‘Twenty minutes ago, sir. I came to find you as soon as the communique came through.’
‘Then these mercenaries have somehow managed to catch us on our back feet, soldier. Have scouts been sent out to gather intelligence?’
‘They have, sir. Colonels Mandela and Hubble are in command at T’Kalagelellerani, and they are confident that this threat will soon be neutralised, despite the early advantage the mercenaries attained, sir. The enemy no longer carries with them the element of surprise, so they can expect much stiffer resistance from this point on. Already Colonels Mandela and Hubble are mobilising guerrilla strike units, sir.’
‘Good. I need all the information I can get, updated every minute.’
The General turned to Margaret and locked a severe look into her eyes. He made no attempt to wipe the tears from his cheeks as he did.
‘My apologies Dr Green, but as you can see we have a situation here, and I must cut our tour short. This soldier will escort you back to your chambers for now. I must go and meet with my battle commanders. Please, forgive me.’
‘I, er, I understand, General,’ she replied uneasily. ‘You have a very pressing matter that needs urgent attention. Besides, I’m beat from all this walking around. I could do with a lie down and a nap.’
The General nodded curtly.
‘I thank you for your understanding. Please, go with the soldier. I will arrange for refreshments to be sent to your chambers immediately.’
With that the General turned and hurried off toward the city with steadfast purpose quickening his stride, while the teenager, still staring at the river, saluted him. She then turned to Margaret, and for the first time looked her directly in the eye. Margaret could see nothing of the soul within through the veil of cold severity the girl wore over her face.
‘Dr Green, come with me please.’
It was an order, not a request; that much was unmistakable. Margaret took one last sneaky glance at the barrels bobbing next to the quay and then shuffled meekly over to the soldier, feeling much like a lamb being led to the slaughter.
***
A knocking on the door roused Margaret from her nap, and she woke with a start. As soon as she had reached her chamber she had collapsed onto her bed, her energy spent, feeling utterly exhausted from the extensive walking tour. She did not know how long she had been asleep, but it certainly did not feel as if it had been long enough. It took her a few moments, despite her jumpy wakeup, to fight through the candyfloss wool of weariness that clouded her mind, and she did not have the self-control to stop herself from snapping with angry impatience when the door was rapped on again.
‘Hold your damn horses, all right!’
She bit her lip, regretting the words the moment they escaped her lips.
Gosh darn it Margaret, you’ve got to control your damn temper here! Especially now that there’s a chance, a chance to—
‘I’m sorry Dr Green, I can come back later,’ a familiar voice, heavily muffled through the thick door, said.
‘No, no Tesla! Come on in, please!’
Play it cool Margaret. And play it smooth. This boy is your key, he’s the key to the chains, to the lock! Your key to getting out of here and back to Ting, back to the puppies! Your only key!
A key turned in the lock, and Margaret sat up on the bed as the door creaked open. Sergeant Tesla walked in, cradling a food-laden tray in his thin arms. When his eyes met Margaret’s a shy smile spread across his face, and his rubbery, fire-scarred skin shifted like a prosthetic mask as the muscles beneath it contracted. Margaret winced at the sight of it but she did her best to conceal this, flashing him as toothy and warm a grin as she could muster.
‘It’s always lovely to see you, my boy,’ she said, taking care to adopt a congenial tone.
‘It’s nice to see you too, Docto—’
‘Remember Tesla, we’re friends,’ she interrupted sweetly. ‘I want you to call me Margaret, see?’
He looked down and sucked in a quick breath, obviously feeling bashful.
‘All right … Margaret. Here, let me put your food down. The General told me you walked a long way with him today, so I’m sure you must be very hungry.’
He hurried over to the desk and set the platter down on it with careful hands.
‘There you go Doc-, Margaret. I hope you enjoy it. I’ll come back in half an hour to pick up the empty—’
Margaret was quick to interrupt him – a little too quick, she thought, as a light blush dusted her cheeks with a hint of red.
‘No, no. C’mon Tesla, you know I get lonely by myself in here. Please stay and eat with me, just keep me company for a while. You’re my only – no, my best friend in this place, you know. And I really like talking to you. It won’t kill you to stick around here for a bit, will it?’
Tesla grinned and looked up at Margaret, and a genuine smile illuminated his eyes with a warm radiance.
‘Do you really mean that, M-, Margaret? I’m really your best friend?’
‘Why, you sure are!’ she exclaimed genially. ‘Heck, Tesla, I’ve never met quite as wonderful a boy as you. I love our little conversations! I only wish they could be longer, but you always seem so busy.’
‘I am very busy, yes…’
‘But not too busy to sit down with me right now, are you? C’mon, just for a few minutes. Whaddaya say?’
Tesla turned around and peered out of the doorway for a moment or two, checking to see if the coast was clear. He shut the door and then walked shyly up to the desk, where Margaret had already taken a seat.
‘Go on, sit down. Come, have some of this, there’s far too much of it for me to finish on my own and I’m sure a growing boy like you needs as many calories as he can
