‘It won’t take me long to run a diagnostic and initiate another dish. In fact our transceiver will be back on line within the hour. It may take some time for the investigators to get here. For a ship blown in orbit with planar explosives, I should think we’ll get someone from Earth. Nerve-blocking, for any length of time, can become a very unpleasant experience. There is also the chance that it might damage the innocent life you carry.’

He had her to the door now, and then through it. To her right the little robot had appeared and was swinging along with her.

‘Are you sure about this?’ she heard Jeth saying, but she could not see Tull’s wife.

‘Oh, I’m sure. Laser burns through her suit, planar explosives . . . we know what that means,’ said Tull.

Jarvellis wondered what he would say if she told him how she had actually received the laser burn. Best not—he might keep her blocked for her own safety, and the safety of that ‘innocent life’, rather than for that of himself and his wife.

Soon Tull had her in the elevator and had pushed her to what would be the floor in the outer ring. Now she could see that Jeth was holding a bundle of clothing and a bag filled with blocky items. The Outlinker pressed these down beside her.

Tull said, ‘When you reach the outer ring, Sam will remove your blocker. After that all the elevators will be shut down. Now, there are service tubes you could find to get back here, but be aware that, should you try that, we will immediately leave the station, so you’ll achieve nothing.’

Jeth said, ‘Here’s food and clothing.’ She pointed to these items and turned away guiltily.

‘I wouldn’t have hurt you,’ said Jarvellis. ‘I’ve never hurt anyone.’

‘Yes,’ said Tull, stepping back with his wife, then closing the elevator door on her.

Jarvellis considered what she had just said. It was true: personally she had never inflicted injury on anyone. What concern was it of hers what people did with the weapons she smuggled? They were the criminals. She was just trying to make a decent profit. That was all right, wasn’t it?