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The voyages lasted no more than five minutes, for the bubbles started to dissolve, getting lighter and lighter. They broke the surface at roughly the same time and Anjoli and Israel were
waiting, ready to burst them.

The children and their teachers made for the shore and soon found firm ground under them. They walked up out of the lake, the water running from their hair and clothes. They stood together in
the warm morning sun, like explorers who’d found land. For a moment they were silenced by the beauty around them – the beauty of spring and the beauty of their school – and they
simply listened to the birdsong.

As usual I am grateful to Venetia Gosling for her sensitive editing, and to my agent Jane Turnbull for her constant support. I’d also like to thank Jane Tait for her keen
proofreading eye. I try never to forget the encouragement of my family, and I’d also like to thank Mike Hemsley, Lucy Greig, Paul Beamish, Rachel Beamish and Canon Bill Anderson. Two close
friends – Wes Williams and Ed Gaughan – are also in this book, in spirit, and I thank them for their wise counsel over the years. Finally I must thank the British School Manila’s
11AC – to whom the book is dedicated – for being the class I have most enjoyed teaching in fifteen happy years as a teacher. Amanda, Akila, Charu, Shaun, Mustafa, Kristen, Charles,
Kristoffer, Mykie, Philippe, Patricia, Regena, Nayantara, Chelsey, Veronica and Paolo: thank you for tolerating my mood-swings, and providing fine therapy.

Andy Mulligan was brought up in South London, and educated at Oxford University. He worked as a theatre director for ten years, before travels in Asia prompted him to re-train
as a teacher. He has taught English and drama in India, Brazil, the Philippines and the UK. He now divides his time between London and Manila.