Toby eyed the heat haze that hung over the tiny island like fog. Polly hunched on his shoulder, her weight a comfort, even as the sun glinted from her body.

“Have you been to Gozo before?” Ayla leaned over the gunwale, as if to urge the Phoenix to break through the junk faster.

Toby shook his head. “Last time we were here we brought Javier and Morris and I wasn’t allowed off ship.” He picked at some rust on the railing. “The Phoenix anchored in Malta, above the castle – you can see its remains under the salt when the tide shifts the junk – and the captain took them in. The Maltese hate St George because they refused to help with the evacuation when the tsunamis hit. There are hardly any survivors on Malta, so not much to trade, but they’re a safe anchorage for the Phoenix.”

Ayla rose to her toes and pointed. “Look, I can see the sanctuary.”

Toby jumped as Rita thumped into the rail beside him. Her blond hair tickled his cheek. “It’s bigger than I remember,” she whispered.

Ayla nodded. “Sebastiane told me they’re always building. It started off as a Catholic cathedral.”

“Now look at it,” Rita added. “Doesn’t it remind you of…”

Toby’s stomach lurched. Rita was right; there was a feel of Castle Guzman about the thick blocky walls, grey concrete paving and massive slabs that now surrounded the delicate stonework of the original structure. He closed his eyes, blinded, as the sun caught the massive bronze circle that adorned the bell tower.

“Wow,” Ayla muttered. “I guess we’re in the right place.”

With the sanctuary hidden by the glow of the bronze dial, Toby shifted his attention to the houses that clustered around its base like rats around a supply crate.

“They all work for the Order?” Rita murmured.

Ayla nodded. “The original islanders had to become sun worshippers, or move to Malta. They provide the sanctuary with most of its food and supplies.”

“What if they couldn’t leave?” Rita didn’t take her eyes from the houses.

Ayla said nothing. At one side of the building, the island had cracked. A huge chunk had slid downwards to create a cliff leading to a narrow bay that backed right up against the rear wall. As Toby watched, surf crashed into jagged rocks and salt splashed the sanctuary, spraying white foam into the heat haze.

“Is that where they leave their dead?” Rita’s eyes widened. “We’ll be killed.”

Ayla rolled her eyes. “They put the dead out when the tide is low. We’ ll be long gone by the time the salt’s this angry, if it comes to it.”

D’von came running up to them. “We’re here?”

Toby nodded. “Are you sure you want to do this, D’von? It isn’t too late to back out.”

D’von frowned. “If you’re going, Toby, I’m going, too, don’t worry.”

Toby glanced at Ayla.

“He won’t get in,” she whispered.

He jumped as Arnav began to blow the Phoenix’s whistle; although the Phoenix wasn’t going to dock, they still had to get through the dam keeping the debris from Gozo’s waters and that meant announcing their arrival.

Although the Azure Window had long been destroyed, the sun worshippers had used the cliff to make one side of their dam, which stretched across the harbour. It was a rusting wall of lorries and old ships hammered and welded together to form a sieve that allowed fish and smaller rubbish past, but kept the more dangerous pieces away from the main dock. The rest of the island was kept clear by currents or jagged rocks. There was only one way into Gozo and that was through the dam.

As the Phoenix approached, a system of pulleys and winches allowed attendants to lift the top of the outer barrier, like a swing bridge.

Amit and Ajay swarmed up the rigging and furled the sails, wrapping them tightly to banish the wind and hold the Phoenix back.

Slowly, using only her paddle power, the Phoenix passed the raised junk. Toby turned to watch as the shadow of the barrier fell over his face. His heart raced as the paddles propelled them forwards. Even Ayla had gone completely still. Toby barely breathed as the Phoenix chugged into the gap between the two walls. The junk that had been jostling at the dam wall flowed in alongside their ship. Rotting sofas, tumble driers and truck beds capered in the waves.

