The Clockwork Princess

7.below the below

The next morning sunlight awoke Princess and the rat in her hammock in the Admiral Bazalgette's cabin. Something remarkable was happening but it took some time for her to work out what it was. What was remarkable was that sunlight was coming into the cabin from the large windows that overlooked the back of the ship. In the night the Admiral had sailed the ship all the way though London's sewer system and had reached an outlet at Crossness. The Princess turned to find the rat asleep.

'Wake up sleepy head' said the Princess as she poked the sleeping ball of fur.

'Hmm sorry your highness I'm very tired. I spent all night worrying that the admiral might sail us directly to all the Kings horses and all the Kings men.'

'Well Mr rat you shouldn't have. The Admiral spends many days at sea beyond the touch of newspapers. So I sent him a message saying that a gap was free in my schedule and would he like me to open anything'

'So Admiral Bazalgette thinks you're the real Princess and you're going to open something, clever escape plan' said the rat.

'Sure' said the Princess ' and it's always a pleasure to open something for the hero of London. Anyway opening is what I do and I think I'm already very good at it'.

Despite the tiny cabin the Princess was able to get dressed. While she did she talked to the rat.

'I had a thought last night. You said my cogs were made in Manchester?'

'Yes highness'

'Didn't the Wizard of speed and time say he was off urgently to Manchester at the end of the feast of Steven? Then a few days later I turn up.'  said the Princess.

'Well the wizard of speed and time does know enough about you to make a convincing copy of you' said the rat. 

'Hmm and he was the one who predicted this whole marriage thing which got everyone so excited in the first place'.  

'So' the rat announced 'you think it was the wizard who stole the real you?'

'I'm ' said the Princess as she walked out of the cabin.They emerged onto the deck into the cool early morning light.

'Be a glorious day for an opening, your highness. The crew and I hoped you slept well' said the Admiral as she emerged stretching.

'I don't think I have ever slept as well on board ship before ' said the Princess. Which was true as true can be. Technically the clockwork princess had never slept on any ship so this was the first and so had to be the best. 

After the flying boy emerged from the forecastle, Dr Snow went up to the cabin and pulled a lever next to the door. Soon he emerged with bowels of hot porridge, toast, tea and other breakfast essentials. Flying boy couldn't resist looking in the room. This time he saw no sign of his bed but did see a complex kitchen which had apparently emerged from nowhere. The Doctor noticed flying boy's interest.

'Like that me hearty? Space is always tight on board ship of this size, try this' said the Doctor. He closed the door pulled the lever down. At this point flying boy noticed that the wall next to the leaver had a number of words painted neatly on it. The lever was currently next to 'galley' the Doctor shut the door and pulled the lever to 'map room'. On opening the door the kitchen had disappeared and the small room was now full with charts and maps. The door was closed again and the lever pulled down to 'bathroom' when the door was opened the bathroom complete with bath from last night appeared.

'Thee have a go' the Doctor said pointing  to the lever and shut the door. Toast in hand flying boy pulled the lever. He pushed past 'library' , 'engine room', 'lamp room' , 'museum' , 'bed room' , 'guest room' , 'prison', 'workshop'. 'store room', 'present wrapping room' , 'theatre' stopping on 'surgery'. There was the sound of clanking and thumping on the other side of the door which stopped. Flying boy opened the door to see a compact doctor's surgery.

'Hmm, while you're here why don't we have a look at you' said the Doctor 'a drop in the black sea can make you all ways of ill' the Doctor insisted on giving the flying boy the cat and the rat a medical inspection. He found the quantum cat had tiny quantum fleas for which he prescribed a pill. As for the flying boy he had something to say

'A very interesting case' announced the Doctor 'I see no medical reason why the boy cannot speak. All the appropriate parts are  in working order.  I would say his silence is more in the mind than something physical'. Flying boy didn't look very happy at this.

After tea at eleven they all walked up to a strange building where the Admiral held a ribbon across a door. The Princess cut it the ribbon and everyone felt well much more opened than before. They returned to the ship and after another fantastic lunch with scones, and crumpets, sandwiches, bread and butter, followed by lots of cakes the Princess explained that she had another appointment in Manchester. The Admiral pulled a lever on his room and emerged a few seconds later with a map of the area. 

He said it would be very slow to take them far he said but he could take them to a river. From the river they could follow the road to a telegraph tower and beyond the tower was a monorail station form which they could take the monorail to Manchester.

Later the tiny ship stopped and the Princess, the rat, flying boy and the cat all got off. The cat was now wearing a collar with a string attached so he couldn't run off or indeed disappear. The cat didn't look very happy at this but was much happier to be on dry land.

With a 'goodbye me harties' the Admiral and the Doctor waved good bye and set off back to the sewers.