City of Time. Eoin McNamee

her about the Sub-Commandant’s message.

      “I see,” she said, frowning. “You have to find this tempod and release the time from it. But even if you find it, how will you know what to do?”

      “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” the doctor said.

      “I shouldn’t be going. I am the Watcher,” Cati suddenly burst out. “I should stay and watch.”

      “Your watch here is over for now, Cati,” Dr Diamond said gently, “and you cannot defend the sleepers as Pieta can. We need you with us. And Owen…”

      “Is the Navigator,” Pieta finished his sentence. “But you don’t have anyone who can defend you.”

      “I don’t think this task will be resolved by fighting,” said the doctor softly. “There is no choice. Guard this place for us, Pieta, so that we have somewhere to come back to. I am sure Johnston is up to some mischief.”

      Pieta looked at him long and hard. “I don’t know if you’re right, but I don’t know that you’re wrong either. If there was more time…”

      “If there was…” Dr Diamond nodded and let the sentence hang in the air.

      Pieta sighed and nodded too. She stepped back and put her strong arm around Wesley’s thin shoulders. He looked surprised at the gesture. “Well, fishboy, looks like you and me are holding the fort.”

      “I wish I knew what they mean when they call me the Navigator like that,” Owen whispered to Cati.

      “Why don’t you ask?” she whispered back.

      But Owen stayed silent. The title had some connection with his father and he was never sure whether this was a good or bad thing.

      “We must go,” Dr Diamond called softy. “Look!” At first, Owen couldn’t see what he was pointing at, then he saw the way the river seemed to be flowing the wrong way in the moonlight.