Author's note: An updated edition of this book has been republished in three books UNDERCOVER - DARK FIRE DATA, CURIOUSERS and STEAM POWER.
It's Christmas and the school's time machine malfunctions, sending us to 1778 CE where we are press-gan...
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'We've got lots of food,' Emma told Kozak cheerfully, 'You're welcome to stay for supper. But you are wet! Beryl, will you find him some dry clothes.'
Beryl found a pair of baggy jeans and a moth eaten sweater and Kozak took them to the washroom to change. When he didn't return, I went looking for him. I found him in the small room where Mr Bragg kept his computer. The ancient cathode ray monitor was still there but the computer was gone.
Kozak closed the door behind me. 'Where is ze computer? You 'av to tell me where is Eric Bragg.'
'Tell me what is going on, first.'
Kozak thought about that. 'Ziff, if Murga finds out I talked to you, 'e won't let me go 'ome. You must promise not to tell anyone what I say.'
I nodded agreement and crossed my fingers. ' Where is Murga holding my parents and why is he trying to kidnap me?'
'Murga told me your parents lost you, in an accidental time shift, when you were a baby. Zhey paid Murga to bring you back and 'e 'ired me to find you. I do not know where zhey are. But, now I am stuck in zis time phase and ze Teepots, zat is Time Agency police, are looking for me.'
Were those guy in the Bell Bundles trucks working for Murga?' I asked.
'I don't zink zo.'
I thought for a moment. 'What about Mr Bragg?
'Murga 'ired Eric Bragg to spy on Dr Zhang,' Kozak said, 'and 'e paid 'im to steal ze radio-istopes but zhere were only lead pots in ze suitcase, no isotopes. Now Murga is ready to kill 'im.'
I was thinking about that when the door opened suddenly and Rico said, 'Supper's ready.'
In the dining room, Kozak started to sit down on a hairy, black cushion but he froze when the cushion emitted a wolfish growl.
'Sorry, I forgot to warn you about Pacman,' I said. 'He doesn't like being confused with a cushion.'
Kozak hastily moved to another chair while Rico handed him glass of wine to calm his nerves. Pacman yawned, almost disappearing behind his teeth, and went back to sleep.
I asked Rico, 'did you move Mr Bragg's computer?'
'The police took it. Eric Bragg's brother reported him missing and Detective McLean borrowed the computer to look at the fee-males.'
'The police took the computer!?' My mind was racing. The police had Murga's emails to Mr Bragg. 'Uh-o!'
'He promised to bring it back,' Rico said.
Kozak wasn't listening. He swished a sip of wine around his mouth and chewed slowly. 'Zis is very good,' he said. 'Excellent 'ints of cassis, oak and almond and incredibly . . . red. Which part of France is it from?'
