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find her!’ the Chieftain shouted. ‘She was essential to my search for gold!’
    ‘It was my mistake, Chieftain, I’m sorry.’ Damien bowed his head lower, afraid to show any feelings for his missing sister. His family depended on the Chieftain for food and survival. It would do Damien no good to show he was more worried about Danice than he was about the Chieftain’s search for gold. It was gold that kept the Chieftain in his position of power, and it was this position of power that protected Damien’s family.
    ‘Forgive me, I had no time to search,’ Damien said. ‘I thought it best to return and report to you.’
    Damien was also reluctant to tell the Chieftain the full story. So he didn’t mention that two men had jumped out of the darkness. Or that one man had grabbed his sister, while Damien struggled with the other, before managing to break away and escape. He was afraid that the Chieftain might decide the mission was too difficult and call it off. If he did that, there would be no gold. And no gold meant no food for Damien’s family.
    There was a short silence before the Chieftain raised his jewelled right hand. ‘I am most displeased. However, our work will go on. Did you find gold?’
    ‘The treasure room is full of gold plate, gold bars, all sorts of gold,’ Damien confirmed.
    ‘And there are guards?’
    ‘There are four but they are often sleepy. They drink a lot of wine.’
    The Chieftain crossed his arms over his broad chest. ‘You will steal the gold in two days’ time. So make sure your companions are ready. Who will you take with you now?’
    ‘My other sister—Alli,’ Damien said. ‘She’s worked with us a few times already.’
    ‘Yes, she’s reliable,’ the Chieftain replied. ‘And you can take that new boy. His name?’
    ‘His name’s Lee. Yes, Chieftain, he’ll make up the team.’
    The Chieftain waved his hand dismissively. ‘Very well, you may go.’
    Damien stood, bowed and turned away. He crossed the flagstone floor of the cave and retreated through a doorway carved out of the solid rock. He didn’t look back.
    For ten seconds, the chamber remained silent.
    ‘Has he gone now, O’Bray?’ the Chieftain asked. ‘O’Bray, where are you!’
    A thin, bald man dressed in a black robe entered the cave through the same doorway. ‘Yes, boss, I heard you. He’s on his way back to the Big Forest.’
    ‘Then switch on the lights! Douse those stinking candles!’
    O’Bray flicked a switch hidden inside a tiger skull. The cave filled with electric light and the Chieftain pushed back the hood of his robe. He blinked in the brightness and ran a hand through his long, straggly white hair.
    ‘Get me some decent clothes to put on—and a strong drink!’ he growled.
    ‘Yes, boss. Right away, boss,’ O’Bray replied, snuffing out the candles. The Chieftain was in one of his dark moods. It was best to obey him without question.

6

    S imon entered Mayfield Manor’s main classroom, slid into the nearest seat and slumped down. Green light shimmered off the walls.
    ‘Savage, be more punctual in future,’ Cutler said from the seat behind him.
    Simon glanced back. ‘Yeah, okay. Sorry … sir.’ He was trying to get used to addressing senior staff as ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’. He didn’t like it much. But the Bureau was run on semi-military lines, with much of the discipline centred on punctuality, smart manners, pressed clothes and tidy rooms; and punishments that included grubby kitchen-cleaning duties or dozens of early morning laps around the jogging track. Simon was only now remembering to make his bed every morning.
    Cutler made a hushing motion and nodded to the speaker at the front of the room.
    Professor McPhee was Head of the Time Bureau. In the past few days, Simon had learnt that McPhee was in charge of the whole organisation, while Captain Cutler was responsible for its day-to-day operations.
    The professor wore a crisply tailored dark suit, and had close-cropped