She ushered them to the left, towards a set of stairs roughly hewn into the rock, leading up to the ledge above. As they went up the steps, they met Castor coming down, followed by a beefy young man of about nineteen or twenty who wore many pimples and, around them, an expression of pronounced dissatisfaction. He looked vaguely familiar. Albert strained his mind to think where he might have seen him before. Then he remembered. It was the soldier who had been standing outside the tent, the one who’d come to Ucho’s side when the mob had gathered.

‘Ah! Father! There you are!’ said Castor. His mood seemed to have improved since they had seen him last although, to be honest, smiling did a lot less for his face than, say, a pair of eyebrows would have.

‘Yes, Castor.’

‘I have just been to see Ucho. He invited me to his tent to—’

He broke off and swallowed, but it was too late—a loud, fruity burp burst forth, filling the air. Castor immediately put his hand over his mouth, looking more than a trifle embarrassed.

‘Pardon me. Ucho persuaded me to partake of a cup of rock-tea from his own personal stock while we discussed … ah … matters. Very fine brew, indeed, but I fear I allowed it to run cold while we talked. But, and this is what I wanted to tell you, Father, he has been as good as his word! He has given me this fine fellow for my protection. His own personal aide, too. Furthermore, I thought I should tell you that I am about to perform the task you entrusted me with. I am about to pay Vail a visit.’

‘Thank you, Castor,’ said Father.

‘I merely perform my bounden duty. But it will be impossible to get to him through the crowd later, so I thought it best to visit him at home now, before he speaks.’

‘When is he speaking?’ asked Albert suddenly. He had been growing more and more curious about this Vail, especially since that incident with the mob.

‘Tonight at the Arena, after the fights. It is where he always speaks. Speeches and other such matters used to happen at the Square. It is that large clearing you see at the centre of the valley. But Vail refused to speak there.’

‘Why?’

‘He said the meeting ground was a place for politicians, while the Arena was a place of the people. The Square is still the official meeting place—Father addresses the people from there, for instance—but these days, more seems to happen at the Arena. It is yet another sign.’

‘Yes, all right, Castor,’ said Father. ‘We shall not keep you.’

‘Oh, at all. There is time yet. I shall accompany you as well.’

‘We are just going round the corner, to Theo’s tent. Which reminds me, we will need another couple to be set up. June and Albert will need accommodation as well.’