'Landen!' I shouted, but a cheer went up from the crowd and I was drowned out. But he did see me, and smiled. He held the infant's hand and made it wave too. Gran tugged my shoulder pad to get my attention.

'Gran,' I said, 'it's Lan—'

And then the mallet struck my head. Blackness and oblivion. As usual, just when I got to the good bit.

16

Captain Nemo

'Wemmick's Stores: To enable Jurisfiction agents to travel easily and undetected within fiction, Wemmick's Stores was built within the lobby of the Great Library. The stores have an almost unlimited inventory as Mr Wemmick is permitted to create whatever he needs using a small ImaginoTransference device licensed by Text Grand Central. To reduce pilfering by Jurisfiction staff, all items checked out must be checked in again whereupon they are promptly reduced to text.'

UA OF W CAT— The Jurisfiction Guide to the Great Library (glossary)

I woke late the following morning. My bed was next to the porthole so I rolled over, doubled up a pillow and gazed out at the sun sparkling upon the surface of the lake. I could hear the gentle slap of the water against the flying boat's hull, and it gave me a sense of ease and inner peace that ten years of SpecOps' finest Stressperts couldn't bully into you.

I got up slowly and felt woozy all of a sudden. The room spun around and I felt hot. After a brief and unpleasant visit to the loo, I felt a bit better, and went downstairs.

I made myself some toast as it helped the nausea, and caught sight of myself in the chrome toaster. I looked dreadful, and I was holding up the toaster and sticking my tongue out, trying to see what it looked like, when the Generics walked in.

'What on earth are you doing?' asked Ibb.

'Nothing,' I replied, hurriedly replacing the toaster. 'Off to college?'

They both nodded. I noticed that they'd not only made their own lunch but actually cleared away after them. A certain sensitivity to others is a good sign in a Generic. It shows personality.

'Do you know where Gran is?' I asked.

'She said she was off to the Medici court for a few days,' replied Obb. 'She left you that note.'

I found the note on the counter and picked it up, studying the one-word message with slight confusion.

'We'll be back at five,' announced Ibb. 'Do you need anything?'

'What? Er – no,' I said, reading Gran's note again. 'See you then.'