Ive been told to look after you today, was all he said, and his tone implied it was the last thing he wanted to do in the world.

Oliver shrugged and stuffed his hands into his deep pockets. He felt very uncomfortable in Lucass presence.

Just then, a noise came from behind. Oliver looked over his shoulder and saw Armando, walking stick in hand, hobbling across the factory. He was wearing a long green trench coat and heading for the fake wall. Oliver wondered where he was going.

Armando? Oliver called out. The thought of being left in the factory with just Lucas made him feel quite panicked.

When the old inventor didnt respond, Oliver went to approach him instead. But before he had a chance to even make a step toward Armando, he felt a strong hand suddenly clamp down on his shoulder. He turned, surprised, to see Lucass sour face glaring down at him. For an eighty-something man, he had a very strong grip.

Dont interfere, Lucas hissed.

Oliver had already worked out that Lucas wasnt fond of him, but the hatred in his face was unmistakable. Oliver couldnt even begin to fathom why Lucas hated him so much.

But where is he going? Oliver asked.

Its none of your business, Lucas barked back. His eyes narrowed even further, until they were nothing but slits. His thin lips twitched, as though reveling in the fact that he held more information than Oliver.

The fake factory wall squealed then. Oliver looked over to see that Armando was now gone.

Lucas released his grip on Olivers shoulder. He seemed to soften a little, Oliver thought. Some of the tenseness in his stance released.

Let me show you around a bit more, he said. I bet Armando didnt do a particularly thorough tour of the factory.

Oliver couldnt help but feel suspicious of the invitation. From everything hed experienced of Lucas so far, he wouldnt put it past him to have some kind of ulterior motive. Perhaps he had some evil plan to get rid of him. Maybe hed lock Oliver inside the mechanized tank, or set a flock of mechanical birds on him!

Uh… okay, Oliver said with a wobbly voice.

He didnt want Lucas to know how afraid he felt, so he kept his chin high as he followed the old man away from the workbench.

He was led, first, to a new corridor he hadnt yet seen. Inside was a large red spiral staircase.

Up there is my office and my room for when I do nights, Lucas told him. Off limits for you, of course.

Of course, Oliver repeated dryly.

They went to another corridor, yet another Oliver had not been shown before. It shocked him how many there were in the factory and how easy it was to get lost inside.