Pelter stepped out from the same stand, but further up the beach. He waited until he was sure Stanton saw him, then stepped back in. Stanton followed him along a crushed-down path to a small open area where the plants had been ripped out and neatly stacked to one side. Probably Mr. Crane’s work—he was good at ripping.

‘Well?’ said Pelter.

Still clutching the package Stanton glanced at Mr. Crane, who was squatting with his back to a wall of papyrus. The android was studying a number of objects lying on the ground in front of him. There was a piece of green crystal that might have been emerald but was more likely beryl, a chainglass blade, an old egg-shaped data unit, a small toy dog made of rubber, and a pair of antique binoculars. Did this monster’s insanity have a name, Stanton wondered.

‘They’re checking every passenger going onto the shuttles, so there’s not much chance of getting through with our friend here. Anyway, I’m told the runcible facility is crawling,’ he said.

‘We knew that would happen,’ said Pelter. ‘My patience is not endless, John.’

Stanton decided not to point out that Pelter’s patience was practically non-existent.

‘It cost us five thousand, but I got confirmation. Cormac went to Minostra, where he was taken aboard a delta-class deep-spacer called Hubris. Hubris went on to Samarkand. My contact has information that the ship’s taking a stage-one runcible there, but he can’t confirm it.’

‘And the other?’ asked Pelter.

‘Quarter of a million for the three of us. We have to be at the spaceport first thing in the morning, and we have to get in there by ourselves. Jarvellis says that it’s then or never, as she’s leaving at first light. Apparently it’s getting just a bit too hot around the ports. Not only are the police searching for us, but they’re following up on Cormac’s report about proscribed weapons. ECS monitors down there have been asking pointed questions about why an insystem cargo transport needs underspace engines.’

‘Is that all?’

‘No, when we get to the Lyric the hold doors will be open. Inside she’ll provide supplies for insystem, and two cold coffins for when she takes us interstellar. That’s all we get. She wants no contact with us,’ Stanton said.

Pelter rubbed at his optic link and Stanton noted Mr. Crane’s head come up.

‘That bitch has made a lot of money from us over the years, and she won’t let us into the crew quarters!’ Pelter started at a whisper and finished on a shout.

Stanton gestured to Mr. Crane. ‘She knows about him. She brought him here,’ he said.

‘You told her?’ Pelter asked.

Stanton felt sweat breaking out on his forehead. Mr. Crane was putting away his toys.