The stubborn life

The four of them were talking all at once and gesturing wildly in the basement of the palace: the professor of history and art, and the other three &ndash; not quite humans, one of whom was currently blaming another for a leak in a massive vintage water heater. &ldquo;Pip, you sure you&rsquo;re an engineer?&rdquo; The Captain lowered her thick-rimmed glasses to stare at the slim man in front of…