‘What kind of trouble is that?’

‘Failure to obey legitimate commands, wrongful deployment of a helper, unlawful interactions with natives, treaty violations … Not to mention trespassing in a place forbidden to us. All this at a time when relations between natives and humans are at their most fragile. When so much is at stake.’

‘A native asked for my help. That came to the attention of Special Operations, and Mother. They gave me permission and authority to act as I saw fit. If you give me back the use of my link, the helper assigned to me will confirm everything.’

Kirder Halmasdaughter ignored that. ‘My job is to fix the damage you have caused. If you co-operate fully and frankly, I might be able to help you. Otherwise, you will have to make proper and full atonement for your trespass. Formally, in the native way, and then by standing before a board of enquiry. That would mean the end of your career, such as it is, and most likely spending the rest of your life working in the recycling pits.’

‘What would co-operating fully and frankly involve?’

‘Ending the investigation and returning to Ogres Grave. Reporting that the bailiff, Goodwill Saltmire, was in error. That the map purchased by Joyous Hightower was not the map discovered by Goodwill Saltmire’s uncle. We will supply a transcript of a tapcode interview with Joyous Hightower and a high-resolution image of the map he purchased, and you will include them in your report.’

‘Not an image of the actual map. An image of a fake.’

‘It’s a genuine map, but lacks the contentious image. You will submit your report, we will placate the native authorities and that will be the end of the affair.’

‘You want me to lie.’

‘In service of a greater truth.’

‘It isn’t much of a choice.’

‘It’s a good deal. The only one you’re going to get. You will be helping yourself, and you will be helping Mother, too. We can’t intervene directly, of course. None of us have that kind of power. But with your help we can prevent her from blundering into something that could have catastrophic consequences.’

‘You want me to lie to her. To work against her, not for her.’

‘Even if this was not a critical moment in our relationship with natives, meddling in the matter of the bears to satisfy one of Mother’s momentary whims would be ill-advised. Better to tell a small untruth, for the greater good. To protect Mother and her plans for a harmonious union between the natives and her children.’

‘What about Goodwill Saltmire? What will happen to him?’

Stupid pride stopped Ysbel asking the woman if the bailiff had been part of a plot to lure her into the Library’s stacks.