she climbed out of the dumb waiter onto the ballroom floor. Gerald and Sam followed.
âWhat? In the zombie get up?â Sam said.
âAnd I think thatâs Constable Lethbridge.â
âWhere?â
âThe giant pigeon.â
Gerald shook his head. âMum invited him as a thanks for all that guard duty, but I didnât think heâd show up. At least not dressed as a pigeon.â
Then Sam and Ruby screamedâa high-pitched stereo shriek that pierced Geraldâs brain. A large man in a kilt, his face painted a vibrant blue and his red beard flared out like heâd been electrocuted, had leapt in front of them, his features contorted in rage. â Death to all Sassenachs! â
It took a few seconds for the ringing in Geraldâs ears to fade.
âProfessor McElderry,â he said to the blue-faced highlander. âI didnât know you were coming.â
The professor gave Gerald a wink and raised a full glass. âNever miss a good knees-up,â he said. âYou never know when it might be your last. Still,â he took a long draught, âwish theyâd told me it was fancy dress.â
âOh,â said Sam, âdidnât you know?â
McElderry blinked at Sam, as if he wasnât sure what he was seeing. âHave I ever mentioned that you might well be the stupidest boy in the world?â
Gerald smiled. âWell, it looks like youâre having fun,â he shouted to McElderry above the booming racket of the ballroom. âWhoâs that dressed as a bishop and singing with the band?â
The professor glanced over his shoulder. On the other side of the room, a tall man dressed in white robes with a golden mitre askew on his head was belting out the chorus to âRiver Deep, Mountain Highâ.
âThat is the bishop,â McElderry said. âHe really didnât know it was fancy dress. Not a bad voice. All those years in the choir, I expect. Look, Iâm glad I caught up with you. Iâve had a call from my friend at the Vatican library in Romeâyou remember him.â
Gerald nodded. The professorâs friend had made the connection between Geraldâs family seal and an ancient Roman emperor.
âHeâs been doing some more reading into your very interesting family, Gerald,â the professor said. An explosion sounded over McElderryâs right shoulder. Gerald caught sight of a penguin lopping off the top of a champagne bottle with a French cavalry sword.
Gerald let out a long breath. âIt gets more interesting, does it?â
âOh yes,â Professor McElderry said. âAnd on both sides as well. Did you know that your motherâs ancestors believed the family would one day produce someone special?â
âSpecial?â
âYep. The progeny. Can you believeââ
The professorâs words were drowned out by a shriek of âGerald!â A pink-faced penguin was advancing on them.
âGotta go, professor! But letâs talk later, okay?â Gerald said.
Gerald rolled back into the dumb waiter. Sam and Ruby followed him. Sam fumbled with the button panel.
The professor reached into a pocket and said, âIâve got something forââ but the door slid shut, cutting him off. The dumb waiter moved down, and the blare of the party faded behind them.
âYour mum seems to be having a good time,â Ruby said to Gerald.
âYeah. She specialises in that.â
âI didnât see your dad,â Sam said. âWhatâs he dressed as?â
Gerald stared at the wall. âI canât remember.â
âYou canât remember?â
âThatâs right,â Gerald said. âI can not remember.â
The door slid open and the three of them tumbled out of the dumb waiter onto the kitchen floor.
Mrs Rutherford looked up from the table. âYou took your time,â she said. âIâve been battling to keep Mr Fry
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