I thanked her but said that I should be the one to do it.

*   *   *

I returned a half-hour later. Jonesy was already in the Sno-Trac listening to a weather report on the shortwave, and I opened the rear door and picked my way through the cabin to join her. A Sno-Trac would usually take eight people plus driver, but this one was configured for freight. It was practical but not fast and, most importantly, had an efficient heater and a modern H4S radar set.

But it wasn’t the TechSpecs of the Sno-Trac that were forefront in my mind.

I’d wrapped Birgitta’s left thumb in a pocket handkerchief and I laid it on the coaming. It had been probably the least pleasant moment of my life so far, and I could still feel myself shaking. But I had done what had to be done.

‘You all right, Wonky?’ asked Jonesy, sensing my agitation.

‘No, not really – and I’d be a whole lot happier if you didn’t call me Wonky.’

‘We’re way beyond that now.’

She indicated Birgitta’s thumb.

‘First one?’

I nodded.

‘The first is always the hardest, but believe me, the feelings of nausea will pass. Toccata’s returned and you’re driving.’

The ride to the Winter Consulate would have been simple, but Jonesy insisted we went around the one-way system, which took an extra fifteen minutes at the excruciatingly slow 55 dB sound limit. She pointed out the theatre as we rumbled past.

‘André Preview drops in two weeks from now and a week after that there’ll be something from the Wolfitt Players. Last season we had the Reduced Shakespeare Company doing “Highlights of the Mostly Complete History of Condensing Stuff (abridged)”.’

‘Any good?’

‘Quick – even for them. Listen, have you thought up any more good reminiscences for us to talk about?’

‘I  . . . haven’t really given it much thought.’

‘I’m working on a really good one about going to the Hotbox in Swindon like years ago and listening to the last performance of Holroyd Wilson. We kissed for the first time outside, but I was horribly drunk and then vomited on your feet.’

‘I still have those shoes,’ I said.

‘You kept them?’ said Jonesy. ‘You’re one sick sentimental puppy, Wonky.’

‘It wasn’t sentiment,’ I said, ‘it was economics. They were expensive. What does Toccata want to say to me?’

‘She’ll want to know about Logan, I imagine, then she needs to decide what to do with you. It’s possible you’ll join us. We’re short-handed as we lost two Deputies recently; one to an ice storm and the other to stupidity – it was my ex-partner, Cotton. Found Dead in Sleep.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

‘Tried to kip au Jeffries in an outhouse under skins and branches. Quite lovely but not too bright. We bundled once or twice, but only recreationally, of course.’