Chapter 1

The hull of the little boat sliced through the sparkling water, peppering Milo's face with flecks of spray. Kida stood beside him, her long white hair whipping in the wind, her hands eagerly grasping the railings, her face lit with a huge smile. At her feet, looking every bit as pleased, sat Obby, his huge tongue lolling out to taste the breeze.

Milo shifted his grip on the rails, his gaze moving from Kida and Obby to the little island approaching in the misty distance, his thoughts shifting gear as well. If anyone had told him, when he had been toiling away in the bowels of the Smithsonian, that he would find himself here, soaking up the sun with a beautiful Atlantean queen by his side, he would have laughed at them. Then he would have quietly shuffled away to let the psychiatrists do their work. Even after all this time, the fact that someone as beautiful and powerful and wonderful as Kida would even look twice at him seemed far less credible than the hectic events that had brought them together. Tentatively, he slid his hand over the salt-slick rail, and slipped his fingers over Kida's. She smiled, and tore her gaze from the ocean.

"You were right. It is more beautiful in the summer."

"I'm just glad you're finally getting to see the surface world without…y'know…monsters."

"Oh Milo, all of the surface world is wonderful and new to me. Although the lack of mortal danger is refreshing."

"Well, I think you've earned a bit of a break, after the last few weeks. We all have. A few days on the Orkney Islands will do us good."

Kida leaned over the rails, relishing the sweet sea air, and the view of the little island growing ever larger in the distance.

"It looks like we're nearly there."

Milo squeezed Kida's hand, and released it.

"I suppose we'd better go join the rest of them then."

He led the way, across the steely deck. Mr Whitmore had taken them as far as the mainland by plane. All that was left now was to make the short hope across to Stronsay island by sea. Luckily, a boat went between the two once a week.

Milo and Kida clanked down the stairs to the main cabin. The rest of the crew had already assembled around the table. Audrey was leant back in her chair rocking idly, gazing out of the porthole. Vinny, sat across from the table, idly chewed the match that always seemed to poke out of his mouth. Mole was leant over a small pile of dust, scrutinising it with his goggles and muttering under his breath. Obby scuttled from Milo's side and sat expectantly under Mole's chair, knowing a good source of tasty rocks when he smelled them.

At the end of the table, Doctor Sweet looked up at the two newcomers.

"Y'all didn't all have to tag along, you know." He said with a smile. "I guess you just couldn't get enough of me, could you?"

Audrey smirked.

"Don't flatter yourself doc. I just want a chance to go somewhere where we're not fish-food."

"Yeah, we're not ones to turn down free travel." Vinny said. "Although do us a favour: next time, try and study an epidemic somewhere warmer. Like, the Bahamas. Or Barbados. I could get used to Barbados. Any one of those places where you get those palm trees. Oh, and the drinks served in the little fruits."

Mole looked up from his dust, a wide smile on his face.

"Ze Orkney Islands have some of ze finest soils in ze Northern Hemisphere!" A dreamy look came over his face. "Ah, ze limestones, ze siltstones, ze erosion features! How could any man resist?"

Sweet shook his head with a faint smile.

"Well, you all have fun. Can't say it'll be much of a holiday for me, though. From what I hear, the local livestock are dropping like flies, and I intend to find out why. I may not be an expert on farm animals, but I know a thing or two about disease, and if Mr Whitmore thinks I can be a help, who am I to argue?"

Kida sat down on the edge of the table.

"I am very grateful to be seeing some more of the surface world. Even if it is under these sad circumstances."

"Ah, you give me five minutes over there, and that disease won't know what hit it."

The ship began to slow, taking on the familiar shuddering motion of a boat about to land. Sweet gathered up his medical bag, and climbed to his feet.

"So, everyone ready for Stronsey?"

Vinny stretched, and stood up.

"Yeah. Question is, is Stronsey ready for us?"

