Back in their rooms, they discovered that their own clothes had been taken away.

‘Looks like we’re stuck with these stupid things,’ said Lex, tugging at his tight collar.

‘Who cares about the clothes,’ said Xandra, mind still on what Archie and Tesla had said.

Lex continued to pore over maps as Xandra positioned her ambulator by the window. She was way too excited to read or do anything other than stare out at the grounds and dream. She had spent so much of her life focused on being capable – on living her life – that her overwhelming desire to now walk, took her by surprise. And she couldn’t think about anything else.

Time seemed to move so slowly.

When Archie and Tesla arrived, she was beside herself with impatience. Archie was pulling a large suitcase on wheels.

‘I must apologise for Lord Edwin,’ said Archie. ‘His manners leave a lot to be desired. And his actions are inexcusable. But he is currently in charge of the RCS and … well … the rest of us must do the best we can. I have put forward a case for him to reconsider his notion of humans as pets.’

Tesla’s whiskers twitched with agitation. ‘He is such a … a … bully.’

‘Tell me about this invention of yours,’ said Xandra, unable to talk about anything else.

‘With pleasure,’ said Tesla. ‘Without going into the mechanics of it all … I have developed an exoskeleton, powered by static electricity. Steam requires a sizeable engine to generate the required energy. But …’ She held up a paw triumphantly. ‘Static electricity has the ability to be generated with a simple compact power pack.’

She pointed to the suitcase and Archie opened it. Inside were masses of wires and hinged metal rods. Tesla scampered over, dug through the contents and held up a belt with a small metal box.

‘This,’ she said, ‘is the Tesla box.’ She lowered her eyes for a moment. ‘I, ah … named it after myself.’ She looked up. ‘Do you think that’s too egotistical? I could call it something else.’

‘No, no,’ assured Archie. ‘I think it’s a fine name. Animals should know who invented it.’

‘Now, Xandra,’ said Tesla. ‘Shall we try it on?’

‘I thought you’d never ask,’ said Xandra.

‘Let us leave the men out here,’ said Tesla, ‘while we go to your room for the fitting.’

Xandra led the way to her bedroom. Tesla shut the case and with much huffing and puffing, dragged it after her.

Taking off her shoes, Xandra lay on the bed and closed her eyes as the coypu scampered around, attaching rods and wires to her legs. She didn’t want to watch. In fact, she tried to block it all from her mind. She had been allowing herself to get too excited. Excited about an untested invention. It was better to calm down and expect failure. That would minimise the disappointment if it didn’t work.

‘Miss Volodin,’ said Tesla. ‘We are ready.’

Xandra opened her eyes. She looked at her legs. Slim metal rods ran the length of her shins and calves, up to her thighs and hips, with hinges at the knees and pistons in each section. Wires connected the rods and ran over her legs, attached to her skin with little suction cups.

‘Um … what do I do?’

‘Think about moving your legs,’ said Tesla. ‘In the same way you would think about moving any other part of your body.’

Xandra’s leg twitched. She gasped. ‘It’s working!’

‘Yes,’ squealed Tesla. ‘But go slowly. It will take some getting used to.’

Hardly daring to believe it was happening, Xandra moved her legs with shaky, jerking motions to the edge of the bed, and sat up. She swung one leg back and forth.

A sob shook its way through her body.

‘Are you quite well?’ asked Tesla.

Xandra nodded. Tears stung her eyes. ‘I just … I can’t believe …’ She couldn’t form coherent thoughts, let alone words. Emotion was threatening to overwhelm her. She choked back the tears. ‘I never thought this would be possible.’

‘Shall we try walking?’ suggested Tesla.

‘Absolutely!’

Half an hour later, Xandra walked out into the sitting room. She felt very wobbly and unsure, but she was walking. As she came to a stop, she tried to control the slight tremor in her hands. Walking felt unreal. Xandra wasn’t sure how to process it.

Tesla scampered after her.

Lex’s mouth dropped open.

He rushed forward and wrapped his arms around his sister in a hug. ‘This is amazing,’ he said. ‘So amazing.’

At that moment, Xandra realised how much her brother really cared for her. She hugged him back.

‘Yeah,’ she agreed, trying to sound nonchalant. ‘Pretty cool, huh?’

‘It is truly remarkable,’ said Archie. ‘Congratulations, Miss Tesla.’

Lex let go of his sister and stepped back, wiping his eyes. ‘But where’s this exoskeleton?’ he asked.

‘Concealed by her attire,’ explained Tesla.

‘So it’s good that we still have these clothes,’ said Xandra, lifting the front of her dress.

‘Dear me,’ said Archie, turning away.

‘It’s all right,’ said Xandra.

Lex looked at the exoskeleton attached to his sister’s legs.

‘The belt and power pack are concealed under the bodice here,’ said Tesla, pointing.

Xandra dropped the front of her dress and patted the bulging fabric on her left hip. Then she took another few shaky steps.

‘You will get the hang of it, Miss Volodin,’ said Tesla. ‘It will become easier with practice.’

‘Please call me Xandra.’

‘Certainly,’ said Tesla, ‘and you must call me Nikole.’

‘How does it work?’ asked Lex, staring at his sister in wonder. ‘How does Xandra control it? Get it to move her legs?’

‘Ah, now that is interesting,’ said Tesla, getting excited. ‘Although her leg muscles do not work well enough for her to walk, her brain is still sending them the correct signals. The mechanisms in the exoskeleton interpret the electrical impulses and move the metal supports.’ Tesla paused. ‘Its only drawback is that it must stay dry. So, no swimming, I’m afraid.’

‘Walking will do me just fine.’ Xandra strode across the room, getting steadier with every step. She pivoted and almost fell, just managing to brace herself against the wall.

‘Right,’ she announced, ‘let’s go show Lord Bully-Bear that he doesn’t know everything.’

‘I do not think that would be wise,’ said Archie. There was a slight tremor to his voice. ‘He will assume that the test has failed. It would perhaps be prudent to allow him to believe that, seeing as we will be instigating your relocation tonight.’

‘Relocation?’ Xandra and Lex blurted out in unison.

‘Escape!’ enthused Tesla.

‘Sssh.’ Archie lifted a hoof to his lips and looked from side to side as if expecting Lord Edwin to appear from behind a lampshade. ‘Given the circumstances, Grimsby suggested you might feel more at ease elsewhere.’

‘Really?’ said Xandra.

‘The tiger?’ asked Lex.

‘He seemed quite keen on the idea of you escaping so that you could go to his dinner tomorrow,’ said Archie. ‘He even offered to facilitate.’

‘Are you sure you can trust him?’ asked Xandra.

‘No,’ said Tesla.

‘Which is why we declined his offer,’ added Archie. ‘And organised things ourselves. My mother has made rooms available at her establishment.’

‘So, how are we going to do this?’ Lex asked with eagerness.

Archie reached into a pocket and produced a key. ‘Skeleton key. Should open any door. At midnight tonight, go downstairs, around the back to the kitchens and out through the servants’ entrance.’

‘Without the noise of the ambulator,’ said Tesla, ‘you should be able to sneak out.’

‘And we shall meet you outside,’ said Archie.

Scurrying footsteps could be heard from the corridor.

‘That will be your evening meal,’ said Archie. ‘You had better sit down before they come in.’

Xandra quickly seated herself at the table as the door opened. The armadillos entered with the food.

‘We shall take our leave now,’ said Archie.

As they all left, Tesla mouthed the word ‘midnight’.