“Hold on to my arm,” I say, snatching up my cap and getting ready for us to run as fast as we can between us. I risk a glance back and I’m pleased to see that it’s not easy to climb down a loose fishing net when one of your hands is a boathook; Boathook Man looks hopelessly tangled.

But we don’t get to start that run.

“Well, well, well,” says a voice as the broad frame of a man appears between the black sheds ahead of us, barring our way to freedom. “This is no way to treat a book,” the man adds, picking up Vi’s green book and brushing the wet sand off it.

It’s Sebastian Eels.

THE MALAMANDER EGG

“I THINK THE MERMONKEY meant for you to read this,” says Sebastian Eels, handing the book back to Violet. “Not use it as a Frisbee.”

“We need to go,” I say, helping Vi up and preparing to lead her away, but stopping because the man moves back in front of us. Up above we can hear Boathook Man continue in his struggle down the net.

“Or could it be,” Eels continues, “that you have read it already, and don’t like what you found?”

Eels is looking very intently at Violet, as if searching for some sign. Behind us, we hear a wet thud as Boathook Man finally reaches the sand. I turn and see him hulking towards us, his hook raised. I’m just about to yell at Vi to run, never mind her bad ankle, when Sebastian Eels holds up his hand to Boathook Man.

“Now, now, my friend. No need to get excited. I told you I just wanted to chat with these young people, not terrify them. And that hook of yours is very intimidating. They must be worried about what an angry man like you could do with such a fearsome weapon.”

Boathook Man comes to a halt just a few paces away from us.

“It is…” he says, in a rush of damp air. “It is the girl…”

But Sebastian Eels silences him with a look.

“Chat?” says Violet, dropping my arm and standing as tall as she can. “Chat about what?”

Sebastian Eels is still watching Violet closely. His eyes flick to me for a moment, and then back to Violet again. “Oh, I just think we got off to a bad start, that’s all,” he says then, with a smile that is obviously meant to be charming. “Back in the book dispensary.”

Then he turns to Boathook Man and says in a commanding tone, “Stay here. Rest awhile. Come to me again later.”

I risk a glance over my shoulder. Boathook Man hesitates and then begins to back off, receding into the gloom between the sheds until there’s nothing to be seen there but a strange patch of swirling mist.