Just for a second, Frank’s granite features softened.

“Popular man, your dad,” he said. “Pete won’t say nothing. And he’ll spread the word. Nobody’ll say nothing. Nobody’ll rat on Nathan’s kid.”

Word got out among the lock-keepers. After a few locks, it was no longer necessary for Frank to mention Nathan at all. Nonetheless, as the Starling was also going to London, Frank suggested that the two boats continue to travel together. As Jim put it, “Two kids on their own, people ask questions. If there’s adults about, they leave ’em alone.”

Molly longed for adventure, but Frank had frightened her. What if the Sparrowhawk did sink, immediately, straight to the bottom of the sea? For two days she worried over Lotti and Ben’s secret, wondering if she should do something to stop them. By Wednesday morning, knowing the Sparrowhawk would be coming into London and that soon it would be too late, she confessed everything to her sister, Martha.

Martha, who had grown very practical since driving ambulances around Central Europe, went straight to Great Barton to speak with Clara Primrose.

“I didn’t want to go to the police,” Martha said to Clara, “on account of our Molly mowing down that copper on a bicycle. I don’t want to get her into trouble. But in the whole story, you sounded like the only one who cared for them kids.”

Clara had returned to Great Barton on Monday, intending to get on with her life, only to find that her life had moved on without her. Ben and the Sparrowhawk were gone; Hubert Netherbury had written informing her that she was fired and that Lotti was going away. She had been upset they hadn’t left a note, but as she listened to Martha’s story she began to understand why.

“They thought I’d stop them,” she said.

“Well, you would, wouldn’t you?” said Martha.

“I can’t really believe it,” said Clara. “It’s such an incredible story. But rather beautiful too.”

“It’s barmy, that’s what it is.”

After Martha had gone, Clara sat thinking about what she should do. Of course Martha was right. It was a barmy story. Sailing the Sparrowhawk across the Channel! Looking for Sam! How exactly did they propose to find him? Clara knew what had happened to Sam—the same thing that had happened to millions of other souls who had gone missing, shot to pieces on a battlefield. That’s what missing meant. It was brutal, but true. She wished Ben had spoken to her before setting off, and that Lotti had come to her about poor little Federico. To be sure, Clara had been away, but they might have waited and she would have helped.

Well, they were gone now. The question was, what should Clara do?