The black-market gear hurt the economy badly, undermining indigenous industries, turning more people to the spivs. A nasty downward spiral, picking up speed.

Evans had changed for the worse in the intervening two years since the coronation. The flesh sagged on his face, becoming pasty-white, highlighting dark panda circles around his eyes. His hair had nearly gone; the few wisps remaining were a pale silver. And not even the baggy sleeves of his silk dressing-gown could disguise how disturbingly thin his arms were.

He was sitting at the head of a long oak table. Two holo cubes flanked him, multi-coloured reflections from their swirling graphics rippling like S-bend rainbows off the highly polished wood.

Greg sniffed the cool dry air; there was a tart smell in the study, peppery. Philip Evans was badly ill.

The ageing billionaire dismissed his butler with an impatient flick of his hand. "Come in, Mandel. Can't see you properly from here, boy, my bastard eyes are going along with the rest of me."

There was another man in the study, standing staring out of the window, hands clasped behind his back. He didn't look round.

Walking down the length of the table Greg saw that Evans was only whole above the waist. His legs and hips had been swallowed by the seamless cylindrical base of a pearl-white powerchair, torso fusing into an elastic chrome collar. It was a mobile life-support unit, analogue bioware organs sustaining the faltering body. But the mind was still fully active, burning hot and bright.

Greg shook his hand. It was like holding a glove filled with hot water.

"What do they call you, boy? Greg, isn't it?" The accent was pure Lincolnshire, blunt, as much an attitude as a speech pattern.

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I'm Philip, Greg. Now sit down, it ricks my neck craning up at you."

Greg sat, one chair down from Evans.

"This is my security chief, Morgan Walshaw."

The man turned, looking at Greg. He was in his late fifties, with close-cropped grey hair; wearing a blue office suit, plain fuchsia tie. Shoulders squared. Definitely ex-military. The recognition was instantaneous. A mirror.

Eyeing each other up like prize fighters, Greg thought. Stupid.

"Mr Walshaw doesn't approve of my asking you here," Evans explained.

"I don't disapprove," Walshaw said quickly. "I just consider this an internal affair; sorry, nothing personal."

Greg looked to Evans, politeness software loaded and running. Showing respect. "May I ask why you chose me in particular for a job? Random selection is, frankly, unbelievable."

"Haven't decided whether you are going to do a job for me, yet, boy. You'll have to prove you're what I'm looking for first. I believe you cleared up a problem for Simon White last year? Delicate, a real ball-crusher. That right?"

"I know Mr. White, yes."

"All right, don't go all starchy on me. I do business with Simon, he recommended you. Said you only work for the top man, keep your mouth shut afterwards. Right?"