‘I think the real reason was that, secretly, he truly believed that with time, he could find a way to correct what had happened. In fact, maybe that is why Robert refused all privileges and demanded the life of an ordinary citizen. I think he wanted the anonymity to work at saving the world, monumentally egotistic as that may sound as an objective. He was an extraordinary man, Robert, and a proud one too, unable to accept that there was anything he couldn’t do, and it was that combination that led to his undoing. He had no way of knowing, of course, that the City was far more than a relocation settlement.’

Father went on. ‘The second time I met Robert after the Epidemic broke out, when I called on him again, he was like a man possessed. “Somebody messed up somewhere,” he told me. “I tested it, and I know it was perfect, and I’m going to get to the bottom of this.” That’s all he would say, over and over again, and I couldn’t get another word out of him. But I could see in his eyes that he was obsessed, that this would consume him until he solved it or he died. He was quite the sight, walking around the room, ranting and raving about conspiracies. I almost feared for his sanity. I tried to talk to him, but then, quite suddenly, he asked me to leave and that was that. I didn’t see him again for weeks. By this time it was pretty clear that the Board had been right about one thing—the situation was unmanageable. There was chaos and rioting and worse all around. The first relocations had begun, and I too was making my own preparations, deciding where to strike out for, when Robert came to visit me one afternoon, breathless and as excited as I’d ever seen him, saying he had discovered—’

There was a sudden commotion at the silk partition. Father broke off, swinging around, and so did Albert and June, as Ucho burst into the room. With him was a bald young man, dressed in the same purple robes as the Praetor had been wearing yesterday. Both of them wore the same tense and worried look on their faces.

‘What is it, Ucho?’ said Father.

‘The Praetor needs you immediately, Father,’ said the other man, evidently a Collegium member.

Father looked at him, and rose to his feet. ‘Is something wrong? Is Damon all right?’

‘He’s fine, but you’d better come now,’ said Ucho urgently.

‘What is the problem, Ucho?’

‘Vail.’

Father looked at him, and a look of understanding flooded his face. ‘I see,’ he said quietly. ‘So Vail has finally shown his hand.’ He nodded. ‘Very well, let us go.’

He turned to Albert. ‘I’m sorry, Albert, but we will have to pick this up later. Come, June. I would like my adviser by my side now.’