The rumble is so deep and strong that it rattles my bones, resonating until I feel like I'm deep within a motor.

"What's happening?" someone shouts from a little way off. I notice that the tent flaps are opening and some of the diggers' heads poke out.

"Get back in!" yells Guy, and he leaps from the log, swaying as the ground shakes underneath his feet. He stumbles over in the direction of the tents, but Bea manages to grasp the back of his shirt, and he sprawls onto the log next to her.

"Let me go," he mumbles.

"No," replies Bea, still gripping him lest he escapes. "You're not missing this for the world."

I grip the edge of the log, trying my hardest not to fall.

Slowly, second by second, the rumbling begins to subside until it's only a small, annoying constant buzz.

And then far away there's a faint splash.

I get up from the log. Mum makes a move to come with me but Bea shakes her head with a quick 'leave him'. I run down the path, squinting in the dark. I can't see the twinkling of the river but I can hear its trickling.

Grunting, I pull myself down onto the rocks. Because the lighting is so bad, I lose my footing at one point and land with a heap on the hard ground below.

"Careful there," says a voice behind me.

I gather myself, holding onto the rock for support. Soon a hand is on my arm, helping me up.

"Thanks," I mumble to the King.

His eyes seem to shine in this light. The moon is high in the sky and shimmers on the river, reflecting in his orbs that now appear a murky, dark brown. He's still wearing the same multi-coloured cloak as before, and it hangs to his feet collecting dust.

"You summoned me?" he asks.

Tentatively, I nod. "We have some... trouble."

He nods gravely, making the rubies dangling from his ears twinkle. He hitches his cloak around him before grasping one of the rocks and pulling himself up. As he climbs, I turn to find the water serene.

"Where's the trout?" I ask.

"Sheila?" he replies. "I tied her painter to a tree trunk further upstream."

A trout called Sheila.

Shaking my head, I grip the rock and climb up after him.

* * *

The climb isn't too hard. The moon shines our way and soon we're walking side-by-side, his cloak making a swishing sound with every step, his staff making a small 'thump' against the sand. I wonder why he needs it. He's not old and doesn't seem to have any trouble walking.

"What kind of trouble?" he asks, breaking the silence.

We're almost at the corner. A few more steps and I'll be able to see the flickering of the fire. "There's a man called Guy who won't give your diamond back."

The King's jaw tightens at that. "And he's your enemy?"

I glance at him, wondering how to answer the question. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

"Then he is mine too."

I can see the silhouettes of the others. A few more diggers must have wondered what the commotion was about so the logs are fuller. At the sound of our footsteps, all the heads turn our away, illuminating their faces.

We get closer. Bea's face turns into an expression of triumph when she sees us; Guy's one of scorn, and Mum's one of horror as her eyes trail down the coloured cloak.

The King stops and plants his feet into the ground, looking confident.

"I am the King of the Underworld," he says. "And you will call me Your Highness."

At this, Guy gives a snort.

"Your Highness?" he repeats and then lets out a peal of laughter. "Seriously, my night is getting worse and worse."

The King's eyes are like ice, freezing him in place. "You are Colloquial Man?"

Guy's eyes turn confused.

"You are Guy," the King says slowly. "You are standard man. Why should I listen to you?"

Guy grits his teeth. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Bea smiling.

"Excuse you!" he spits. "But that's my name!"

The King dismisses his outburst with a wave of his hand.

"I am here to conduct business," he begins. "I instructed the children to bring the diamond to me. Instead of summing only Sheila, they summoned me too. And there seems to be a problem, no?"

"No," growls Guy. "There's no—"

"¡Cállate!" snaps the King. "It's evident that the children have fought hard against you, but you will not relent. So I command you. Give the diamond to me."

Guy leans back, folding his arms. "No."

The King takes in a very deliberate breath. "You have stolen something from its rightful owner. Return it."

"You heard what he said," adds Mum. "I might not have believed their story at the beginning, but now I do. And I say return it."

"And I say you shut up, woman."

"Don't talk to Julian's Mum like that!" Bea shoots.

"Return the diamond," continues the King. "And your life will be spared."

"Oh, come on!" Guy replies, a sneer creeping into his voice. "What are you going to do about it? That diamond is worth millions and I'm not going to throw it away to some Spanish diva wearing Jacob's multi-coloured coat—"

"Joseph—" I begin.

"—so what are you going to do? Whack me with that stick?"

The King's grip on his staff tightens. "I have a trout waiting. She normally swallows people but she can become hungry from time to time."

Bea snorts, grinning.

"What?" Guy taunts. "Am I supposed to be scared?"

"She has teeth."

Bea now barks out a laugh.

The King leans forward, eyes seemingly ablaze. "This is your final chance, Standard Man. Give. The. Diamond. To. Me."

And this, my dear friends, is what Guy says:

"No."