‘I am,’ I said, and I made to close the newspaper before reopening it. ‘Is it all right if I read it again? They’re such beautiful words, I want to remember them for ever.’

‘If they help you,’ Father said.

‘They do,’ I said.

But I was not looking at the obituary column now. I had turned over the next set of pages, the business and trade notices for our little sphereworld. They were a familiar part of the paper and listed every development of note that might be of interest to someone in the higher echelons of Mazarile commercial life.

Including the coming and going of ships from Hadramaw and Incer docks.

14

14

The room was still dark, with only a greyish slant of predawn light pushing through the curtains. My skin still glowed. I was glad of that, for I made my own light as I moved to the cupboard, pulled out the boxes and started putting him back together.

Paladin was a long time returning to full cognition. He chattered away, and lights pulsed, but at least five minutes must have passed before a voice buzzed out of the torso.

‘Arafura. How long has it been?’

‘Just a day, Paladin. What kept you?’

‘I was consolidating deep logic pathways when you put my head back on. Have you found all the pieces of me?’

‘I don’t know.’ I beetled my brows in irritation. ‘How would you expect me to know?’

‘You seem agitated.’

‘Damn right I’m agitated. Prozor’s message. You remember Prozor, don’t you?’ I didn’t wait for an answer. ‘The ship she mentioned – the Queen Crimson. It’s already docked at Hadramaw. The only good thing is that it’s not at Incer, so at least I don’t have to go halfway around Mazarile to get there. But according to Father’s newspaper it docked with us on Sunderday and now it’s Forgeday, and for all I know they’re about ready to cast off and head out and Prozor will be wondering why I never bothered to answer her message . . .’

‘If you think Prozor is on Mazarile, why has she not come to the house?’

‘Did you understand even a quarter of that message, Paladin? She’s trying to behave as if she doesn’t know me. That way there’s a chance I can sign on to that ship without someone finding it suspicious.’

‘That is your objective, then. To sign on to this vessel.’

‘Yes, and you’re going to help me. You don’t have to do much. Just get me out of this house, and I’ll take care of the rest. They’re going to try and track me if I don’t get this bracelet off me. Can you help with that?’

‘I do not think so.’

‘I met a robot who could get through locks. Why can’t you?’