“I want to hear the radio reports,” said Wilfred. “Notwithstanding.”

“Oh, now, dear, that may not be the best,” said Sina. “Radio men and news people always try to create a stir. They want to keep you listening because that’s how they get sponsors, and getting sponsors is how they make money. So you cannot rely on anything they say whatsoever. Why don’t you let Tom and me listen and we’ll come and get you if there’s any real news.”

“No, thank you,” said Wilfred. “That’s very kind, but I won’t sleep anyway. I want to hear the reports myself.”

Sina wrung her hands, but she turned on the radio, saying, “Anyone for dessert?”

There were no takers, but Gladys brought in the burnt cherry cobbler anyway and placed it in the middle of the table like some kind of sacrificial lamb. She stared sadly at it, trying to appear as aggrieved as the rest of us, although it was clear that some part of her found the state of affairs very exciting.

“I’ve never lived in a house with relatives of someone most likely about to be hanged for treason,” she said, and ate three portions of the cobbler with gusto while Sina glared at her.

We sat for an hour and the news came in bits and pieces. At first it seemed it was much the same. Then the commentator said, “We have been told that the Argot can only be started by a handful of people in Canada who know the security access code. This code must be punched into a keyboard on the panel of the plane. If Robert Madden did start the plane or is working with enemy Japanese agents, they must have somehow managed to break the code. Alternatively, whoever stole the plane had help from someone with access to this information. And as there are only a very few people with this information, they are being interviewed, but none of them are as yet a suspect. Although Robert Madden is suspected of being part of the mysterious disappearance of the Argot, he was only maintenance and would not have been privy to the top-secret Argot access code. And we do not know where he is, so the military says that while his disappearance is suspicious, nothing can be confirmed at this time.”

“There, you see,” said Sina. “‘Nothing can be confirmed.’”

“Father couldn’t have known the access code,” said Wilfred. “So the question is, where is he?”

“Yes, he could have known the access code,” said Zebediah excitedly.

“The letters!” said Winifred. “Father said to you in one letter, ask him for the code. Who? Ask who?”