As the wall closed behind them Toby felt even more confined, as though the Phoenix had been imprisoned. They were surrounded by a dark well that seemed to be pressing closer with every pitch of the ship. In front of Toby the cab of a lorry peered into the ship, the windscreen a cobweb of shattered glass.

The Phoenix’s paddles still ran, trying to push her through the dam, but she couldn’t move and her frustrated churning rattled around them.

Ayla’s hand closed on Toby’s.

“What if the Phoenix needs to leave quickly?” D’von murmured.

“The Phoenix isn’t staying.” Ayla squeezed his fingers. “She’ll anchor close enough to the beach so we can go ashore then she’ll leave again, to meet Birdie. She’ll be waiting for us off the coast of Malta.”

“What’s your business in Gozo?” The voice from the top of the dam reverberated from the metal walls and echoed over the Phoenix.

Toby jumped as the captain replied through his bull horn.

“This is the Phoenix. We’re bringing Sun and Moon candidates for the festival. Two pairs.”

There was no reply and the Phoenix remained locked in suspension, tilting from side to side with the waves, her paddles pushing her nowhere.

“There’s something wrong,” Rita whispered.

Then there was a rushing sound as the sluice gates opened. The Phoenix banged against the inner gate as the tide pulled her forwards. Toby gasped as the deck jerked beneath him. He leaned over and watched the last of the junk, a plastic shopping basket and a black bin bag that sucked and slid in the waves, slide through the gates, then the sluices closed.

Toby tightened his fingers around Ayla’s as the wall in front of them began to ascend. The rusting lorry lifted until its jagged windscreen stared down at Toby from above.

A sliver of light appeared at the bottom of the Phoenix and worked its way up her rusting sides, highlighting the faded bird painted on her, the hawsepipe from which the anchor emerged and, finally, the little skiff, Wren, the small boat Ayla had arrived in, which was now hanging from Birdie’s winches, the gunwale and the crew. Toby stared ahead.

In front of them was the harbour. Rubbish floated on the waves but nothing like as much as they had sailed through. A line of lobster baskets bobbed ahead of them and on the pier he could see children lifting crab lines and mussel nets from brackish water.

“We’re here,” he murmured.

“It’s time to go below.” Polly nudged his cheek. “We need to anchor, so you’ll have to put the paddles into reverse.”

Toby patted her with his free hand, his fingers still hesitant over her metal body.

“You know you can’t bring Polly into the sanctuary.” Ayla tilted her head at him.

Polly squawked angrily and Toby stroked her head. “She’s right, Pol. The sun worshippers might decide to keep you, or worse, destroy you.”

Polly bobbed up and down crossly. “I thought I was going. You’ll need me in there.”

The captain’s heavy tread made them all jump. His hand descended on to Toby’s left shoulder.

“This is the point when we have to trust that we’ve taught Toby enough to survive without us. Do you think we’ve taught him enough, Polly?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then that’s that.” The captain lifted Polly from her perch and placed the parrot on his own shoulder. “Go below, Toby, there’s work to do before we dock.”

In the boiler room, Toby found Hiko filling the compressor with combustibles.

“I wondered where you were. Didn’t you want to watch us sail through the dam?” Toby approached the control panel, pulling his goggles over his eyes.

“This needed doing.” Hiko kept his head down, his back to Toby.

“It could have waited.” Toby pressed the lever that diverted steam from one delivery line to another. He felt the Phoenix judder, stop, then, slowly, begin to reverse. On deck he knew the captain was directing Rita to steer the Phoenix to a safe anchorage, close to the shore.

He rubbed away the sweat that threatened to drip into his eyes. Hiko was determinedly shovelling, still refusing to look up. The light from the porthole showed his shoulders hunched and tension in the lines of his arms and back.

“Are you all right?” Toby stepped closer.

“I’m fine.” Hiko’s shovel jammed against the hull with a clang and he shook the vibration out of his fingers before he returned to his work.

Toby moved closer. “Stop for a minute.”

