We began to walk out together. Mosala clearly had another appointment; it was now or never. I said, “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. I don’t know if it’s important, but…”

She seemed distracted, but she said, “Go on.”

“When I arrived, I was met at the airport by someone called Akili Kuwale.” She didn’t react to the name, so I continued. “Ve said ve was a ‘mainstream Anthrocosmologist’, and—”

Mosala groaned softly, closed her eyes, and stopped dead. Then she turned on me. “Let me make this absolutely clear . If you so much as mention the Anthrocosmologists in this documentary, I’ll—”

I broke in hurriedly, “I have no intention of doing that.”

She stared at me angrily, disbelieving.

I added, “Do you think they’d let me , even if I wanted to?”

She wasn’t mollified. “I never know what they might do. What did this person want from you, if it wasn’t coverage for their lunatic views?”

I said carefully, “Ve seemed to feel you might be in some kind of danger.” I contemplated raising the question of emigration to Stateless , but Mosala was already so close to flashpoint that I didn’t think it was worth the risk.

She said acidly, “Well, that’s the Anthrocosmologists for you, and their concern is very touching, but I’m not in any danger , am I?” She gestured at the empty auditorium, as if to point out the absence of lurking assassins. “So they can relax, and you can forget about them, and we can both get on with our jobs. Right?”

I nodded dumbly. She started to walk away; I caught up with her. I said, “Look, I didn’t seek these people out. I was approached straight off the plane by this mysterious person making cryptic remarks about your safety. I thought you had a right to hear about it; it’s as simple as that. I didn’t know ve was a member of your least favorite cult. And if the whole subject’s taboo … fine. I’ll never speak their name in your presence again.”

Mosala stopped, her expression softening. She said, “I apologize. I didn’t mean to chew your head off. But if you knew the kind of pernicious nonsense —” She broke off. “Never mind. You say the subject’s closed? You have no interest in them?” She smiled sweetly. “Then there’s nothing to argue about, is there?” She walked to the doorway, then turned and called back, “So – I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon? We can finally have a talk about some things that matter. I’m looking forward to that .”