They’d awoken her that morning without explanation, it turned out, at just about the same time that Erkrnwald had also roused Saul from a sleepless night. He wondered how Gwen was taking it. He kept trying to picture how she must look now: she’d be sixteen, very nearly a full-grown woman. But, when he tried to picture her as an adult, he kept getting her mixed up with his last memories of Deanna. In his mind she was still the same little girl he remembered from ten years before, frozen in time like a snapshot, barely much more than a baby back then.

Kayes led them up a series of ladders to a walkway lined by doors with rusting latches, the air thick with the odour of burning petroleum. Kayes stopped at one of the doors and began to push it open.

‘No,’ said Erkrnwald, stepping up next to Kayes. ‘I should speak to the girl’s foster parents first. If you don’t mind, Mr Kayes, we won’t be needing you any longer.’

‘That’s all right,’ said Kayes, flashing Erkrnwald a tight smile. ‘I was looking forward to a chance to chat with our famous friend here. It’ll pass the time while you talk to them.’ Saul didn’t miss the emphasis in Kaye’s tone.

Something glinted in the political officer’s expression. ‘I’m sure Mr Dumont would rather gather his thoughts, given the circumstances. And I’m sure you have other duties to attend to.’

‘Do you mind us talking, Saul?’ asked Kayes, eyeing him with an innocent expression.

Saul tried not to smile at the look on Erkrnwald’s face. ‘I’d be happy to, Mr Kayes.’

‘Jackson, please,’ Kayes replied.

‘Jackson.’ Saul nodded.

Erkrnwald’s face turned red with impotent fury and, for a second, Saul thought he might have pushed the man too far. But, after a moment, Erkrnwald pushed on past the door without a further word, letting it shut loudly behind him.

‘Not tired yet of him trailing after you everywhere you go?’ asked Kayes.

Saul let out a sigh. ‘He spends half his time telling me who I can and can’t talk to. It gets old fast.’

‘That’s the Revolutionary Council for you. They’re turning out worse than the people they replaced. You know he’s scared that your daughter or her foster parents will try and brainwash you into joining us out here, right?’

‘Seriously?’ Saul laughed out loud, though shivering in the cold air. ‘Brainwash me how?’

A grin spread over Jackson’s face. ‘By offering you the chance to get away from people like Erkrnwald. See, he’s talking to the wrong people. I’m the one who’s going to try and brainwash you.’