When the world had stopped spinning, the first thing Leah noticed was the heat. It was like a blanket, smothering her and making it hard to breathe. Within seconds, a light layer of sweat coated her skin and Leah was glad she was wearing her summer uniform. At least the skirt was cooler than the jumper and trousers she usually wore in winter.

‘Where are we?’ George moaned, rubbing his head.

Their landing had been more graceful this time. Because they were all expecting it, they’d managed to land on their feet. Although the same couldn’t be said for . . .

‘William!’ Leah gasped, pointing at the boy sprawled on the dusty floor.

‘What’s he doing here?’ Mimi cried as William hauled himself to his feet, brushing dirt from his bare knees. His blue eyes were wide as he looked around frantically.

George gave a sudden groan. ‘He was holding the watch! Leah, you were touching the chain and you were holding Mimi’s hand and she had the compass. It was attached to the watch William was holding! And I . . .’ George groaned again. ‘I was touching Mimi’s shoulder. We were all connected, so the watch brought us all back.’

Leah’s eyes flicked to William’s hand. The watch was still gripped tight between William’s fingers.

‘What . . . what’s going on?’ William’s voice had lost the taunting, nasty edge it usually carried and he sounded bewildered, like he’d just woken up from a dream. ‘Where are we?’

It was a good question. Leah spun on her heels, taking a look around. If the suffocating heat hadn’t already given it away, they definitely weren’t in Crickle End any more. They were in some kind of alley, looking out onto a busy street bustling with pedestrians. They wore long vibrant swathes of fabric, the hems brushing against the floor. Women walked by with beautifully coloured scarves wrapped over their heads and many of the men wore turbans, although a few had small hats balanced on their heads, a tassel dangling from the top. Leah shook her head in amazement. She watched as the people went about their day, some marching forward without stopping, whilst others meandered, pausing at the stalls that lined the street. Their wares were displayed on tables and hung from the ceiling. Jewellery, lamps, rugs and clothes were all laid out like riches. Overhead, brightly coloured canopies hung between the buildings, shielding the shoppers below from the fierce glow of the sun.

‘Woah! I wish I had my camera!’ George cried, pointing into the crowd. People veered off to the left and right as a man wearing a flowing white robe and matching turban marched a camel along the street. The beast lumbered behind him, its mouth rolling from side to side as it chewed on a piece of hay.

‘Yeah,’ Mimi said. ‘We’re definitely not in Crickle End any more.’

‘I think we might have just worked out what the compass does,’ Leah murmured.

‘What do you mean?’ Mimi asked.

‘Well, when the watch took us into the past last time, we ended up exactly where we’d started, just a hundred years or so earlier. But this time, we’re nowhere near home. The watch allows us to travel back through time, but the compass must allow us to visit different places!’

‘Wow,’ George breathed. ‘I think you might be right! After all, compasses are all about directions, aren’t they?’

‘What have you losers done to me?’ William suddenly cried. His eyes were wide with horror. He jerked backwards as the camel passed the entrance to their alley, bringing with it a waft of manure.

Leah raised her hands. ‘William, I know this might be a bit overwhelming. We were confused the first time it happened to us, too—’

‘Overwhelming?’ the taller boy yelped. ‘You’ve kidnapped me!’

‘Don’t be stupid,’ Mimi scoffed. ‘We haven’t kidnapped you.’

‘You’ve done this on purpose. You’re trying to trick me. I’ve got to . . . I’ve got to get out of here!’ He spun and dashed down the alley, dust flying at his feet.

‘William, stop!’ Leah cried. ‘Come on, we’ve got to go after him!’

‘Do we have to?’ Mimi sighed.

‘We can’t just abandon him, Mimi, and besides . . . he has the watch!’ Leah said urgently.

The three of them set off after him, emerging from the alley and diving into the crowds thronging the street. Leah’s head whipped back and forward as she strained to catch a glimpse of their school uniform.

‘There!’ she shouted, pointing ahead. The three of them sprinted forward, dodging around bodies and calling out apologies as they shoved their way through the crowd.

‘He just turned that corner,’ George panted, gesturing to the right. ‘Quick, or we’re going to lose him!’

But they needn’t have worried. They veered around the corner just in time to see William run headfirst into a man. The boy flew backwards, landing on the sandy floor with a thump. Leah, Mimi and George skidded to a stop next to him.

‘I say!’ came a loud, very British-sounding voice. ‘Are you alright there, young chap? I’m dreadfully sorry – I didn’t see you coming!’

Leah looked up at the speaker. He was an older man, his white skin creased with lines and wrinkles. He was dressed in a pristine cream suit, and there was an old-fashioned hat perched atop his head. In his hand was a walking stick made from gleaming, dark wood. A fluffy grey moustache perched above his top lip. He gave Leah a dazzling smile, his blue eyes twinkling kindly.

‘No need to apologise!’ Mimi replied, flashing the man an equally bright smile. ‘It’s our fault.’

‘Oh please, no blame necessary!’ the man said, waving a hand.

‘I’m not sure about that, Professor,’ a woman said, and Leah finally noticed that the man – the professor – wasn’t alone. Next to him was a slim woman with light brown skin. She was wearing a black dress with a high neck. Delicate silver embroidery in the shapes of swirling leaves circled the cuffs of her sleeves, dainty gems glittering amongst the whirls of thread. A striking scarlet scarf covered her hair. She looked down at them with large hazel eyes. By her side was a boy who couldn’t be much older than they were. Leah noticed that he and the woman looked vaguely alike and she wondered if they were related.

