‘No, but this time I’d have known it. If I’d been affected in any way, the Magi ship would have told me.’

‘Except that your Magi ship isn’t around any more.’

‘Yes, but. . .’ She hesitated. ‘Look, I see where you’re going. But if I was compromised, Ted would know.’

‘All right.’ Corso moved away from the wall and came closer to her. ‘Can you think of a reason why anyone might want to kill Olivarri? Even Trader?’

‘Hell if I know,’ she replied. ‘Have you talked to Trader?’

‘I did. He says he knows nothing about it. But even if he’s lying, what can we do?’

Take his yacht away, for a start. Dakota wasn’t ready to tell Corso or anyone else just what Moss had given her at Derinkuyu. She had thought more than once of trying a gentle infiltration of the Shoal-member’s ship, but had held back for fear such an intrusion might be detected.

‘I can’t make any suggestions when it comes to the rest of the people on board,’ Dakota replied. ‘They tend to . . . keep their distance.’

‘They do?’

She shot him a look of annoyance. ‘Come on, Lucas, of course they do. I’m a machine-head and, worse, I’m the one they’ve all heard of, the one who gets blamed for just about everything that’s gone wrong in their lives since Nova Arctis, right? I mean, apart from me and Ted, who the hell else has some kind of implant?’

A strange look passed over Corso’s face, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

‘What?’ asked Dakota, peering at him.

‘Nothing,’ said Corso, a little too quickly. ‘Look, it’s true the rest of them can’t help but remember what happened at Port Gabriel every time they see you. But that just makes it all the more important to prove you’ve not been compromised in the same way again.’

‘And how do you propose to do that?’ she asked, tightening her lips into a thin, bloodless line.

‘Remember how I tracked down and destroyed the routines that Trader placed in your head back at Nova Arctis? Well, the med-bay should be up to the same job, and a deep scan on your implants would show if they’re clean or not.’

Dakota’s expression turned defiant, but Corso could detect the faint dampness at the corners of her eyes.

‘All right,’ she said, standing up. ‘If that’s what it takes. But you’re going to have to persuade Ted to do the same.’

‘I’ve already talked to him,’ said Corso, straightening up once again. ‘He’s going to meet us there.’ They found Ted Lamoureaux waiting at the entrance to the med-bay. He was looking distraught.

‘You’d better take a look inside,’ he said. ‘I’ve already alerted the bridge.’