City of Time

Cati watched Dr Diamond. “What’s going on?” she whispered to Wesley.

Suddenly Dr Diamond threw down his chalk and strode towards the door. “Follow me!”

Puzzled, they did so, even Pieta. Outside it was almost as bright as day, the moon huge in the sky. They followed the doctor to the roof of the Workhouse where he stood with his hands on the crumbling parapet, looking up into the sky.

“She’s too close,” Wesley said quietly. “Ain’t that right?”

“Yes, Wesley,” the scientist said. “The shortage of time means many things, all of them serious, but this is the most immediate problem.”

“What is?” Cati asked.

“The fabric of space and time is loosening,” Dr Diamond said, “and as it does so, gravity is distorting. In this case, getting stronger. The earth is starting to pull the moon closer.”

“Gravity keeps the moon in orbit around the earth,” Owen said.

“That’s right,” Dr Diamond said, “and compared to other planets, the moon is very close to us. At the moment too close. You can see how large it is.”

“What do you mean by too close?” Pieta said.

“Soon gravity will bring the moon to within a few hundred miles of the earth and then—”

“It’ll hit us?” Cati said, staring at the moon as if she’d never seen it before.

“It won’t need to,” Dr Diamond said sombrely. “When the moon gets so close it will cause havoc… massive tides, tsunamis… The earthquakes have started already. But yes, Cati, eventually it will strike the earth.”

“When, Doctor?” Owen said. “How long have we got?”

“I don’t know exactly,” Dr Diamond said, “but I think it is only a matter of days.”

CHAPTER EIGHT (#ulink_2adf2783-3f54-587c-8611-9ac1f3d7f8bf)

Dr Diamond equipped Owen and Cati with magno torches, almost like lanterns with a handle. He fetched warm leather flying jackets for both of them and flying hats with earflaps. Cati already wore a pair of leather boots and the doctor sent her to get a pair for Owen.

When Owen was dressed he looked up and saw Cati and Wesley grinning at him. “I feel ridiculous!”

“You look… wonderful,” Cati said, choking back a giggle.

“Put your own hat on,” Dr Diamond said. “From what little I’ve learned about where we’re going, we’ll need warm clothing.” He was wearing the biggest flying jacket that Owen had ever seen, and his flying hat had goggles attached. “Pieta…”

“I was wondering when you’d get around to me,” the tall woman said.

“I want you and Wesley—”

“To guard the Starry and the Raggies, and to poke the moon away with sticks if it gets too close.”

“If you can, yes. And watch out for Johnston.”

“Wait,” Pieta said. She took the doctor aside, her face serious. “This is too sudden. Do you know where you are going and what you are going into? The old stories describe Hadima as a dangerous place.”

“It’s not like you to be cautious, Pieta.”

“There is a difference between taking a risk and being foolhardy. You have told me nothing of what you intend.”

“I’m sorry, Pieta, things have happened so fast.” And he told her about the Sub-Commandant’s message.

“I see,” she said, frowning. “You have to find this tempod and release the time from it. But even if you find it, how will you know what to do?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” the doctor said.

“I shouldn’t be going. I am the Watcher,” Cati suddenly burst out. “I should stay and watch.”

“Your watch here is over for now, Cati,” Dr Diamond said gently, “and you cannot defend the sleepers as Pieta can. We need you with us. And Owen…”

“Is the Navigator,” Pieta finished his sentence. “But you don’t have anyone who can defend you.”

“I don’t think this task will be resolved by fighting,” said the doctor softly. “There is no choice. Guard this place for us, Pieta, so that we have somewhere to come back to. I am sure Johnston is up to some mischief.”

Pieta looked at him long and hard. “I don’t know if you’re right, but I don’t know that you’re wrong either. If there was more time…”

“If there was…” Dr Diamond nodded and let the sentence hang in the air.

Pieta sighed and nodded too. She stepped back and put her strong arm around Wesley’s thin shoulders. He looked surprised at the gesture. “Well, fishboy, looks like you and me are holding the fort.”

“I wish I knew what they mean when they call me the Navigator like that,” Owen whispered to Cati.

“Why don’t you ask?” she whispered back.

But Owen stayed silent. The title had some connection with his father and he was never sure whether this was a good or bad thing.

“We must go,” Dr Diamond called softy. “Look!” At first, Owen couldn’t see what he was pointing at, then he saw the way the river seemed to be flowing the wrong way in the moonlight.