Then the tenor of the argument shifted. There came a yell that was by no means normal squabbling, and a loud thud.

Rue leapt out of bed, wearing nothing but her thin shift, grabbed her mother’s parasol, and climbed up the captain’s ladder to the quarterdeck. She emerged blinking into the late afternoon light to find Spoo sitting triumphantly on the head of someone while Virgil resided on the legs. Both of them were rising up and down, as if riding a wave, as the individual in question convulsed in an effort to de-seat them.

“What on earth?” Rue asked.

Virgil’s eyes widened at her scanty attire. “Why, Lady Captain! What are you doing above boards dressed like that?”

Spoo was not perturbed.

Rue was beginning to suspect that nothing perturbed the girl. “Spoo, report!”

“Intruder, captain! We caught the blighter trying to sneak straight up the gangplank.”

At the mention of the word “captain”, the blighter in question stilled. He was clothed in plain unbleached material shaped into a very baggy shirt and some even baggier trousers. More of the same was wrapped about his head, face, and neck. Or what Rue could see of his head from under Spoo’s bottom.

“Spoo, get off him, do.”

“You’re sure that’s wise, captain?” Spoo’s expression suggested that she sincerely doubted Rue’s ability to defend herself with only a parasol.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Spoo got off.

The man turned to look at Rue. He had beautiful large almond-shaped eyes and copper skin. Too beautiful. And awfully familiar.

“You? How did you follow us so quickly? Percy will be so sad. He thought we were making especially good time.”

The lady in question drew off her head wrap and spat out some bit of Spoo that had lodged in her teeth.

Spoo and Virgil gasped. Possibly because they now knew they sat on a woman, more likely because she was so beautiful. It spoke volumes for Virgil’s presence of mind that he did not move from her legs – stunning female or no, she was still an intruder.

Miss Sekhmet said in that cultured British accent with only a hint of lilting foreign tones, “Really, children, was that strictly necessary?”

Rue popped open her parasol and used it as a shield to hide her indecent apparel. “We haven’t been here very long,” she said mildly. “We were not expecting visitors.”

The woman sat up and attempted to shed Virgil from her legs.

Virgil did not budge and, after hopping about indecisively from foot to foot, Spoo joined him there, doubling the burden.

Rue contemplated telling them to get off, but Virgil looked quite militant in protection of his Lady Captain and Spoo seemed to be having far too much fun. So Rue let them stay, wondering how her unexpected caller might cope with rascals intent on military occupation of her lower extremities. It was almost pleasing to see such a very elegant female so very put upon.

Miss Sekhmet stopped trying to remove the parasitical small persons after finding them quite tenacious. She wrapped herself in dignity and sat there, talking to Rue as though there were nothing amiss and she commonly found herself on the deck of a ladybird-shaped airship with younglings tenanting her person.

“I warned you, metanatural, about India.”

“So far, Miss Sekhmet, this moment has been the most unpleasant thing to occur here. And you, I hasten to add, are the one at the disadvantage, not I.”

The woman wrinkled her aristocratic nose. “Oh, do tell them to get off. I’m not going to harm you. If I were, I’ve already had ample opportunity.”

Rue arched an eyebrow. “Are you going to be any more forthcoming, or do you intend to persist in mysterious warnings?”

Miss Sekhmet huffed in annoyance. “It is a matter of some” – she glared at Virgil and Spoo – “delicacy.”

“You have a message for me?” Rue hazarded a guess.

“I have been appointed speaker, more’s the pity.” Miss Sekhmet seemed annoyed by responsibility.

“And you couldn’t have given it to me… before?”

“No one realised you were unaware of the situation. Why else would I warn you off?”

Ah, thought Rue, there it is. She does represent the other players after the tea.

Miss Sekhmet continued. “I wanted to meet you. One of the greatest wonders of our age. I did not intend to be involved further.” She sounded like a finicky child being forced to eat her vegetables. “Once I realised that you were sent on purpose and already involved, I found I had no choice. I have my responsibilities, just as you do. Surely you understand?”

It was funny to see such a refined lady look like a petulant child. Despite herself, Rue warmed to the enigmatic Sekhmet. She couldn’t help it. She had a soft spot for the disgruntled. That’s why she kept Percy around. “You may give me the message and have done with it. I assure you these two are capable of keeping secrets.” Her look said Virgil and Spoo had better be.

Spoo and Virgil nodded with gleeful yet solemn expressions.

The woman hesitated, muttering to herself in her own language. Finally she said, “I am instructed to ask that you attend tonight’s garden party. Someone there will be prepared to discuss terms.” She looked sceptically at Rue’s hideous parasol, loose hair, and bare feet.

Without admitting that she was already intending to go, Rue nodded. “And how will I know this person?”

“Oh, you will know.”

“Not you?”