Hati . . . Harriet. It’s not just their names that are similar. Hati loved smashing Rose’s things; it was written all over her face as she crushed the glass bottle and stamped on Rose’s precious necklace. I remember how Rose’s cupcakes were thrown all over the corridor at school. When I went looking for Rose I saw Harriet walking toward me and grinning . . . and she was surrounded by her pack of girls.

Finally I work the gag out of my mouth and take a deep breath. As I continue to struggle with the ropes, my mind jumps backward and forward between Hati and Harriet, looking for connections.

Behind me, Win gasps. He’s gotten rid of his gag too. “Arthur, I’m sorry I fell asleep,” he says in a rush. “I didn’t mean to. I was so tired!”

“It doesn’t matter,” I say, because we really don’t have time to talk about this right now. “We’ve got to get out of here and get to Rose before they board the ship.”

“Oh no . . . ,” says Win.

I twist around, trying to see what he can see. “What is it?”

“The ship . . . It’s leaving!”

Frustration sweeps through me. Crowky is coming toward me, Rose is sailing away from me, and I’m stuck here, tied to the person who made this happen. No. That’s not fair. Win didn’t mean to fall asleep or let go of the map back at the Crow’s Nest, but as he chatters on about the speed of the ship, and strength of the wind, and says, ‘What do you think is in the Box, Arthur? Vampires? Or just one really massive snake?’ I start to feel angry.

“Win, please, just . . . shut up,” I say, and instantly he falls quiet.

“I can do that,” he says. “Right now. I’m going to shut up and be totally silent . . . I’m not going to make a single sound.”

I struggle madly, trying to loosen the ropes. Suddenly I fall forward. The rope is undone. “I did it, Arthur!” cries Win. “I got us out!” The next thing I know my wrists and hands are free too.

Win jumps up, grabs his telescope, and runs to the window facing land. “I reckon Crowky is half an hour away,” he says. “The scarecrows are marching and Crowky is doing that creepy flying-running thing he does. He is itching to get here.” He turns to look at me. “What are we going to do, Arthur?”

My eyes dart between the two windows; I see the scarecrows moving across the plain and the ship sailing away with Rose on board. My throat feels tight and I’ve got a hot feeling in my chest. I swallow and try to think logically, but I can’t. I’m too angry . . . I’m too scared. “I don’t know, Win.”

He pats my shoulder. “At least the situation can’t get any worse.”