“Thanks. So we’re in an up-current? How long will it take to get to the Middle of the Middle? And can we keep going from there to the Top Shelf?”
“We’ll reach the Lower Sky by morning,” said Pirkin. “Then it depends how long to get through the skylock-”
“The Lower Sky? Skylock?” asked Arthur. “What do you mean? I thought the Middle House was all one big mountain.”
“It is and it isn’t,” said Pirkin. He took a swig of his hot water. “Ah, that’s the stuff. Nearly as good as tea, leastways if you haven’t got any tea. Where was I? Oh, the Lower Sky. There’s a sky above the Flat, that’s the Lower Sky. And there’s a sky between the Middle of the Middle and the Top Shelf, that’s the Middle Sky. And then there’s a sky right up top, I suppose. Least there’s clouds and suns and suchlike up above the Top Shelf. Top Sky, that would be.”
“And the skylock?”
“Where the canal goes through,” said Pirkin. “Big gate that slides across. Oh, it’s a right pain to open, I tell you. Needs a hundred ordinary members of the association on the windlass and a couple of Branch Secretaries, at least, to do the counting. Risky business too. Long way to fall if you step off the canal side.”
“So how long will it take to get through?”
“Depends, don’t it?” said Pirkin, with a shrug that spilled hot water on himself. He didn’t seem to notice, though it would have badly scalded a human. “If there’s enough rafts queued on either side, it might already be open, or we can open it fast-like.”
“And once we’re in the Middle of the Middle, how long to get through there and on to the Top Shelf?” asked Arthur.
“Couple of days,” said Pirkin. “Depends on cargo. Got to stop at Burinberg and pick up. Unless everything’s gone to pieces.”
“Gone to pieces? How exactly?”
Pirkin looked at Arthur with surprise.
“Well, you’re part of it, aren’t you? Oddkin’s raft dropped us some letters when he passed .... Where are they now?”
He fished around in his pockets, drawing out numerous folded papers, till he found what he was looking for and handed them to Arthur.
“First one said Lady Friday’s nicked off somewhere and that everyone who wants to should take a holiday and experiencing’s allowed,” said Pirkin. “Second one says Lady Friday’s handed over to Superior Saturday, work must go on as usual, experiencing’s not allowed, obey Saturday’s officers and so on and so forth.”
Arthur quickly scanned the two letters, which had the colourful seals of the relevant Trustee. The first did indeed confirm that Lady Friday was going away, but it did not specifically mention abdication or handing over the Key or her authority in the Middle House.
The second, from Superior Saturday, was much more explicit. Arthur read it in full.
To all Denizens of authority in the Middle House, Greeting. The Lady Friday, Former Trustee of the Architect, has abdicated and resigned from all authority within the Middle House. Her place has been assumed by Lady Saturday, Superior Sorcerer of the Upper House. All Denizens in the Middle House must acknowledge the authority of Superior Saturday and her officers.
You are instructed to follow the orders of any of Superior Saturday’s officers, such orders to take precedence over any standing orders, former orders, traditions, commonplace actions, rituals, regular tasks, or anything else that may conflict with said orders or instructions.
All Denizens of the Middle House will continue with their regular work. The practice known as “experiencing” is forbidden, and the possession of a “mortal experience” is decreed to be a crime, punishable to the utmost degree by any officer of the Upper house.
All Denizens of the Middle House are to cooperate with the officers, troops, and auxiliaries of the Upper House. Some auxiliaries may appear to be Nithlings. They are not Nithlings as such, but auxiliaries in the service of the Upper House.
All Denizens of the Middle House must immediately report to the nearest officer from the Upper House if they should observe, notice, hear, or become cognisant of any information concerning the whereabouts or intentions of the dangerous outlaw Arthur Penhaligon, self-styled Rightful Heir to something or other.
All Denizens of the Middle House must immediately report to the nearest officer from the Upper House if they should observe, notice, hear, or become cognisant of any information concerning the whereabouts or intentions of the rebel known as the Piper, or the malcontent known as the Mariner (aka “the Captain”).
All Piper’s children in the Middle House are, as of now, outlawed and must be destroyed. Loyal Denizens of the Middle House are called upon to attack Piper’s children whenever and wherever they are seen. Evidence in the form of their detached heads should be retained in suitable sacks for presentation to officers of the Upper House.
All creatures known as Raised Rats are, as of now, outlawed and must be destroyed. Loyal Denizens of the Middle House are called upon to attack Raised Rats whenever and wherever they are seen. Evidence in the form of their detached tails should be retained in suitable sacks for presentation to officers of the Upper House.
All and any possessions of any captured Raised Rat or Piper’s Child must also be retained in separate labelled stacks. Should any Raised Rat or Piper’s Child be found to be in possession of a letter or any document, said document must be delivered with utmost haste to any officer of the Upper House.
By order of Lady Saturday, Superior Sorcerer of the Upper House, with tacit approval of Lord Sunday.
Arthur frowned. The letter had the seal of Lady Saturday, a gold disc attached by rainbow-hued wax that constantly changed colour ... but it did not have Sunday’s seal. And what did “tacit” mean?
I’ve got to find out more about Lord Sunday, thought
Arthur. He’d been thinking this for some time. All the things that are done against me seem to be organized by Saturday, and Sunday is just in the background ... or is he?
He dismissed the thought for the moment. He had to concentrate on what was in front of him right now.
“Have you read all of this second letter?” Arthur asked Pirkin cautiously. His hand fell to the Fourth Key at his side. He hadn’t put his belt back on, but he’d made sure it was never out of reach.
“I read ’em both,” said Pirkin. “But like Oddkin said, it’s just a load of old jetsam. Kill Piper’s children? Kill Raised Rats? That’s not something the association would stand for, I tell you. That Saturday ain’t got no rights here. She can do whatever she wants in the Upper House, I suppose, but no one here is going to do stupid stuff just because she says so.”
He paused to take another sip of his hot water, then added, “Or almost nobody. I s’pose those toffee-noses up on the Top Shelf might want to look good. They’re always going on about how close they are to the Upper House anyhow. ‘Top of the Middle just means bottom of the Upper’ they like to say. Most of ’em failed school there, I reckon. They should stick to fixing up records like they’re supposed to.”
“I hope you’re right,” said Arthur. He started to lift his cup but had to grab it with both hands as the raft suddenly lurched and the floor tilted sharply, making his chair slide back to the wall. “What’s happening?!”
“Started up the rise, haven’t we,” said Pirkin. He put down his cup and moved to the door. “Not before time too. About ten hours’ climb to the Skylock and then we should see some sunshine in the Middle. Their weather isn’t broken. I’d best see we’re in the fastest current.”
As Pirkin left the hut, Arthur settled back in his chair. The floor of the raft was now tilted up at about twenty degrees, which both looked and felt quite strange, but Pirkin had not been concerned so Arthur figured he would try not to be as well.
He had just taken his long-delayed sip when the door opened and Suzy and Fred burst in, accompanied by a cold gust of wind and some flying snow. They advanced cautiously to the stove, the cantered floor giving them some trouble, and sat down with their backs to the stove, facing Arthur.