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There was a reen-shaded gas lantern on it, and a long row of glass-topped display cases all along one wall, each illuht In the far corner, there was a curtained four-poster bed with a blanket box at its foot, a standing screen painted with a nautical scene, and a large oak-panelled wardrobe with mirrored doors

It was also absolutely quiet and completely stable All the noise of the crew and the sea had vanished as soon as the door was shut behind Arthur, as had the constant roll and sway of the deck

‘How --’

Ichabod knehat Arthur was asking before the boy even got the question out

‘This is one of the original roo house into a ship, this rooun deck Eventually Doctor Scaeway, but it isn’t really in the ship’

‘Where is it, then?’

‘We’re not entirely sure Probably not where it used to be, since the old counting house site is well subed The Captain thinks that this room must have been personally supervised by the Architect, and retained some of Her virtue It lies within the House, that’s for sure, not out in the Realet cut off from the ship?’ asked Arthur as they walked over to the bed The curtains were drawn and Arthur could hear snoring behind the, but occasional drawn-out snorts and wheezes

‘Not at all,’ said Ichabod ‘The ship is still ed This roo house, so it will always be connected soeway falls off, some other ill open’

‘Through the wardrobe maybe,’ said Arthur

Ichabod looked at hi to al mortal That is where I keep the Captain’s clothes It is not a thoroughfare of any kind’

‘Sorry,’ said Arthur ‘I was only’

His voice trailed off as Ichabod’s eyebrows did not return to a more friendly position There was a frosty silence for a few seconds, then the Denizen twitched his nose as if so had irritated his nostrils, and bent down to open the blanket box

‘Here is a blanket,’ he said unnecessarily, handing it to Arthur ‘I suggest you wrap yourself in it ItUnless of course it is merely an affectation’

‘Oh, thanks,’ said Arthur He hadn’t realised he was shivering, but now that Ichabod mentioned it, he realised he was very cold, and little tres The heavy blanket was very welcoht even have a cold’

‘Really?’ asked Ichabod, suddenly interested ‘We must tell Doctor Scamandros But first I suppose I should wake the Captain’

‘I’m already awake,’ said a voice behind the curtain A quiet, cal else to report, Ichabod?’

‘Mister Sunscorch is of the opinion that we are being pursued by the awful pirate Feverfew, on account of stealing one of his treasure chests’

‘Ah,’ said the voice ‘Is Mister Sunscorch doingus with the sails and so on? So we can, ah, flee?’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Ichabod ‘May I present the potential passenger Mister Sunscorch took aboard from Feverfew’s buoy? He is a boy and, I believe I a, a true mortal Not one of the Piper’s children’

‘Yes,’ said Arthur

‘First things first, Ichabod,’ came the reply ‘Second-best boots, third-best coat, and my, ah, sword The proper one with the, err, sharpened blade’

‘The sharpened blade? Is that wise, sir?’

‘Yes, yes If, ah, Feverfew catches usnow, mortal boy, what is your name?’

‘My naht into the wardrobe h, like a diver into a pool of still water, the silvered glass rippling as he passed

‘Lookow?’ asked the Captain

‘Sorry, I got distracted,’ said Arthur ‘My name is Arth’

‘Lookow sounds better than Arth,’ said the Captain ‘Pity Names can be a terrible burden Take mine, for example It’s Catapillow Captain Catapillow, at your service’

‘Caterpillar?’ asked Arthur, not sure he’d heard it right through the bed’s curtains