We walk as fast as we can, our feet slipping and sliding. I keep my eyes fixed straight ahead, not daring to move my head in case we start walking in the wrong direction.

“Shame Hati smashed that compass,” says Win, followed by, “Do you think Mister Flambaygo would help us here?”

I glance at my feet. Colorful fish swim beneath the ice and below them the dark sea stretches down and down. “I think the fewer holes in the ice the better,” I say. “And Win, we need to be quiet. We could be getting close.”

“Got it!” he says loudly.

“Shh!”

We’re both relieved when a black shape rises out of the fog. It’s a ship, and it’s tilted to one side and trapped in the ice. A howl echoes from somewhere on the deck, and when we see the silhouette of a prowling wolf we know for certain that we’ve found the Alisha.

We run forward, hoods pulled low, until we’re hidden by the side of the ship. Then we work our way around the hull, looking for the rope Mitch promised would be hanging from her cabin window. This is how she climbs on board the ship and it’s how I’m planning to get to Rose.

I feel like we’ve almost made a full circuit when we finally find the rope.

“Win, you stay here,” I say. “I need to sneak on board. If there are two of us, it will be harder to hide.”

“But I’m a ninja. I’m super stealthy. I’m trained for exactly this kind of situation!”

“I know,” I whisper, wishing he would keep quiet, “but you’re my lookout. I need you down here. OK?”

Reluctantly he nods. I pause, listen for padding paws, then I start to climb. The rope is oily and wet, but it has knots tied along its length that help me pull myself up. Soon I’m approaching the window of Mitch’s cabin.

I peer through the glass.

It’s better than I could have imagined. Rose is lying on the leather sofa, her arms tied behind her back, and she’s on her own. I thought I might find Hati inside, or that the cabin would be empty, but this is perfect!

I’m about to tap on the glass when I realize the window is slightly open, so I climb onto the windowsill and drop into the cabin.

Rose’s eyes fly open. “Arthur?”

I put a finger to my lips, creep across the cabin, then slide the bolt on the door, locking us inside.

Rose sits up and stretches her arms out behind her. “Quick. Untie me, then we can get out of here!”