behind him stood the teachers, listening in a line. At the side of the stage stood Benny and Alexander, looking nervously at the audience of boys. ‘This lady and gentleman are in charge of the museum in town. They tell me that a theft has occurred, and it seems that it can only be a Hulton College boy who is responsible. The article stolen is of no value, being a pottery sphere found by archaeologists. I have been assured that the museum does not wish to pursue the matter via the police. If the boy who took this sphere comes forward now, he will not be expelled, nor his parents informed. He will receive six strokes of the cane, and the matter forgotten. I think that’s a fair offer that any honest Christian boy would accept, and I hope that you’re not going to let the school down in front of our guests.’ He gestured to Bernice and Alexander. ‘Well then⁠ — who’s got it?’

There was silence. Rocastle clicked his tongue against his teeth. ‘Very well, one last chance for all of you. Either the thief comes forward now, or he damns his fellows with him.’ Silence again. ‘Then it is my sad duty to inform you all that the town is out of bounds for the next month, or until the thief confesses. Now⁠ —’

There came a shattering explosion from outside the building.

‘My God,’ Bernice whispered. ‘They’re here.’ She glanced at Smith, who was looking around at his fellow teachers in panic as the boys started to yell and run.

‘Who’s going to save us this time?’

The family stood in the courtyard of the school buildings. Hoff lowered his gun, nodding proudly at the remains of a statue that he’d atomised. The others stood in a line, watching the windows, weapons held at the ready. Even Aphasia had a gun, a big showy photon rifle that she’d painted orange with black spots, her balloon tied around the end of the muzzle.

August put a black conelike device to his lips. His voice was amplified and projected by the equipment, winding its way into the school, echoing through every room and gallery. ‘Listen to me. My name is August of the Aubertide family Dubraxine. One of the young humans in that building has something we want, a red sphere known as a Biodatapod. You will send it out to us, and we will leave with it. If you do not, then we’ll level the building and kill everybody. We’re watching every exit.’ He put his hand over the mouthpiece for a moment and looked at the others meaningfully. ‘I said, we’re watching every exit…’