‘A soldier and more than a soldier. A friend and protector to people.’

I touched a wary finger to his casing, but felt nothing of the tingle I’d got from Peregrine.

‘You’re still broken inside.’

‘Yes. And I will never have the strength I once did. That was taken from me for good. But I can still be of assistance. You must complete what you have begun.’

‘It won’t do either of us any good. They’ll still take you apart, and you won’t be strong enough to stop them, any more than you were strong enough to stop Quindar.’

‘But I can still help you.’

‘With what, leaving?’

‘If that is what you wish. Tell me your plans.’

I smiled once, but it was the abbreviated smile of someone instantly sensing a trap. ‘I get it now. They put you in here to test me, didn’t they? To see if I was still trying to resist them. You’ll listen to what I have to say then report back to Father, and then he’ll seal off whatever loopholes are left.’

‘I was instructed to look after you, Arafura. That has always been my primary imperative.’

‘It didn’t stop you coming after us in Neural Alley!’

‘I was following too narrow an interpretation of that imperative. My cognitive bounds were limited, and I thought only of protecting you from immediate risk.’

‘What’s changed?’

‘I understand now that there are larger factors to be considered. The house speaks to me, as it has always done. Someone has been trying to call you from beyond Mazarile.’

An image flickered onto the wall, projected by Paladin. It was a monkey face, all angles and edges, not a curve or soft line anywhere in it. It was the kind of face you could cut yourself on just looking at it.

‘Prozor,’ I said, letting out a gasp of delight. ‘Prozor’s been calling?’

‘The caller has been leaving a recorded message, with the understanding it would be passed to you. The house has lodged a copy of this message, and I am at liberty to read and replay it. Would you like to hear the message?’

‘Yes. Yes, right away.’

The face began talking. The sound was coming from Paladin, but it was Prozor’s voice, all scratchy and thin as if coming through on a very faint squawk channel.

‘Fura, it’s me. I should’ve done more for you at Trevenza Reach, I know. But losing you was only the start of my woes. It’s knocked me sideways, this last couple of weeks. Might as well have torn up my retirement plans and thrown ’em into the Empty, all the good they did. But I guess you could say it’s all for the best, couldn’t you?’