‘If the casing is secreted,’ I say, ‘what is it secreted from?’
Hewett just smiles. Suddenly I don’t want to know.
‘Upon discharge,’ he says, ‘every trace of the projectile is destroyed. The stun effect lasts anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the target’s constitution.’
As if on cue, Gem wakes with a snort. He sits up, shaking his head. ‘What happened?’
‘Hewett shot you,’ Franklin says.
Gem looks at Hewett with awe, as if he didn’t know the old man was capable of being so cool.
‘You’re fine,’ Hewett tells him. ‘On your feet, Prefect. I was just about to explain. In the event of another attack by Land Institute, you will use these weapons. You’ll find them more reliable than conventional guns.’
Gem’s expression changes to disbelief. ‘More reliable than my SIG Sauers?’
‘I’m not doubting your skills, Mr Twain,’ Hewett says. ‘I’m aware that you have the highest marksmanship scores in the school’s history. But our enemies will have body armour that is quite effective against standard firearms.’
‘Kevlar isn’t perfect –’
‘I’m not talking about Kevlar.’ Hewett’s expression hardens. ‘Besides, we will shoot to incapacitate, not to kill. We are not Land Institute. We are better than that.’
His tone is so bitter I wonder if I was wrong to suspect him. He sounds genuinely disgusted with his former employer. I just wish I understood why he left them and graced us with his presence.
‘The range of the Leyden guns is limited,’ he continues. ‘However, any contact with the target’s body will release the charge. You will find the guns accurate to a hundred feet.’
‘One third the range of my regular handguns,’ Gem mutters.
‘Let us hope you do not have to test your skills with either type of weapon,’ Hewett says dryly. ‘But we must be prepared. There are three more boxes like this one in the armoury. I’ve set the locks to open to the fingerprint of any prefect. Mr Twain, arm your Sharks first. Then the rest of the crew.’
Tia is shaking her head. ‘Sir … how do these things even work? They shouldn’t be possible.’
Hewett grimaces – his famous Lord, give me patience expression. ‘Prefect Romero, the impossible is merely the possible for which we don’t yet know the science.’
‘But –’
‘I understand it is a lot to absorb,’ he says. ‘Normally during freshman trials, I would introduce the Leyden gun and leave it at that for the day. I’d save the more outlandish alt-tech for Saturday and Sunday.’
‘Alt-tech?’ Franklin asks.
‘More outlandish?’ Gem sounds excited, like he’s volunteering for further target practice.
‘Unfortunately,’ Hewett says, ignoring both questions, ‘we don’t have the luxury of time. To survive, we will need everything we have. Miss Romero, you see that case against the far wall? You remember my lecture on opto-electric camouflage, I hope.’
Tia blinks. ‘Like the skin of an octopus.’
‘Exactly. That case contains projection modules. They must be installed around the exterior of the hull, just above the waterline at one-metre intervals. Do you understand?’
‘I … Um, yes?’
‘Good.’ Hewett glances out of the window. He looks frustrated to see how close we still are to shore. ‘Mr Couch, there’s another case on the bench just behind you. Inside is a pulse-dispersion unit. Please install it on the forward deck. It should jam any radar or sonar.’
‘Uh …’ Franklin’s face is turning almost as blue as the streak in his hair, like he’s forgotten to breathe for the last several minutes. ‘Okay, sir.’
‘Now, Miss Dakkar –’
‘Alt-tech,’ I blurt out.
I feel like I’m emerging from a trance, or maybe going into one. At this point, I’m not sure I’d know the difference. I don’t even correct Hewett on the Miss Dakkar thing, which I find incredibly patronizing.
‘Your class,’ I say. ‘Theoretical Marine Science. All the bizarre, dangerous tech you talked about. It isn’t theoretical at all, is it?’
He gives me that sad expression again. ‘Oh, my dear, I am so sorry.’
This apology scares me worse than anything he could have said. And my dear? He’s only ever called me Prefect Dakkar （my correct title）， or Miss Dakkar （which I hate）， or sometimes hey, you if he’s feeling particularly perky.