‘You forget it was he who had Theo. If what you say is true, why would he return her to us? And, above all, why would he get them to attack while he was still standing there?’

‘Perhaps a part of the plan that went awry? Or perhaps he wasn’t as vital to the plan as he thought.’

Father shook his head. ‘No, Castor, suspicions do not make for proof. We shall hear no more on this unless some appears.’

‘But—’

‘I said, we shall hear no more on this!’ He didn’t raise his voice, but the note of warning in it was clear, and not only to Albert.

Castor subsided instantly. ‘Very well. However, there are still many questions. For instance, how does June come to be a part of this?’

June’s face was hard. ‘Do I understand you correctly, Castor?’ she said softly. ‘Do you now accuse me of being the traitor? After everything I’ve given—’

‘Nobody is accusing you of anything, June,’ said Father quickly, shooting a warning look at Castor. ‘We are all aware of the tremendous sacrifice—sacrifices you have made.’

June said nothing, although her expression remained stormy.

Ucho turned to Castor. ‘Are you high? Do you really believe you’ll achieve anything by accusing everyone in turn?’

Castor went red with annoyance, which would not have been anything out of the ordinary in a forum like this, where everyone seemed to be getting angry by turn, but due to the man’s hairless look, the effect was of being interrogated by an irate tomato.

‘You!’ he said, turning to Marcus, who was sitting there, staring into space, not even bothering to turn his head to follow the conversation all around him. ‘Why were you there?’

Marcus still didn’t look at him. ‘Because I wished to be,’ he said quietly.

‘You were not supposed to be there!’

Marcus turned to face him. ‘I go where I please. Do you object?’

‘Castor, Marcus had every right to be there,’ said Father. ‘And I would think it would be obvious to you that if he heard Theo was found, he would be there. And it is a good thing that he was, for the sake of everyone who is now here with us.’

‘That remains to be seen,’ murmured Castor.

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘The fact is, it’s not just about him showing up out of the blue. Is it, now?’ he said, turning to look at Marcus again.

‘One moment, Castor,’ said Father, sounding annoyed for the first time. ‘I don’t think you can keep accus—’

Marcus held up his hand. ‘I need no man to speak for me. Say what you will.’

‘Well, is it or isn’t it true that you led them into an attack?’

‘Yes. What of it?’