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you’ve decided to join us, young fella,’ said Mr Flynn.
    The professor turned his attention from the clouds, and his worried frown became a welcoming smile. He’s smiling, Higgins. That’s good.
    â€˜On your way home again, Julius?’ said the professor, nodding towards the carpetbag in Julius’s hand.
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜You’re doing the right thing, young fella,’ said Mr Flynn. ‘Now, about that diary?’

CHAPTER 8
    Thursday 6th July, 1837
2:11 AM
    Clouds swirled above the cathedral’s spires, flashing in all shades of amber. ‘What’s happening?’ Julius asked. Well done, Higgins. Get them distracted.
    â€˜I’m not entirely sure, Julius, but I could hazard a guess,’ said the professor. ‘There is a dual vibration anomaly occurring, centralised on this very borough.’
    â€˜A what?’
    â€˜Tell me, Julius, why did you leave your grandfather last night? He was very upset when I spoke with him earlier. What have you been up to?’
    Julius clenched his jaw tight, but his eyes blinked guiltily. The professor and Mr Flynn waited for his answer. Think very carefully, Higgins.
    â€˜Why do you need to know, sir?’
    â€˜I think you may have fallen in with the wrong sort, Julius. You could be in great danger. You have an association with a man, I will not say gentleman, by the name of Jack Springheel, have you not? He may appear to be a friend and ally but I can assure you that he is anything but.’
    Julius swallowed hard. Say nothing, Higgins .
    â€˜I have reason to believe this Jack Springheel, as he calls himself now, is a murderer.’
    â€˜A murderer?’ Remember what you said about saying nothing, Higgins?
    â€˜Yes, a fiendish killer, without scruples or compassion. I believe he took the life of the poet, Percy Shelley. Killed him for his pocketwatch.’
    â€˜Did you say pocketwatch ?’
    â€˜I did. Springheel was a young lad then, back in 1822. He called himself Charles Vivian. He was a boat boy on Shelley’s schooner, the Ariel, when it sank in a storm off the Italian coast. I have been on his trail, in one way or another, ever since. Recently I heard that a mysterious man was trawling the London bookshops in search of John Harrison’s diary. Only a handful of people know of the significance of that diary and the H3 chronometer prototype. I knew that man had to be Charles Vivian.’
    Julius blinked. Mr Flynn stepped closer to Julius. ‘Springheel is in cahoots with Clements, isn’t he? This Clements fellow pays all his bills.’
    â€˜Does he?’ asked Julius.
    â€˜Yes. Is he also lodging with Clements?’
    â€˜Er…umm.’
    The professor raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
    Oh, cripes, this is all too much. Tell him, Higgins.
    â€˜Yes, he’s staying in rooms above the shop. I…I delivered books there.’
    Almost to Julius’s relief, the flagstones beneath his feet began to quake. He looked around, expecting a Chinaman to appear. Above him the silent light display was intensifying.
    â€˜This is Springheel’s doing,’ said Mr Flynn. ‘He’s meddling with the parallel realms, Professor.’
    â€˜Correct, Danny,’ said the professor, and he took his own pocketwatch out. ‘Julius, shed some light on this. What is Springheel up to?’
    â€˜I don’t know, honestly. He said he had a “little project” to complete tonight. That’s all I know, honestly. But…but there was something…’
    â€˜Something?’ said Mr Flynn, stepping closer again.
    â€˜Yes…in my room…there were vibrations and… and…one of those creatures came through the wall. It looked terrified. I tried to tell it to be calm, but I don’t think it understood. It disappeared down the stairs. That’s when I bolted.’
    â€˜Professor,’ said Mr Flynn. ‘If Springheel’s interfering with