'And what will become of us all, General, when we step down onto Union soil? A tearful reunion with our masters in the Agriont? Some of us would soon be crying, I do not doubt. Or should we take the ships and sail to far-off Suljuk, do you suppose, to live long lives of ease and plenty?' Glokta slowly shook his head. 'It is a charming fantasy, but that's all it is. Our orders are to hold the city. There can be no surrender. No backing down. No sailing home.'

'No sailing home,' echoed Vissbruck sourly. 'Meanwhile the Gurkish press in closer every day, our losses mount, and the lowest beggar in the city can see that we cannot hold the land walls for much longer. My men are close to mutiny, and the mercenaries are considerably less dependable. What would you have me tell them? That the Closed Council's orders do not include retreat?'

'Tell them that reinforcements will be here any day.'

'I've been telling them that for weeks!'

'Then a few more days should make no difference.'

Vissbruck blinked. 'And might I ask when reinforcements will arrive?'

'Any.' Glokta narrowed his eyes. 'Day. Until then we hold.'

'But why?' Vissbruck's voice had gone high as a girl's. 'What for? The task is impossible! The waste! Why, damn it?'

Why. Always why. I grow bored of asking it. 'If you think I know the Arch Lector's mind you're an even bigger idiot than I supposed.' Glokta sucked slowly at his gums, thinking. 'You are right about one thing, however. The land walls may fall at any moment. We must prepare to withdraw into the Upper City.'

'But… if we abandon the Lower City we abandon the docks! There can be no supplies brought in! No reinforcements, even if they do arrive! What of your fine speech to me, Superior? The walls of the Upper City are too long and too weak? If the land walls fall the city is doomed? We must defeat them there or not at all, you told me! If the docks are lost… there can be no escape!' My dear, plump, pudding of a General, do you not see it? Escape has never been an option.

Glokta grinned, showing Vissbruck the empty holes in his teeth. 'If one plan fails, we must try another. The situation, as you have so cleverly pointed out, is desperate. Believe me, I would prefer it if the Emperor simply gave up and went home, but I hardly think we can count on that, do you? Send word to Cosca and Kahdia, all civilians should be moved out of the Lower City tonight. We may need to pull back at a moment's notice.' At least I won't have to limp so far to reach the front lines.