Hiko shook his head. “I’m your assistant, so I’ll be engineer while you’re gone. I’m getting started, making sure everything works right…”

“Everything here is shipshape.” Toby caught Hiko’s shoulder and he jumped.

“Just talk to me. I’ll be leaving soon.”

“I know.” Hiko threw the spade down and it clattered across the floor.

“You’re angry?” Toby blinked.

“You’re going without me,” Hiko blurted, finally turning. His eyes were rimmed with red. “Remember last time you were on land. You can’t even walk straight.”

“I’ll have Ayla to watch my back.” Even as Toby said it, he realized that his words were probably no comfort to the boy who had been caged on the Banshee.

Hiko’s fists clenched at his side. “You don’t know everything, Toby,” he snapped. “You know the sea, but I know land better’n you. I should be going.” He pulled away and pointed to his own thick mop. “I have black hair. I could be your partner.” His voice dropped. “I’d have your back and I’m small. What if you need someone to crawl through a vent to get the inverters? Ayla can’t do that.”

Toby cleared his throat. “You’re right, you’d be a better partner.” He pulled Hiko to the floor and sat beside him, one arm around his shoulder. “But Ayla said it had to be a boy and girl.”

“Why? Two boys can be partners, so can two girls. I saw it in the slave market.”

“True.” Toby nodded. “But I think it’s a contrasts thing: sun, moon; light, dark; boy, girl. See?”

Hiko squirmed free. “I get it.” He kicked at a dried chunk of MDF. “What if you don’t come home?”

“I’ll be back,” Toby promised. “And knowing you’re here, doing my job for me means I’ll have one less thing to worry about.”

“Huh.” Hiko looked towards the porthole. “I won’t know if you need help. Polly won’t even be watching.”

“I’ll have to rely on Ayla.” Hiko sneered at that. Toby touched his arm. “She was great in Tarifa, wasn’t she?”

Hiko sighed. “I’m going to keep translating that map. Maybe I’ll have it done by the time you get back.”

“That would be great.” Toby grinned.

“Don’t tell Ayla,” Hiko begged suddenly.

Toby shook his head. “I’m telling her you can’t do it. Just in case.”

“So you don’t trust her…” Hiko’s eyes glittered in the dim light.

Toby sighed. “She’s promised not to betray me while we’re inside the sanctuary.”

“Do you trust her to bring you home?” Hiko leaned close, looking for a lie in Toby’s face.

Toby shook his head. “I’ll bring myself home.”

For the first time in his life, Toby placed his foot on the gangplank of the Phoenix.

“What are you waiting for?” The plank shook as Ayla loped past.

The captain waited until Ayla had left the ship. “It’s not too late to change your mind.”

Toby shook his head. “I’m doing this.” He took a step. The Phoenix tilted beneath him.

“Another adventure for us,” D’von lisped; then he put his arm through Toby’s and they walked down the plank together. The captain followed but his face was grim.

As soon as his toes touched rock, Toby stumbled, feeling disoriented as the land failed to move beneath him. He took his time to get his land-legs, stepping across the rocks and using D’von to help him balance. Ayla was already striding smoothly on to a short stone pier, her hair shining in the glow of the bronze sun that hung above the cathedral.

Rahul jumped on to the shore behind the captain. “I’m coming with you,” he called. “At least to the gates. Uma insisted.”

As the captain nodded his agreement, Toby followed Ayla on to the pier and looked around.

To his left another two teenagers were clambering over the rocks; a girl with shoulder-length blond waves and a boy whose hair was almost exactly the same length and texture, but black. At the same moment the pair looked up and Toby blinked at the matching blue stares. Their chins were tilted at the exact same angle, their narrow forearms raised to protect their eyes from the sun.

“A matching pair,” Ayla lowered her voice as she scoped them out. A small rowing boat rocked behind them, tied up against the jetty. Inside a woman with eyes like chips of blue topaz was waving at the twins.

