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The headold one "This is the key you want Open the box and toggle the switch" She swung herself around and began laboriously to hop, one rung at a ti ladder She stopped with her head still in the hold "Miss Teratulations I pronounce you properly finished Try to survive the next few hours"

"Yes, Headmistress Thank you, Headmistress"

Felix and Dimity helped Mademoiselle Geraldine down the rest of the way

"Now you, Ria" Felix’s beautiful face was turned up to her She had a tiny pang over whatToo pretty Too late

Before Sophronia could disabuse hiet all the way to the top

"If you’re staying, I’," insisted the best of all possible friends

"No" Sophronia smiled despite the fact that it hurt

"I’m trained, too, remember? You don’t need to protect me"

"I know that Look at you! Allied with Monique, come to my rescue Of course you don’t require protection That’s not it I have so important, and I can only entrust it to you"

Sophronia unbuttoned her e, eventually producing her roll of torn notes from the Pickleman’s book "Here These are in code, but I’m convinced someone we know can crack it I believe they are very important They probably expose the whole of the Pickleman plot, or at least the worst bits"

Dimity still hesitated

"Take them" Sophronia pressed them on her friend "Make copies Deliver theht listen Take them to the popular press if need be Try that new head of the Bureau of Unnatural Registry, Sidheag’s relation I know she hates hi--for a olf I take it the dewan didn’t believe you when you asked for aid and Lord Akeldama wouldn’t interfere So you went to the hive, and that’s why it’s Monique to the rescue?"

Diatha works for Lord Akeldama, and Lord Akeldama likes to collect information, not share it Monique works for the hive The sooties don’t have any useful contacts You’re the only one I trust You have to stay safe If I fail, you’re the only hope to get the truth out Now, quickly, please tell me what happened with the mechanicals"

"You know they were activated?"

"Bumbersnoot toldapart their houses Not the walls and furniture, but anything steam powered or automated Often each other It was bizarre People were terrified Oh! And all thePorts are shut down No one but us is floating It’s chaos down there Rumor is someone was killed By a ured it was sory mechanimals up here to finish the job"

Di the govern less How many steps reland?"

Dih" She tucked the notes down her own cleavage, then rearranged her lace tuck to disguise the bulge "I understand fully"

And Sophronia kneithout having to explain further, that Dimity did, indeed, understand fully

Face drawn and pale, her friend climbed back down

"Will you come on?" yelled Monique

"Dimity!" Sophronia shouted after her "How’s Soap?"