“The fucking caterpillar I showed you,” said Isaac, “turned into something that did this to my friend. Ever seen anything like that?”

Yagharek shook his head slowly.

“So you see,” said Isaac heavily, “I’m afraid that until I sort out what in the name of Jabber’s arse I’ve let loose over the city, and until I’ve brought Lublamai back from wherever he is, I’m afraid that the problems of flight and crisis engines, exciting as they are, are on something of a low burn for me.”

“You will let slip my shame . . .” hissed Yagharek quickly. Isaac interrupted him.

“David knows about your so-called shame, Yag!” he shouted. “And don’t look at me like that, that’s how I work, this is my colleague, that’s how come I’ve made fucking progress in your case . . .”

David was looking sharply at Isaac.

“What?” he hissed. “Crisis engines . . . ?”

Isaac shook his head irritatedly, as if a mosquito was in his ear.

“Making headway in crisis physics, that’s all. Tell you later.”

David nodded slowly, accepting that now was not the time to discuss this, but his bulging eyes betrayed his amazement. That’s all? they said.

Yagharek seemed to be twitching with nervousness, with a great bulge of misery that washed up through him.

“I . . . I need your help . . .” he began.

“Yeah, as does Lublamai here,” shouted Isaac, “and I’m afraid that counts for a damn sight more . . .” Then he softened slowly. “I’m not dropping you, Yag. I’ve no intention of doing that. But the thing is, I can’t carry on just now.” Isaac thought for a moment. “If you want to get this done as quick as possible, you could help . . . Don’t just fucking disappear. Stay the fuck here and help us sort this out. That way, we can get back, sharpish, to your problem.”

David looked askance at Isaac. Now his eyes said, Do you know what you’re doing? Seeing that, Isaac blustered, and rallied.

“You can sleep here, you can eat here . . . David won’t care, he doesn’t even live here, I’m the only one that does. Then when we hear anything, we can . . . well, we can maybe think of some use for you. If you know what I mean. You can help, Yagharek. That’d be damn useful. The quicker this gets sorted, the quicker we’re back on your programme. Understand?”

Yagharek was subdued. It took some minutes before he would speak, and then all he would do was nod and briefly say that yes, he would stay at the warehouse. It was clear that all he could think of was the research into flight. Isaac was exasperated, but forgiving. The excision, the punishment that had befallen Yagharek, had settled on his soul like lead chains. He was selfish, utterly, but he had some reason.