Craftsman Primrose led the apprentices back from the perimeter gate towards the main factorium building, past the crowds of people swiftly emerging from the pneumatic transport hut behind them. As they neared the factorium, a slender man approached. He wore the ruby-red cloak of a master. He swept a hand back through silver-white hair, cropped short at the sides. His face had a crooked angle to it, with white eyebrows closely guarding pin-sharp eyes; his mouth was tight and purposeful.

“Glad you made it, Apprentice Duval,” the man said to Cora. “Primrose, you’re taking my new apprentice for the morning. Master Woolstenbury has planned urgent discussions with the masters about the hundred after the meeting this morning.”

Prue didn’t like the way he’d told Craftsman Primrose rather than asked.

“Of course, Master Sollentude.”

“Didn’t Master White say something about one-hundred back in Medlock?” she whispered to Agapantha.

She nodded in reply. “I wonder what it means?”

Cora opened her mouth to say something to Master Sollentude, but he had already turned to walk away. He called loudly to a mole personifate not far ahead. “The lawns are overgrown, tidy them up.”

The mole dropped the basket of potatoes he was carrying and they bounced across the ground. “Of course, Master Sollentude.”

Master Sollentude just breezed on past. Craftsman Primrose tutted quietly and rushed to help the mole. Prue and Agapantha hurried to help too.

“A please from Sollentude wouldn’t go amiss,” Craftsman Primrose said, shaking his head. “Honestly, sometimes I wonder if he’s any better than the ASL. Here you go, Abel.”

“Much obliged, Craftsman Primrose,” said Abel, carrying on his way. “Best get on with tidying the lawns.”

“You have as much right to be at this meeting as Master Sollentude. I’m sure some of the other personifates can help you later,” Craftsman Primrose called after him.

Prue felt glad she was apprenticed to Craftsman Primrose – he had a kind heart.

“Right, we’d better all get inside,” he said.

Chapter 8: The New Apprentice

THE NEW APPRENTICE

Prue felt like a mouse beneath a great oak as they approached the entrance to the enormous factorium. The doorway was huge, leading into a central atrium lined with flight upon flight of ornate ironwork stairs around the edges and access walkways. There were two lift systems on either side, cogs and pulleys left in the open for all to see. Autumn sunlight streamed in from a glass ceiling, casting shadowed web patterns on the wall from the intricate metal latticework above.