I rattled the bag. ‘Lighter than when we started. But we’ll manage.’

Paladin and I set off down the winding course of Neural Alley, trying not to walk any faster than the other customers. I felt shivery, my legs wobbling under me, and knew that the Limb Broker had been right when she said I ought to rest. But I had business to be about, and now I wanted to make it look as if that false arm had been a part of me for years. I tried to let it hang down naturally, swinging with each stride, squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin, as if I owned the place. Never seen a girl with no shoes on, have you? Get your lamps off me, cove, or I’ll put this fist where the photons don’t reach.

‘I must confess,’ Paladin said, ‘that I did not think you had the fortitude.’

‘It was what needed to be done. I’m sorry if it turned you all knotty, but I’ve got the spur in me now.’ Then I grinned back at him. ‘Chaff, Paladin, but I can hardly help myself sounding like one of them. Maybe it’s for the best. I’ve got to sound as if I’ve already crewed, haven’t I?’

‘You have.’

‘Just once, and it wasn’t exactly a righteous end to it all. I don’t know how well I’ll be able to bluff them if they start digging in with questions about other ships, other captains.’

‘One look at you, they might decide not to bother with questions.’

‘You think I look fierce?’

‘Unquestionably.’

‘Good.’ I smiled to myself, and tried to send a clench signal to my new fingers. ‘If this is what it takes, Paladin.’

‘I will say this,’ the robot answered. ‘In so far as a machine with my cognitive ceiling is capable of experiencing anything you might describe as admiration . . .’

‘Go on.’

‘Perhaps that state of mind is not too far from my present opinion of you. Your sister would have been proud.’

‘Will be proud, Paladin. Will be.’

‘I misspoke.’

Neural Alley was a hangover headache of warrens and short-cuts, but it was walled-in at its extremities and the only easy points of entry were the Dragon and Cat Gates, and we were nearly at the latter. From the Cat Gate – the most southerly and easterly end of the alley – it was only a short walk to Hadramaw Station. There’d been no sign of constables or Vidin Quindar, and I was starting to think that perhaps, just perhaps, we’d been quick and clever enough with the bracelet. But then Paladin and I rounded the last corner before the Cat Gate and there they were, the constables with their flashing blue epaulettes, maybe six of them, and Quindar bringing up the rear.

I started. My instinct was to turn back, to freeze, to dive into the sanctuary of a shop or boutique.