‘Sorry about this, Ulver,’ the machine said. Its voice sounded flat in the narrow cylinder. Ulver closed her mouth and prodded the field the drone had slung around them. It was like touching warm stone. ‘Ulver,’ the drone said again, taking one of her hands in a maniple field, ‘I apologise; I ought to have made the point earlier. I just assumed . . . Well, never mind. I’m supposed to come with you to Tier, but not anybody else. Your friends have to stay here.’

‘But Peis and I always go deep space together! And Klatsli is my new protégé; I promised her she could stick around me; I can’t just abandon her! Do you have any idea what that could do to her development? To her social life? People might think I’ve dumped her. Besides, she’s got an utterly exquisite older brother. If I--’

‘You can’t take them,’ the drone said loudly. ‘They’re not included in the invitation.’

‘I heard what you said yesterday, you know,’ Ulver said, shaking her head and leaning forward at the drone. ‘“Keep it secret”; I haven’t told them where we’re going.’

‘That’s not the point. When I said don’t tell a soul I meant don’t tell a soul you’re going, not don’t tell a soul exactly where you’re going.’

She laughed, throwing her head back. ‘Churt; real space here! My diary is a public document, hadn’t you noticed? There are at least three channels devoted to me - all run by rather desperate young men, admittedly, but nevertheless. I can’t change my eye colour without anybody on the Rock who follows fashion knowing about it within the hour. I can’t just disappear! Are you mad?’

‘And I don’t think the animals can come either,’ Churt Lyne said smoothly, ignoring her question. ‘The protira certainly can’t. There isn’t room on the ship.’

‘Isn’t room?’ she roared. ‘What size is this thing? Are you sure it’s safe?’

‘Warships don’t have stables, Ulver.’

‘It’s an ex-warship!’ she exclaimed, waving her arms around. ‘Ow!’ She sucked at the knuckle she’d hit against the field cylinder.

‘Sorry. But still.’

‘What about my clothes?’

‘A cabin full of clothes is perfectly all right, though I don’t know for whose benefit you’re going to be wearing them.’

‘What about when I get to Tier?’ she cried. ‘What about this guy I’m not supposed to fuck? Am I supposed to just wander past him naked?’

‘Take two roomsful; three. Clothes are not a problem, and you can pick up more when you get there - no, wait a minute, I know how long it takes you to choose new clothes; just take what you want. Four cabins; there.’

‘But my friends!’

‘Tell you what; I’ll show you the space you’ve got to work with. Okay?’