The two men waited while Ty pulled himself back up on to the shelf. He dribbled blood and Bleys handed him a handkerchief. Ty took it, pressing it to his mouth until he was ready to continue.

‘Uchidanism is . . . is based on objective observation and statistical probability.’

‘What probabilities?’

‘That life, by its very nature, always seeks to preserve itself within a universe that has a finite span, and that the ultimate endpoint of technological development is the direct manipulation of the most fundamental laws that govern nature.’

Ty swallowed again. The words came easily, memorized long ago but still clear in his mind. ‘There are good reasons to believe we live not in the original universe but in a simulation, possibly one of many. Reality, at its most base level, is little more than an expression of various mathematical formulae; therefore, once you acknowledge these simple truths, the idea that our world could be anything other than created becomes ridiculous.’

‘I’m disappointed, Mr Whitecloud.’ Ty looked up at Kosac. ‘I don’t know much about Uchidanism, but I know something about personal faith. I believe we pay for what happens in this world in the next.’

Bleys had turned away slightly, reaching up to touch the side of his head. Ty noticed for the first time the man wore a comms bead in one earlobe.

Ty looked back at Kosac. ‘Why are you asking me these questions?’

‘Because I’m probably the last person you’ll ever speak to, and I wanted to know what kind of man does the things you’ve done.’

Ice gripped Ty’s heart. ‘I’m to be arraigned. Taken off the coreship to be tried.’

Kosac smiled sadly. ‘In a less imperfect world, perhaps.’

‘Sir?’ said Bleys, and Kosac turned to him. ‘We got a report that the Authority’s people are on their way here. I think we should hurry.’

The ice spread long frozen fingers deep into Ty’s bowels. ‘I’m too valuable for you to just shoot,’ he croaked.

‘No, Mr Whitecloud, you’re not going to have a chance to escape a second time.’

Ty stared backwards and forwards between the two men. ‘Escape?’

A moment later two armed and visored guards appeared at the cell door, and Ty knew the worst was yet to come.

The two guards entered the cell and dragged Ty out into the corridor, where one slammed a shock-stick into the back of one knee. He collapsed on to all fours. A second blow sent him sprawling on his belly.

A moment later his arms were twisted painfully behind his back, and he felt the plastic ties being clipped into place around his wrists. He was pulled upright a moment later and pushed towards a service elevator at the far end of the corridor. His legs gave way under him, but the guards dragged him along between them, regardless.