There were circular attachment points on either side of the upper torso, and corresponding interfaces on the top parts of the arms. I brought the first of the arms into position, then watched as the little worms slid out of holes again, making good the connections. The arm tugged itself tight with a snap, then flexed sharply at the elbow, the claw-hand almost skimming my face.

I toppled back, aghast.

‘I am sorry. An unscheduled motor operation. All is well.’

‘It had better be.’

‘Please attach the other arm. I hear footsteps on the lower staircase.’

I repeated the operation, taking care this time to jerk out of reach as soon as the arm connected. But there was no reflex action this time.

Instead, Paladin lowered the arms, placed its claw-hands against the floor, and telescoped the arms until they were supporting its entire weight, lifting the flat base of the torso section clear of the ground.

‘Slide the lower part under me.’

I did as I was told. Paladin shuffled into position on his hands, then telescoped down until the two sections were in contact. I heard more mechanical sounds, clicks and buzzes and ratcheting noises.

‘What next? There are still lots of parts left over.’

‘I do not need them all for the moment. But I must have my wheels. I will raise myself to my fullest extent. You will attach the front and rear wheel units.’

‘Can you still hear those footsteps?’

‘On the second staircase. There is an asymmetry in the footfalls.’

I held the rear wheel assembly in my hand. ‘That’s Morcenx, all right. He’s got a limp even without that bag of his. Don’t you want me to take you apart and put you back in the cupboard?’

‘Not this time, Arafura. Position that wheel under me.’ Paladin adjusted himself. ‘Good. The interface is secure. Now my two front wheels. One at a time. Our visitor is now on the third staircase. It seems probable that this is the intended destination.’

I thought of the swipe of that arm, how close it had come to taking my face off. ‘Are you going to hurt him?’

‘Would you like me to?’

‘Yes . . .’ the word tripped out of me. ‘No. Not really. Stop him, yes. And he can’t call out and signal for help or make any noise that would bring Father.’

‘You ask a lot of an old soldier.’

I positioned the first of the two front wheels into approximate position. Paladin lowered. But instead of the connecting sounds I had heard before, there were only faltering buzzes.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘That is the left wheel. The interfaces are handed. Position the right wheel where you have the left one.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘You need not apologise. I suspect this is the first time for both of us.’

I swapped the wheels around. ‘Jusquerel would have known what to do.’