“When we take over London,” said Spotty, “we’ll be in a really strong position. It’ll be like in the Middle Ages. When the king invaded another country he’d divide up all the lands and all the wealth to his favorite dukes and barons, the ones who’d helped him.”

“When we take over London?” Big Nose mocked. “You mean if we take over London, don’t you? All we ever do is sit around the palace with these bloody guns, trying to look important. We weren’t even allowed to go on the raid to the squatter camp.”

There was a clatter on the stairs, and they tried to look alert as Pod appeared, red-faced and flustered.

“Everything okay here?” he asked.

“Yeah.” The boys shrugged.

“You haven’t seen anything? Heard anything?”

“Like what?” said Spotty.

“The royals have escaped,” said Pod, sounding ticked off and harassed.

“Say what?”

“They got out somehow, yeah? David’s gone absolutely ballistic. It’s crazy down there—everyone’s, like, running around, trying to catch them.”

“We should go and help,” said Spotty, standing up.

“No, you need to stay up here and guard the prisoners.”

“They’re not going anywhere.”

“Even so. If the prisoners got out too, David would go off the scale.”

“One of us could stay here, the other could come with you,” said Spotty.

Pod thought about this for a moment.

“All right.” He looked at Spotty. “You come with me.”

“What about me?” said Big Nose.

“Stay put until further orders,” said Pod.

Big Nose watched sadly as the two of them hurried off down the narrow staircase.

Now, with no one to talk to, it would be even more tedious sitting here. Big Nose spat. Feeling a guilty pleasure as the gob of saliva sat there on the patterned carpet.

He swore loudly and colorfully, and for a moment it lifted the boredom.

65

Godzilla was asleep in Ella’s lap. She was gently stroking his head and talking to him about Sam.

“I wish he was here, Godzilla. I really miss him. I don’t like to think that I might never see him again, but every day I forget a little bit more about him. What he looked like. How he spoke. It’s like he’s slowly disappearing. What I remember most is that he was small. I’d do anything to make him come back.”

Godzilla yelped and wriggled out of her arms. He jumped off the bed, and Ella chased him over to where Whitney was standing at the open ballroom door, looking off down the East Gallery.

Whitney saw Godzilla and grabbed him. She looked angry. “Who’s supposed to be looking after this dog?” she asked. Ella looked like she was about to cry. “I’m sorry,” she said. Whitney’s expression softened. She handed the puppy to Ella.

“Just keep him with you, darling,” she said kindly. “All right?”

“All right.”