He moved to face her, paws on hips. “It might not be exactly the same, but I do know what it’s like, because I’m dead. I’ve lost everything – any brothers and sisters I may have had – but I’ve also lost myself. Who was I? I have no idea, and that’s not easy to live with. Ever thought of that?”

She shook her head, angry with herself for being so thoughtless. “Edwin, I’m so sorry.”

He put a paw on her knee. “What was his name?”

“Ah … that’s another thing.” She bit her lip, then said, “He was called Francis.”

Edwin frowned at her. “But that’s your name? You both had the same name?”

“No. Frances Haywood isn’t my real name … I’m actually Prue Haywood.” She explained what had happened when Craftsman Primrose had first arrived at the farm, and how he’d heard about a talented young mechanic called Francis.

Edwin listened intently. “Wow. Do you ever count how many risks you take in a day?”

“You can see why I thought it might be best to distance myself from you and Ag.”

“So, Prue – which I must say suits you better as a name – are you going to tell me what the machine is all about? I promise I won’t tell a soul. Not even Ag, if you don’t want me to.”

Prue showed him her journal and explained how she’d worked out her theory of history data being isolated in a different part of the overall wildspark signal.

Edwin listened intently and nodded. “Have you tried it yet?”

“No. I was going to ask Luella; she knows about Francis, and she wants to help.”

“Try it on me.”

“What?”

“Right here and now.”

“Are you serious?”

“Deadly.”

“That’s not funny. What if it goes wrong and I do something to your frequency? Luella doesn’t think her qwortzite will hold out for much longer, so she says she’s got nothing to lose, but you’re young in your second life.”

“Then we’ll not need to say another word about it, because I’ll be dead. Again.” Edwin saw Prue’s stricken face, then sighed. “Look, I’m just joking. I won’t die.” He gestured towards the pages of her journal. “Your calculations look sound. I trust you. And if there is the remotest chance of me finding out who I really am, I could be the first personifate to ever know.”

“You should know that after I fainted in the harnessing, Master Woolstenbury warned me against messing with memory. If she found out what I’ve been up to, we’d both be thrown out of here.”

“The fact you carried on tells me that it’s a risk you’re willing to take.”

Prue nodded.

“Then I am too.” He smiled. “How do we hook up this machine of yours?”