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"And I’d like to see you write a proper paper on a new species of supernatural exa all the theoretical implications and ramifications of the aetheric imprint on the vital humours Rather than superficial waffle Seems we’re both dooressive intercourse

Uh-oh, thought Rue, here we go again She was exhausted and really had, she felt, put up with a lot Rue was like her Paw in that her default reaction when unhappy was rage

She yelled, quite violently, and at the top of her lungs "Enough!"

It was so loud it paused the workers on the main deck Spoo’s small face popped up from behind a pile of rope Rue was a jolly co at the best of tis on her and the fact that, until now, she had rarely used them seeesture, Rueat her compatriots and not her crew The creent back to work, although Spoo reirl – as really Rue’s charge as much as her employee – acted as the discipline Rue needed

Percy and Quesnel had both snapped theirat her

Rue opted for a low fierce diatribe "Enough, both of you I don’t care who is in the right or who is in the wrong and frankly neither does anyone else Co to each other At this point, either is acceptable Percy, you are behaving like a petulant child whose favourite toy has goneIf you wanted credit for the discovery so badly you ought to have written and sent the paper in for publication while ere still in India They had a perfectly decent aethographic transly

Rue rounded on the inventor "Mr Lefoux, don’t you dare think you’re not culpable You know Percy well enough to predict how he ht react The fact that you didn’t include hiht even accuse you of intentionally stirring up malcontent"

Quesnel started to protest

Rue overrode him "If it wasn’t intentional, it was certainly s and Quesnel crestfallen

So Rue switched again "Don’t you dare look pleased with yourself, Percival Tunstell The only reason you aren’t a complete disappointment is because I’ve never expected you to actually rise to any given occasion"

Percy winced

That s a bit too far, but it see it was not inclined to stop

"And, Mr Lefoux, let’s be perfectly clear on that other matter, while we are at it"

Percy tried not to look interested