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crossed from the Upper World into the Lower World. Once it was easy to cross. Men and
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    women of wisdom did it all the time, and there were Messengers."
    "Messengers?"
    "Like the winged people you saw in the ballroom."
    "You mean I'm ... in another world ...?" Danny's voice trailed away.
    Devoy replaced the globe carefully.
    "Yes. You crossed over with Fairman in the taxi."
    "But how ... school ..."
    "An elaborate hoax carried out by my colleague Mr. Brunholm, without my knowledge, of course."
    Danny wanted to ask more questions, but he was feeling sleepier and sleepier.
    "The chicken you have just eaten contained a thirty-three-minute sleeping draft," Devoy said, checking his watch. "It is taking effect--that is good. You need your rest."
    As if from a great distance Danny heard a knock on the door. It opened to reveal Valant. Devoy indicated Danny.
    "You may take him now, Mr. Valant. Please ensure this time that his room is not unlocked. If the Ring get wind of his presence before we are ready ..."
    "The Ring ...?" Danny managed. "Who are the Ring?"
    "The Ring of Five, Danny," Devoy said, leaning over him. "Be patient! Soon you will know all there is to know about the Ring, that is our hope!"
    Then Danny felt sleep wash over him, and heard no more.
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    ST. AGNES
    Danny woke in the small room he'd been given the night before. It was morning, and a cold light shone through the windows. He was sure that a voice had woken him, but when he looked around, he could see no one. Then the voice came again, crackly and far away.
    "Breakfast in ten minutes and forty seconds. Please wash and dress." Danny saw that the voice was coming from a device on the wall that looked like an old-time radio. He groaned and let his head fall back onto the pillow, remembering everything that had happened to him. The cab ride, Wilsons ... it was too much to think it was all a dream, but just in case, he shut his eyes--if he could go to sleep again, perhaps he would wake up in his own bed.
    "Breakfast in nine minutes and twenty-three seconds," the voice crackled again. "Cadet Caulfield is in
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    danger of incurring a Section Two Offense if he does not get out of bed."
    Danny leapt out of bed and looked around wildly. How did the voice know he was still in bed? Then it spoke again, this time very low.
    "Psst ... Danny?" Without thinking, Danny went over and put his ear to the speaker.
    "Jump up like a good lad, don't want a Section Two on your first morning, do you," the voice whispered in a kindly way. Then, resuming its normal tone, it went on.
    "Breakfast in eight minutes and fifty-three seconds. Cadet Knutt. Please return the toothpaste you have purloined from Cadet Smyck."
    Danny scrambled into his clothes, splashed some water on his face and brushed his teeth, then stepped out into the corridor. He looked up and down. He didn't have a clue where he was going.
    "Hello," a voice said. He turned and saw Dixie standing behind him.
    "I--I," he stuttered, "where--"
    "They sent me to find you to bring you to Ravensdale," she said calmly. "Wouldn't want you getting lost. Come on, or they'll have eaten everything."
    "Hang on a second," he said. "I need to ... I don't know ..." Dixie looked at him sympathetically.
    "Did Devoy give you the old Two Worlds lecture last night?" Danny nodded dumbly. "Thought so," Dixie went on. "I felt pretty strange when I was told that there was another world--it goes both ways, you know."
    "But how can there be two worlds?"
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    "Think of them as being different countries, if that helps." Dixie's tone was kind. "But don't try to think about it too much. It'll make you dotty, like me!"
    She linked her arm through his and marched him off down the corridor, which seemed to be going a different direction from the previous night, and did not look at all familiar.
    "How do you find your way around here?" he gasped, half running to keep up with her. "I mean, it's different all the time!"
    "You have to look for clues," she said.