‘Now, now, Amina,’ the professor chastised her. ‘I’m sure the lad meant no harm.’

The boy at Amina’s side leaned down and offered William a hand. With an impatient huff, William pushed his hand away, a thunderous scowl on his face as he levered himself to his feet. Leah winced at his rudeness.

‘Where are your parents?’ Amina asked, narrowing her eyes. She had a faint accent.

Out of the corner of her eye, Leah saw William open his mouth to reply. Frantically, she tried to think of a reason why four children might be out in the middle of a foreign city with no one supervising them. She couldn’t let William answer – who knew what he might say?

‘They’re on a trip!’ she blurted.

‘A trip?’ Amina raised one sceptical eyebrow.

‘Yes,’ Mimi nodded. ‘Our parents are very enthusiastic tourists.’

Leah prayed that they had landed in a city where tourism was common.

‘Are you siblings?’ the professor enquired.

‘N—,’ Leah started.

‘Yes!’ Mimi shouted over her.

There was an awkward silence.

Finally, George gave a nervous laugh, running a hand through his dark curls. ‘We’re all adopted,’ he said.

‘Oh yes,’ the professor replied, turning to Amina. ‘That’s quite common now, you know. Especially amongst my more adventurous peers. Travel a lot, do you?’

This question was directed at Leah and she nodded. ‘Mother and Father want to see the world.’

‘How marvellous!’ the professor beamed.

Leah, Mimi and George exchanged a look. This was getting out of hand. They needed to make their escape before the professor could ask any more questions.

‘Um, well, we’d better get going. Thank you so much for . . . er . . . helping my brother.’ Leah gave what she hoped was a polite smile. ‘It was lovely to meet you!’

‘And you, too, my young friends!’ The professor beamed.

‘I’d be more careful if I were you,’ Amina cautioned them. ‘The bazaar is a busy place, and you might find yourself running into someone less friendly than us. Perhaps find somewhere safer to gallivant whilst your parents play tourist.’ Her last sentence sounded sour. The boy at her side only stared at them.

‘Of course,’ Leah replied, grabbing William’s arm firmly and beginning to drag him away. ‘That’s good advice. Thank you. Goodbye!’

With that final word, Leah pulled William back into the current of people moving through the bazaar. Mimi and George followed behind.

‘Where are you taking me?’ William whined, trying to pull his wrist from her grip. But Leah refused to answer or let go. She spotted an alley similar to the one they’d arrived in and made a beeline for it.

Once they were away from the bazaar’s main thoroughfare, Leah whirled on William. ‘Do you still have it?’ she demanded.

‘Have what?’ William spat. His mouth was twisted in a sneer, but his eyebrows were drawn together in an anxious line.

‘The watch!’

William rolled his eyes and held up his fist. The silver of the pocket watch glinted from between his pink fingers. ‘Yes, I still have your precious watch.’

Leah let out a breath of relief. If he’d lost it, they’d have been stuck with no way of getting home.

Leah held out her hand. ‘Here, give it to me and I’ll keep it safe.’

William snatched his hand back. He frowned at Leah, narrowing his eyes. ‘You’ve got to be kidding, right? There’s no way I’m giving this up. Especially not before you tell me what’s going on here and what you weirdos have got me into.’

Leah sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She looked at Mimi and George, one eyebrow raised questioningly.

There was silence for a moment, and then Mimi huffed, crossing her arms.

‘We might as well tell him, L,’ she said. ‘It’s too late to hide it now.’

George nodded in agreement. ‘We’re already here and if we’re going to be stuck together . . .’

Leah sighed. Where should she start? She took a deep breath. ‘A few months ago, when we had that big storm, lightning struck the massive oak tree in the park . . .’

She told him everything. How they’d been sucked back to 1921 and met Dot and the Crickle End Champions. How the government had banned women from playing football. How they’d helped the team figure out who was trying to sabotage them. How they’d got home.

‘It’s been weeks since then, and the watch hasn’t done anything, no matter how much we’ve pressed the crown. At least, until earlier when you pressed it. And now here we are.’ Leah shrugged.

For a moment, William just stared at them, and then he started to shake his head slowly, his eyes wide. ‘You’re unreal,’ he whispered. ‘All of you.’

Mimi finally lost her temper. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at William. ‘And you’re clearly stupid!’ she hissed. ‘Look around you! How do you think this happened?’

‘Well, you . . . it’s all a prank . . .’ William spluttered.

Mimi arched her eyebrow. ‘You think we somehow put all of this together in the space of time it takes to blink as part of a prank?’

William blushed faintly. ‘Well, let’s say I believe you,’ he said. ‘How do we get home?’

Leah, Mimi and George looked at each other. ‘That’s a bit more complicated,’ Leah said carefully. ‘Last time, we had to help someone before the watch would take us back to the future. I’m guessing we might have to do something similar this time, too.’

William gaped at her. ‘That’s stupid!’ he exploded. ‘You just have to help someone?’

‘Not just anyone!’ Mimi argued. ‘A specific someone.’

‘And how are we supposed to know who it is we have to help?’ William screwed up his nose.

Leah grimaced. ‘Well, we don’t know. We . . . kind of have to figure it out.’

William’s eyes looked like they were going to burst out of his head, but before he could say anything else, George held up his hand. ‘Let’s just take this one step at a time,’ he said. ‘Before we start trying to figure out how we get home, maybe we should just try and work out when and where we are now.’

George was right. They knew the watch was very specific about where it sent them. There had to be a reason why they were here, in this humid, sandy city. But what was it?