"There's something going on at the CattRokk Light."
Marcia looked at Simon with sudden interest. "CattRokk Light?"
"Yes - "
"Come away from the Arch," said Marcia. "Sound travels. We can walk down Wizard Way. You are leaving by the ferry at the South Gate, I take it - you can tell me as we go."
And so Simon found himself walking next to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard in full view of anyone in the Castle who might be passing - something that he had never dreamed would happen, ever.
"You know the Ghost of the Vaults - Tertius Fume - I think he has something to do with it...."
Marcia was now extremely interested. "Go on," she said.
"Well, you know I...um...used to come to the Manuscriptorium every week...."
Simon blushed and found a sudden interest in the configuration of the paving stones of Wizard Way.
"Yes," said Marcia sharply. "I am indeed aware of that fact. Delivering bones, was it not?"
"Yes, it was. I - I am truly, truly sorry for that. I don't know why I - "
"I don't want your apologies. I take account of what people do, Simon, not what they say."
"Yes, of course. Well, when I was there, Tertius Fume asked if I wanted to be his BondsMan. He wanted someone to do the running for him, as he put it. I turned him down."
"Beneath you, was it?" asked Marcia.
Simon felt even more uncomfortable. Marcia was absolutely right. He had loftily informed Tertius Fume that he had far more important matters to attend to.
"Um. Well, the thing is, a few weeks later I saw Tertius Fume down on the old Manuscriptorium landing stage. He was talking to someone who looked to me like a pirate. You know, gold ring in his ear, parrot tattooed on his neck, that kind of thing. I thought then, old Goat Face - sorry, Tertius Fume - has found his BondsMan."
"Old Goat Face is just fine by me," said Marcia. "So tell me, Simon, what do you know about CattRokk?"
"Well, er, I know what shines above...and what lies beneath."
Marcia raised her eyebrows. "You do?"
Simon looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry," he said, "but because of where I ended up when I went a little bit, well, crazy, I do know lots of stuff. There are things that I know I shouldn't know, but I do. And I can't un-know them, if you see what I mean. But if I can put any of it to good use now, then maybe...well, maybe I can make things right. Maybe." Simon stole a glance at Marcia but got no response.
"So I do know about the Isles of Syren, and about the Deeps and, er, things."
"Really?" Marcia's tone was icy. "So why have you come to tell me? Why now?"
"And - oh, it's awful," Simon babbled. "Lucy has run off with some kid - and I remember who he is now, he's a friend of...of my brother, your Apprentice. He got me in the eye once with a catapult. Not your Apprentice, the friend. Anyway, he - the friend, not my brother - has run off with my Lucy, and they are on a boat belonging to Skipper Fry, who has a parrot on his neck and whose initials are T.F.F. and who takes the supplies out to CattRokk."
Marcia took a moment to digest this. "So...let me get this straight. You are telling me that Tertius Fume has a BondsMan who has gone to CattRokk Light?"
"Yes. And before he left, I saw the BondsMan talking to Una Brakket. She gave him a package."
"Una Brakket?" Distaste flooded Marcia's face.
"Yes. I'm sure you know this too - neither she nor Tertius Fume is a friend of the Castle."
"Hmm.... So how long ago did this Skipper Fry - this BondsMan - leave?"
"Two days ago. I came as soon as I could. There was an awful storm and - "
"Well, thank you," said Marcia, cutting in. "That was very interesting."