Part 14 (2/2)

'And what did that lead to?' asked Enrico. 'Suicide on the one hand and a rash of murders on the other. All I'm saying is, be careful. And let me see what I can find out about this one.'

'All right,' said Luciano. It still felt strange to have Enrico working on his side but it couldn't do any harm to discover a bit more about the Bellonan.

'We've got to tell her something,' whispered Georgia as she let Nick in. 'She looks dreadful. And we've got to find out what Matt's been up to.'

'Hold on,' said Nick. 'Do you mean we've got to tell her about stravagation? Remember how that went down with Alice?'

They went into the kitchen, where Ayesha was still stirring her cold tea. She looked up with tired eyes.

'Oh, hi,' she said. 'You're Nick, aren't you? One of Matt's new friends.' Her face twisted so that suddenly she didn't look beautiful at all. 'Please tell me what's been going on.'

Nick was moved by her obvious distress but he still felt unsure. When they'd told Alice their secret six months ago, she hadn't believed them. Then she'd insisted on stravagating herself and he didn't think Matt would want Ayesha following him to Padavia.

'How much has Georgia told you?' he hedged.

'Nothing,' said Ayesha bitterly. 'No one will tell me anything and someone's going to die if you don't.'

Nick looked at Georgia, startled.

'Ayesha thinks that Matt has done something to Jago Jones,' she said. 'He's in Intensive Care and the doctors don't know what's wrong with him.'

There was enough in their histories about mysterious illnesses and unexplained deaths for Nick to realise how serious this was. But he couldn't understand what it could have to do with Matt's mission in Padavia whatever that was.

'I don't see how what Matt's been doing could have affected this Jago,' he said. 'But we'll tell you if you like.'

He looked at Georgia, who nodded.

'Matt is a Stravagante and so are we Sky too. You won't know what that means but it's a kind of traveller in time and s.p.a.ce.'

'What? Like Doctor Who?' said Ayesha, looking angry. 'What do you take me for? I've been going out with him for three months and I KNOW him. He's a big, soft, dyslexic rugger player who's a great kisser and good with computers not some alien Time Lord.'

'We were all just like you and everyone else till we were chosen,' said Georgia. 'At least, apart from Nick, but that's another story. There are these talismans that sort of seek out people of our age who are feeling miserable for some reason. And if we use them, we can get to Talia, which is like another kind of Italy only in the sixteenth century.'

'Was Matt miserable?' asked Nick.

Ayesha didn't answer straight away; they could see she was taking them more seriously now.

'It's true he doesn't have much self-confidence,' she said at last. 'And he was always so worried about whether I really liked him. He was always jealous of Jago you know we used to go out?'

'Yes,' said Georgia. 'And then you and Matt quarrelled and you seem to be very caught up with Jago again.'

'But that was only yesterday,' said Ayesha. 'Yesterday! I can't believe how everything's changed in such a short time. But Matt was acting strangely before that and he's been hanging out with you guys for over a week. Are you telling me that this strav- thing has been going on all that time?'

'It must have been nearly two weeks ago,' said Nick. 'That was when we realised that Matt had a talisman. Georgia and I were there when he picked it up.'

'We're getting used to spotting them now,' said Georgia.

'But what has he been doing in this other place?' asked Ayesha. 'Have you been going there with him?'

'No,' said Georgia. 'We don't go there any more. Nor does Sky.'

'He's been working in a printer's,' said Nick.

'Why?' asked Ayesha. 'I mean, I can't believe any of this but a printer's is the last place I'd expect him to go. And what would that have to do with the state Jago's in?'

'That I don't know,' said Nick. 'You'd have to ask Matt.'

As if on cue, the doorbell rang and Georgia let in a wild-eyed Matt. He groaned when he saw Ayesha.

'Yesh . . .' he began but Nick interrupted him.

'She knows, Matt. We had to tell her.'

Matt turned his bloodshot eyes on Nick, appalled.

'But how come? I mean, how do you know what I did?'

'We only told her about stravagation,' said Georgia.

'Well?' asked Ayesha. 'What did you do exactly?'

When he got home, Luciano was surprised to find Ludo companionably drinking ale with his foster-father as if they had known each other all their lives. The rusty-haired Manoush had been playing on his flute and Dethridge had clearly enjoyed his visit.

'I'm sorry I wasn't home for supper,' said Luciano. 'But you don't seem to have lacked company.'

'Aye, never feare ladde,' said Dethridge. 'We have been entertaining eche othire wondrous well. Bot where were ye?'

'I had dinner with Filippo di Chimici,' said Luciano. 'He's attending some cla.s.ses at the University.'

Ludo looked at him with worry in his grey eyes. 'Were you careful? Remember my cousin's warning.'

Luciano felt a bit annoyed as well as rather drunk. Hadn't he been the model of discretion?

'Not all di Chimici are bad,' he said. 'And Filippo is Francesca's brother. We had a good time together.'

'And whatte did ye converse about?' asked Dethridge.

'All sorts of things,' said Luciano, uneasy under this cross-questioning. 'Our studies, Gaetano and Francesca, marriage.'

'Marriage?' said Ludo.

'Yes, he wishes he had a bride in prospect,' said Luciano. 'I think he's a bit lonely since his sister left home. He says he's got nothing to do until his father dies.'

That had come out worse than he meant.

'Beware the heir?' said Ludo softly.

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