Toby caught up with Ayla. “How can we compete with twins? They’ve got to be who the sun worshippers are looking for. What could be more perfect?”

A shadow passed over Ayla’s eyes.

The captain caught up with them. “We knew there would be other candidates arriving today. They look good, but you and Ayla look good, too. And if they choose based on hair colour alone, Rita’s blond is brighter than the girl’s. Don’t second-guess.”

“And if we’re not picked?” Toby clenched his fists. Until now, he hadn’t entertained the thought that they might not even get past the first hurdle.

“We think of something else,” the captain replied.

Rahul put an arm around Toby’s shoulder. “Let’s find out where you have to go.” He nodded upwards. Ahead of them, standing at the end of the pier, a single brother stood. The light bounced from his bowed head and a pendant showing what looked like the Solaris logo dangled in front of long grey robes. He looked up as they approached.

Benvenuto. Welcome.” He raised one hand as if to prevent them from coming nearer. “You are here for the festival?” He looked particularly at Rita and Toby and offered a thin smile. “You are quite late. The choosing begins in two hours – when the sun is at its highest.”

Ayla stepped to Toby’s side. “That’s why we’re here.” The beads in her hair clattered and the brother blinked.

“Two couples then.” The brother glanced at D’von who was standing next to Rita, obviously unsure whether or not to take her arm.

“Trois.” As one, the twins marched in front of Toby and Ayla.

“Three,” the girl corrected her brother. “English, Adrien.”

“Yes, Adele.” He looked sideways at Toby. “We are here to be chosen.” He nodded at the man’s pendant. “Praise Soleil.”

The man’s head dipped in acknowledgement and Ayla stiffened.

The captain’s deep voice replied, “Of course. Praise the Sun.” He slid swiftly between Ayla and the twins. “Where is it our couples need to go?”

The brother gestured in the direction of a narrow path that led up the cliff edge that bisected the island.

“Let’s go then.” The captain hustled them towards the path, Rahul dropped back to shadow them. Once more the brother raised his hand.

“The applicants go alone.”

The captain looked back at the French mother sitting in her boat. His lips pressed together. She had already known.

Adele and Adrien marched on with their eyes fixed on the sunlit belfry.

“It’s all right,” Toby said as the captain pulled him to one side.

“I thought I’d be saying goodbye up there.” Barnaby tilted his head to indicate the main entrance.

“Either way it’s the same,” Ayla said.

The captain ignored her. “Be careful, Toby.” He gave him a swift, tight hug. Then he looked at Rita and D’von. “You, too.” He stared at Ayla for a long moment. “You remember your cover stories?”

“Of course.” Ayla looked insulted.

“Then look after each other,” he said.

Rahul shook Toby’s hand. “Good luck.” He clapped D’von on the shoulder.

“We won’t set sail until tomorrow,” the captain started back towards the ship. “Just in case.”

“You mean in case we don’t get in,” Rita muttered.

The captain nodded. “Assuming you do get in I’ll send Rahul with the little boat, Wren, to watch the northernmost point of the island – just in case you get out early. We’ll have to anchor the Phoenix off Malta first, and Rahul has to sneak into position without being spotted, so it’ll be a day or two before he’s looking for you. Until then you’re on your own. If Rahul doesn’t pick you up, the Phoenix will be back for the festival.”

Toby smiled. “We’ll be fine.” He moved to Ayla’s side. “We’ll be eating good food, relaxing in the sun and looking for the inverters when everyone else is asleep. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“I’m going to enjoy the break.” Rita stretched. “Come on, D’von.” She shoved the big teen ahead of her towards the pathway.

Toby squeezed his father’s hand. “See you in three weeks.”

The captain pounded up the gangplank and Toby looked one last time at the Phoenix. The giant ship rose and fell on the tide, her rusting orange hull like a piece of evening sunlight that rested on the sea.

He turned back to the pathway; Rita and D’von were racing ahead. He fell into step with Ayla and together they followed their crewmates, only swaying slightly now with the stillness of the land.