Derkhan could scarcely believe the naivety. So this was Ben’s contact. This stupid minor scientist piqued at having her project stolen. For that, she had given evidence of the government’s illicit deals, she had brought the wrath of the militia onto her own head.

“Barbile,” said Isaac again, much quieter and calmer this time. “What are they?”

Magesta Barbile looked up at him. She looked slightly unhinged.

“What are they?” she said dazedly. “The things that’ve escaped? The project? What are they?

“Slake-moths.”

Chapter 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Isaac nodded as if this revelation made sense. He prepared to ask her another question, but her eyes were no longer on him.

“I knew they’d escaped because of the dreams, you know?” she said. “I could tell they were out. I don’t know how they escaped. But it shows that their damn sell-off was a bad idea, doesn’t it?” Her voice was strained with desperate triumph. “That’s one in the eye for Vermishank.”

At the sound of the name, Isaac felt himself spasm. Of course, a part of his mind thought, calmly. Makes sense that he’d be in on this. Another part of him was screaming internally. The strands of his life were throttling him like some unforgiving net.

“What’s Vermishank got to do with this?” he said carefully. He saw Derkhan look at him sharply. She did not recognize the name, but she could tell that he did.

“He’s the boss,” said Barbile, surprised. “He’s the head of the project.”

“But he’s a bio-thaumaturge, not a zoologist, not a theorist . . . Why’s he in charge?”

“Bio-thaumaturgy’s his specialism, not his only area. He’s mainly an administrator. He’s in charge of all the biohazard stuff: Remaking, experimental weapons, hunter organisms, diseases . . .”

Vermishank was in charge of sciences at the University of New Crobuzon. It was a high-profile, prestigious position. It would be unthinkable to award such an honour to someone antagonistic to the government: that was obvious. But Isaac realized now that he had underestimated Vermishank’s involvement with the state. He was more than just a yes-man.

“Vermishank sold off the . . . slake-moths?” Isaac said. Barbile nodded. A wind had picked up outside, and the shutters were rattling and banging violently. Mr. X looked around at the noise. No one else took their attention from Barbile.