Free History Keepers: Nightship to China by Dibben Damian Page B

still be there now. The location is unexpected.’
    She held up one particular page for everyone to see. It was a city map, old and frayed around the edges. Jake had to crane his neck to see it. It was hand-drawn and inscribed with faded curling letters, but there was something familiar about the shape of the river that twisted its way across.
    ‘London,’ Galliana said. ‘Jacobean London, early seventeenth century. If he is not physically there himself, he certainly has quarters in the city.’
    Jake understood why she had asked him to come and sit with her: he had grown up in London.
    Galliana continued. ‘It makes sense. In addition to his obsession with chaos and murder, Xi Xiang has another mania: plays, actors, showmanship, magic – of course, he sees himself as a great performer. There is no more important place for drama in all history than Shakespeare’s London – and, of course, it is the last place that anyone would think to look.’ She traced her finger along the centre of the map. ‘The city of London, the Thames, the White Tower, London Bridge, old St Paul’s . . . And here’ – her finger rested on one point – ‘north of the river, just beyond Blackfriars, the symbol of an octopus – the moniker of Xi Xiang.’
    ‘Which is where we think he may be hiding,’ Jupitus clarified.
    ‘We don’t know for sure,’ Galliana said, ‘but it is the only lead we have. This afternoon I will be sending a team to investigate.’
    There was another eruption of noise, of people putting their hands up, all asking questions at once.
    ‘Silence, please,’ she called over the hubbub. ‘Silence. I have one more important matter to discuss . . .’ She waited while everyone settled down. ‘The last tranche of documents in this folder have thrown up one more discovery – perhaps the most alarming of all.’ She took a deep breath and put her hand on Jake’s shoulder, glancing at him before continuing. ‘These documents pertain to another young man, who it seems was also working with Xi Xiang and Caspar . . .’
    And then she dropped the bombshell:
    ‘Philip Djones.’

7 T HE S IGN OF THE O CTOPUS
    ROSE PUT HER hands to her mouth, Charlie choked on his macaroon and Signor Gondolfino dropped his ivory cane on the floor. Jake stopped breathing altogether. The agents were in uproar. Only Yoyo was mystified by the reaction.
    ‘Settle down!’ Galliana called. ‘Settle down, everyone.’
    ‘Is this true?’ Truman Wylder boomed. ‘What evidence do you have?’
    ‘There are various indicators,’ the commander told him, fishing out one particular page. ‘This Meslith was received by Caspar at some point.’ She adjusted her spectacles and read: ‘
XX and I arrived London
. . . XX is evidently Xi Xiang.
XX goes east in one week. Send more atomium for journey. Philip D
.’
    Again everyone started talking at once. Someone said, ‘That doesn’t prove anything.’ Another added, ‘Anyone could have written that.’
    Jupitus interjected, ‘We know that Caspar talked of Philip in ancient Rome, that they likely met; but Caspar claimed that Philip was tortured.’ As he spoke, with a typical lack of delicacy, Galliana kept a firm hand on Jake’s shoulder, which was now rigid. ‘Perhaps his association with Xi Xiang was a façade: he was working as a spy and he was found out, hence the torture. But that leads to an even greater mystery: why on earth would he not maintain contact with us prior to this? No, indeed, it is my gut feeling that he went over to the other side. He was always hungry for power.’
    ‘Excuse me!’ Rose called from the other end of the table. ‘Philip working for the enemy? Hungry for power? Have you lost your mind?’
    ‘I knew it would be an unpopular view’ – Jupitus shrugged – ‘but once you have heard all the facts—’
    ‘Jupitus Cole, you have sunk to new depths,’ Rose exclaimed. ‘How dare you! How dare you say such a thing!’ Jupitus just shrugged and took another