Mavis crunched across the gravel beach, making her way to the small grey boat that bobbed in the blue-green waves. The summer sun had dispelled the night's fog, and the air was unseasonably warm and still. Swiftly, she made her way down to the group gathered on the shore.

Mavis had been forewarned that the expert overseas doctor would be bringing friends: she had spent the evening preparing a room for that very reason. She had also been warned that these friends were somewhat…unconventional. She had been prepared, she'd thought, for a little strangeness, if these strangers could help her family. Now, looking at the group assembled before her, she wasn't so sure.

The most normal looking of them were the muscular, dark skinned man who stood a head taller than the rest of the group, and the skinny young man with thick round glasses and a nervous smile. He looked in good need of some of her home-made stew, she decided. There was also a young girl, no older than her teens, dressed in baggy overalls and a floppy cap, who aside from her slightly unfeminine clothing, would not have drawn too many stares. She would have to give the poor girl a dress to borrow. Then there was the man with the black pudding-bowl haircut, a thick moustache, and some sort of plate armour strapped over his baggy black sweater, and the short little man, almost as wide as he was tall, who appeared to be wearing a lamp on his head. Finally, there was the young woman with hair as white as Mavis' grandmothers, a large crystal hung around her neck, and a tattoo of an almost luminous blue marring her pretty face, poor thing. At her feet, scratching itself with one of…it had six paws, Mavis noted with a jolt of surprise, sat a frightful creature with a gaping mouth and hairless purple skin. Mentally steeling herself, Mavis gave a slightly strained smile, and cleared her throat.

"Welcome to Stronsay island. I trust that you are Doctor Sweet and guests?"

The dark skinned man stepped forwards, extending a hand.

"And you must be Mavis Murrain." He grasped her hand in a bone-crushing handshake. "I hope I can help you with your problem, and that my friends here don't make any more for you."

Mavis retrieved her slightly crushed hand and rubbed it as discreetly as she could. As she did so, the short, smelly little man shuffled forwards.

"Gaetan Moliere at your service, mademoiselle." To Mavis' horror, he proceeded to seize her hand in his grubby paws, and plant a kiss on it. Mercifully, the girl in the overalls yanked him away by his collar before he could reach her elbow.

"Mole! Keep your mouth to yourself! You'll give someone rabies! …Sorry about him."

"That's quite alright dear." Mavis said, surreptitiously wiping the saliva off, and eyeing the rest of the rabble warily. "You and your…charming friends must all be tired after your journey from the mainland. Please, follow me. I'll show you to the farmhouse."

She led them up the sandy beach, up a steep path that wound across the face of craggy, wave-washed cliffs, before finally leading out onto flat ground. The top of the cliff was a great expanse of sparse, wiry grass, the tough sort that eked out a life clinging to the coasts, interspersed here and there with heather and sweet sea-lavender, filling the warm air with the intermingled scents of flowers and brine. She led her guests onwards, over the rolling plains, going slower than usual to let them take in the views. She led them downwards from the lofty cliffs, still within the sound and smell of the ocean, splashing through a shallow rivulet as they went, before finally reaching the door to the farmhouse.

"I'll show you to your room."

A huge, warm hand rested gently on her shoulder.

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather get at it straight away." Said Doctor Sweet. "I want to see what we're dealing with."

"Alright. I'll take you down to the stables, if you're ready. The children will get your friends settled."

The white-haired girl pushed her way out of the throng.

"If it wouldn't be a distraction, could I come with you? I have never seen these "horse" creatures before."

"Oh, so you're from the city, dear?"

"Why, yes!"

Doctor Sweet smiled.

"Well, it's fine with me if you tag along. The more the merrier. Milo? You coming too?"

Vinny raised an eyebrow.

"Of course he's coming. It's like they're joined at the hip. Where she goes, he goes."

"Hey! We do things apart! We do things apart all the time."

Kida looked back over her shoulder.

"So. Are you coming Milo?"

"…Yes."