‘Then there’s the timing. Right after we’d stumbled across cell-draining by the Yezan cartel.’

‘That’s not on our list of business activities.’

‘You have a list?’

‘That’s not on it. I very much disapprove of it.’

Zidarov felt like stepping in. He’d seen the machines. He’d seen the Second Circle there. He kept quiet.

‘Everyone I speak to seems to disapprove of it,’ Vongella said. ‘Yet somehow it still keeps popping up.’

‘This isn’t about the Yezan cell, though, is it?’

‘Isn’t it? That’s what prompted all this.’

‘I’ll say it again, section commander, just so we’re clear – we didn’t take out your probator.’

‘It was on your patch.’

‘Bad things happen, from time to time. We can’t prevent them all.’

‘Tell that to those you extort protection from.’

Yuti grinned. ‘Nice. But it’s all true – we didn’t do it.’

Vongella stole a glance at Zidarov. For his part, he kept up the observation. He guessed that Yuti could lie like another man took a shower. His whole life was a confidence trick, a system of deceptions built around a code that had no origin in any law book and which could be dismantled whenever he had the need for it. And yet, there was nothing there – not the ghost of a falsehood. He looked like he believed it.

‘And you control all your Circles?’ Vongella pressed, sceptically. ‘If one of them had done this–’

‘If one of my Circles had killed a probator,’ Yuti said, ominously, ‘without my express order, and without some very good reason, I would have their head with me now, ready to hand over to you. I have spoken to every one of the First Circle, and they tell me no rogue agent was responsible.’ He seemed to grow weary of the protestations of innocence. ‘Now, I will not say it again. You can choose to believe what you want. You have set your dogs on us, full of righteous indignation, and we have held ourselves back, believing it all to be some kind of honest mistake that can get sorted out. But I do not come here with a begging bowl, Castellan. If this does not cease, now, we shall be forced to defend ourselves. You can have your war if you want it.’

That got Vongella’s back up. She uncrossed her arms, looking like she might go for him. The Vidora stayed tight.

‘Don’t be stupid, Yuti,’ she said, coldly. ‘I’d see you all hanging from the comms-masts first. And don’t tempt me – we know what you were doing in the grade-eights. I could have launched all this just for that, and I’d have been within my rights.’ She shook her head irritably. ‘You’ll need to tell me who went after my people.’