Her eyelid twitched for a moment. If she never saw the right of anything, her visual cortex would make up the shortfall by extrapolation. My left side became the yardstick of both sides. To her, I must have been an intriguing sight. Charlie double-wonky Worthing. But on the plus side, at least my eyes would be on the same level – just low on my face, about the same level as my nose. To her, I must have had a forehead the size of Vermont.

‘What are you sniggering about, Worthing?’

‘Nothing – I just had an amusing thought about Vermont.’

She glared at me with her single eye: powerful, unblinking, straight into my soul. It reminded of being given the eye by Mother Fallopia at the Pool. Even the most badly behaved kids would have their egos reduced to something resembling guacamole by its power.

‘On reflection,’ I added quickly, ‘you’re right – serious downer.’

Aurora Toccata, the Chief Consul of Sector Twelve and also the head of HiberTech Security, was a Halfer. It was less popular these days owing to better recruitment levels and decreased mortality, but some committed Winterers had trained themselves to sleep hemispherically – one side of the brain at a time. It enabled them to be more fully on top of problems, use less pantry and essentially offer the Consular Service two workers for the price of one. Most Halfers exhibited mildly separate personalities, but they at least shared a consciousness and a memory. Unusually, uniquely, even – it seemed that Toccata and Aurora had no idea what the other was up to at all.

‘So, Wonky Worthing,’ said Toccata, ‘you are henceforth inducted into the Consulate Service here in Sector Twelve. Pledge your allegiance and accept the deputisation.’

‘Do I have a choice?’

‘None at all.’

‘Then I accept,’ I said.

‘Wise of you. Now we’ve established that I’m your Chief, fill me in on how you got to the Douzey.’

I repeated what I’d told Jonesy – that after Logan died I’d delivered Mrs Tiffen to The Notable Goodnight at HiberTech, and since Toccata wasn’t about I spoke to Fodder about viral dreams, then was stranded by a stationmaster. Aurora found me a room and suggested I get out on a Sno-Trac.

‘Next thing I know Jonesy is waking me up,’ I concluded.

I didn’t think I’d mention anything about the dreams, nor about talking to Aurora in the Wincarnis. It wasn’t a good start, lying to one’s boss. But I needed to be cautious.

‘Hugo Foulnap?’ she echoed. ‘Seen him since?’

‘No – but Aurora thinks he might not be a Footman at all, but somehow involved with the Campaign for Real Sleep.’

She gazed at me for a moment.