Gadge brought the rowing boat alongside the wooden jetty on the south bank of the river. Captain Clockheart jumped off and tied it next to a paddle steamer with huge wooden wheels on either side.
“This is the place,” said Ridgey. “Can I go now?”
“No,” said Captain Clockheart. “Argh, now I do remember this vessel.” He inspected the paddle steamer.
“That’s right, it’s Swift’s.” said Ridgey.
“Och, as I recall, Swift took us to the palace in it,” said Gadge.
“It has a steam engine similar to the one Pendle installed on our own ship,” said Lexi.
Mr Swift’s workshop was a huge brick building, quite unlike any other in London. Along the wall, a waterwheel was pushed round by the flow of the Thames. The wheel was connected to more cogs and wheels, all clicking as they turned. And high above them, the roof was lined with rows of chimneys.
“To think we were born here,” whispered Gadge.
“Great, now it’s a trip down memory lane,” said Ridgey.
“Gadge, bind that bird’s beak,” said Captain Clockheart.
“Come on now, lads…” began Ridgey.
“Sorry. Swift made you as a spy,” said Clockheart. “Treachery is in your nature.”
“A bird can change,” said Ridgey. “A bird can … mmm … mmm.”
Gadge clamped Ridgey’s beak shut and wrapped the rope around it.
“Mmm-mmm-mm,” said Ridgey.
“That’s better,” said Gadge.
The pirates approached the workshop.
“Shouldn’t we concoct some kind of plan, Captain?” asked Lexi.
“I’ve got a plan,” he replied. “Get in, get our crew members and get out.”
“Right,” said Lexi. “I do like it. It’s just, maybe … it’s a little lacking in detail.”
“It’s best not to overthink things,” said Captain Clockheart.
“I don’t think there’s any danger of that,” replied Lexi.
“Here’s the door,” said Gadge.
“Then prepare to meet your maker,” said the captain.
“A rather unfortunate choice of phrase given the—” said Lexi.
“Quiet,” said Captain Clockheart, “this is no time for talking.”
“Or thinking, apparently,” grumbled Lexi.
Gadge twisted his arm attachment and selected his largest gun barrel. “Everyone ready?”
Captain Clockheart pushed the door and all three of them stepped into the workshop. It was pitch black inside. They took a couple of steps then heard a familiar voice squawk, “It’s a trap! It’s a trap!”
“Ah, Twitter…” Captain Clockheart’s words were cut short when something snapped shut around his wrists and whisked him off the ground.
“What’s going on?” demanded Gadge, struggling against the chains that were holding him.
“We’ve been trapped … ensnared … caught,” said Lexi.
Lights flickered on, revealing what had happened. The pirates all had metal cuffs around their wrists, attached to heavy chains suspended from the ceiling by an intricate pulley system.
“Told you so! Told you so!” squawked Twitter from inside a cage hanging from the ceiling.
“This place hasn’t changed,” said Gadge. “The kilns, the workbenches, these pillars…”
“They’re chimneys, actually, and there have been a few changes,” said a voice. “The light bulbs are new, for instance.” Mr Swift was leaning against a wall with his hand on a light switch. “It’s called electricity,” he said. “It’s going to revolutionize the world. Unlike you … who are about to leave it.”
