‘That’s the first time I’ve heard my name and a word like that used in the same sentence,’ he says with a wry smile.
I lean closer so that our shoulders are touching. He twirls the brass button of his sleeve, his fingers long and calloused.
‘What words have you heard used to describe you?’
Atlas shrugs. ‘Poor. Angry. Misfit.’
My stomach lurches. He concentrates on the button and suddenly the desire to kiss him is hard to resist. But there’s no comfort I can offer him. Not for this, and not for what will happen in three days’ time if I don’t give Wyvernmire what she wants. I look around at the other recruits. They have no idea what’s coming.
The door opens and two Guardians walk in, followed by Ravensloe.
Marquis and Katherine get to their feet and I feel Atlas tense beside me. Ravensloe is carrying a decanter of orange liquid and beaming from ear to ear.
‘Where is he?’ he says impatiently. ‘Ah yes. Marquis Featherswallow.’
Marquis turns a chesspiece over in his hands and glares at the Deputy Prime Minister. I sit up straighter as fear burns in my chest. What does he want with my cousin?
‘I’ve just been informed that Mr Featherswallow’s contribution of knowledge concerning the invention of a mechanical gizzard has allowed us to design and build the most dragonlike plane in Britannia.’ His eyes glitter as he stares round at us. ‘The Aviation Department is hereby closed.’
My eyes meet Marquis’s. His face is a deep red and his fist, now closed tightly round the chesspiece, is turning white.
‘Congratulations, recruit,’ Ravensloe says. ‘You fulfilled your mission.’ He sticks out his hand, and when Marquis doesn’t take it he thrusts the decanter of liquid at him instead. ‘Some apricot wine as a Christmas reward. Prime Minister Wyvernmire will be thrilled.’
The music continues to blare into the otherwise silent room and Ravensloe gives my cousin another nod before striding away. Everyone stares at Marquis.
‘I – I … I didn’t mean to. I explained to Knott how dragon gizzards work weeks ago, just because I thought it was interesting. I didn’t know he would …’ He looks from me to Karim and his eyes fill with tears.
I’m by his side in an instant. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I say soothingly. ‘We’ll – we’ll …’
Atlas is staring at me, his brow furrowed.
‘Serena and Karim,’ he says. ‘We need to get you out of here. Tonight.’
The blood drains from Serena’s face. ‘Did you not see what happened to Dodie? I can’t—’
‘Oh, for God’s sake, Serena!’ Marquis roars. ‘The plane is finished – I’ve gone and won the bloody race! And when Wyvernmire finds out she’s not going to let you and Karim just walk out of here.’
He sinks to his knees, dropping the decanter of apricot wine. The stopper falls off and the sweet-smelling liquid seeps into the rug. Panic floods through me. Marquis isn’t wrong. Dodie was killed for trying to escape and Wyvernmire hasmade a deal with the Bulgarian dragons. She’s capable of more than I ever expected.
‘What will happen to you?’ Gideon says. He looks from Serena to Karim. ‘What did you do to get yourselves here?’
It’s the question everyone avoids.
‘Fraud,’ Karim says. ‘I changed my parents’ tax declarations to make sure we could get by. But for the Third Class fraud is punishable by …’
‘Death,’ Gideon finishes.
Karim begins to cry.
‘You all know my situation,’ Serena says quietly. ‘Trust me, I’d rather die than be forced to marry an old man.’
My head throbs. Surely there’s some way out of Bletchley Park?
Oh.
‘I know someone who might be able to help,’ I say.
They all stare at me and Marquis raises his head. Atlas stands up abruptly, looking at me as if he’s never seen me before.
