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My captor and I tumble backwards – free-falling from the side of theVaruna. I get a glimpse of blue sky. I feel thethunkof our impact as we crash into the water. Then the cold sea closes over my face like the folds of a burial shroud.

When we surface, I’m choking and spluttering. I have a blurry view of my classmates gathered above, their grim faces lining the port rail of theVaruna. Dr Hewett is there too now, looking seasick. Gemini Twain has switched to his M4A1, the rifle’s sight fixed on my captor.

TheVarunahas cut her engines. The world is quiet except for the slosh of waves against the hull and my captor’s ragged breathing in my ear. It must be hard work pulling me along, using me as a human shield while swimming backwards towards his pontoon. I hope he drowns.

Above us, Gem says grimly, ‘I’ve got the shot, sir.’

I don’t think he meant for us to hear this comment, but voices carry at sea. The idea of him firing makes my stomach twist. With the ocean swells, and the movements of the ship and my captor, it would be a tough shot even for Gem. Besides, I assume my captor still has his little hypodermic needle somewhere at hand. I hope he sticks himself with it.

‘Stand down, Mr Twain,’ Hewett orders.

Really?I think.That’s all you’ve got, Hewett?

‘That’s right,’ my captor mocks. ‘Stand down, Mr Twain.’

Hewett narrows his eyes. ‘Caleb South, I know your voice. Don’t do this.’

Caleb curses. Apparently, he doesn’t love Hewett any more than I do.

We reach the pontoon. Another set of rough hands grabs me. The guy at the motor hauls me aboard.

‘Dave,’ my captor snaps, still in the water. ‘Keep a needle on her while I get aboard.’

Great. I’ve been abducted by two evildoers named Caleb and Dave. I wonder if the Land Institute yearbook voted them most likely to open a family restaurant or maybe a gardening centre.

My limbs still aren’t working, but I can feel some tingling in my toes. The toxin is wearing off. I try to speak. All that comes out is a gurgle.

Caleb South climbs into the boat. He pulls me over him so I’m once again blocking Gem’s line of sight. Dave scoots astern and starts messing with the outboard engine.

‘Dave, hurry,’ Caleb barks.

‘I’m trying,’ Dave mutters. ‘That stupid girl shot the motor.’

This makes me happy. I hope the engine explodes in Dave’s face.

Dr Hewett calls down from the deck, ‘Caleb, listen to me. This is madness.’

‘Yeah, I remember your lectures.’ Caleb’s tone is as toxic as his syringe of venom. ‘Our plans are madness, blah-blah. But theAronnaxis operational now and Harding-Pencroft is gone, so maybe you were the crazy one to leave us, huh?’

I don’t know what theAronnaxis. The name alone makes me shiver. It sounds sharp and heavy like a cleaver’s blade. On the other hand, the fact that I’m able to shiver is good news. Itry to move my head. It lolls to one side. Any hour now, I’ll be ready for combat.

‘Your new toy is nothing,’ Hewett tells Caleb. ‘Dakkar is everything.’

‘Toy?!’ Caleb shouts.

‘After what you did this morning,’ Hewett continues, ‘to the academy, to Ana’s brother? She’s irreplaceable.’

I don’t like the way Hewett is talking about me – as if I’m a valuable commodity rather than a person. I wonder if he’ll start bargaining, maybe offer to split me in half so they can share the profits.

I can feel Caleb’s fingers trembling on my throat. He’s getting agitated, and he’s holding a needle against my carotid artery. I don’t like that combination.

In the stern of the pontoon, Dave lets out a triumphant ‘Ha!’

The outboard motor sputters to life.

‘Goodbye, Dr Hewett,’ Caleb calls as the pontoon pulls away. ‘You sucked as a teacher anyway.’

Well, Hewett may not be aiding and abetting the LI students, but he isn’t much help to me, either. I can think of only one thing to do. I gurgle loud enough to get Caleb’s attention.