“You’re up to something, Alfie Monk,” Sangeeta said, managing somehow to keep her voice gentle and friendly, and razor-sharp as well. “I’ve got my eye on you, young man. Or not so young. You’d better—”

She was cut off by Tasha and Melanie—two of the other young residents of Earl Grey House—hurtling down the stairs, laughing loudly, one of them bumping into her.

“Sorry! Sorry! Hey, Alfie—you comin’ for a plodge?”

A few of the other children had adopted a habit of going for a paddle—a “plodge”—in the bay on warm evenings. This was the first time I had been asked along. I was secretly rather thrilled.

“Yes, I will see you there presently,” I replied, and they both giggled at something and ran out the front door.

Sangeeta nodded at me. “Be careful, Alfie. I’m watching you.” Then she too departed, leaving me in the hallway with its bulletin boards and hard-wearing carpet and smell of disinfectant.

Jack was right. I had to reverse this.

Looking down, I noticed the bag and took out the book. I frowned. There was something inside, something making the book fatter than it should be. I opened the book to see the envelope that Jack had slipped under the front cover.

Written on the front were the words “For the chickens” and inside were two fifty-pound notes.

An idea began to form in my head.

Upstairs in my room, I took out the telephone that Sangeeta had given me, and turned it on to compose the first text message I had ever sent.

Dear Roxy,

I have an idea for getting to the place we talked about. I will meet you and Aidan at the Metro Station at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Yours sincerely,

Alfie

Seconds later, my telephone went ping, and I read the message. It said: LOL OK.

It seemed a bit abrupt, but I was fairly certain it meant yes.

For the third night in a row, I hardly slept, but this time it was not because of fear or sadness, but excitement.

I had worked out how to get the world’s only remaining life-pearl back.

As a plan, it would definitely be considered “audacious.” But it was the only plan I had.

I was going to bribe someone to break the law and take us to Coquet Island.