Cormac studied him speculatively before going on. ‘We’re still operating on the premise that what Dragon told us is true. I don’t like that, but those are my instructions. We’ll try the proton guns first. I don’t want to be responsible for levelling a heritage site just yet.’ He glanced at Cento and Aiden. ‘You two can fly them. Thorn and I will go pillion. If there’s any kind of attack, take us down into the forest on the other side.’

The two Golem mounted the sky-bikes. Cormac placed the two boxes in a pannier before mounting up behind Cento. As Cento lifted the bike into the sky behind Aiden and Thorn, Cormac wondered at the Golem’s lack of comment.

‘Do you have a problem with what I’m doing?’ he asked.

‘I have no problem. The mission is paramount and you cannot wait for an attack that may or may not come.’

‘Then it’s the broken Golem, isn’t it?’

Cento took a moment to reply. When he did reply his voice was flat and characterless.

‘If there is a hell for us, then that is where this Mr. Crane is.’

26

26

I have to state categorically that I believe in him. The Quince Guide (which I do not believe was compiled by humans; more likely it was compiled to mislead humans) has it that he is a mythical character comparable to Robin Hood or King Arthur. Let’s look at the legend. He is supposed to be immortal, and supposed to possess powers the like of which enabled him to survive the destruction of his home city of Hiroshima. He is supposed to have meddled with human destiny, and to still be meddling . . . Oh hell, I’m rambling. The plain truth of the matter is that I believe in him because of his name. For Chrissake, what myth-maker worth his salt would come up with such a ridiculous name for someone who is practically a demigod? Horace Blegg, I ask you . . .

From How It Is by Gordon

Jarvellis woke feeling sick, but not from pain or injury. It struck her as ironic that here she was, a starship captain without a ship, and suffering from space sickness. Her condition, she supposed, aggravated the sickness. But the main reason was that she was too soft these days. It had been, as far as she could recollect, nearly five solstan years since she had experienced weightlessness. What need was there to experience it when every ship and station had gravplates? What need was there to experience its antithesis, when AG could waft a ship into orbit? Even visiting heavy-G worlds was not a problem. She either stayed in the ship or in areas adjusted to Earth gravity. With such thoughts she occupied herself as she fought nausea, and wondered when the Outlinkers would be back to take her out of this damned frame.