Finally, some part of that got through to her. She gave a grunt and shoved Trusko into the console. But at least she was fixing the Ghostie blade back onto her armour.

Trusko’s eyes met mine. ‘Thank you,’ he wheezed out.

‘You’re welcome. But keep this in mind. It could easily have been me pushing that blade into you, and Prozor trying to talk me out of it. Only difference is, I don’t think I’d have the sense to listen.’

From behind us, Drozna said: ‘That armour, whatever it is. I can’t even . . .’

‘It’s Ghostie stuff,’ Strambli told him. ‘They knew it was in the bauble. It’s the whole reason they had us go to the Fang. There’s more of it, too. More armour and weapons.’

Two more faces were in the door now. One belonged to Tindouf, the master of ions, and the other was the bandaged-up head of Surt. ‘We were stitched up, then,’ Surt said.

‘Properly stitched,’ Strambli said. ‘And you were a bother they had to get out of the way.’

‘I s’pose Gathing was another bother,’ Surt said.

‘You can mourn him later,’ I said. ‘If any of you care enough. I’m sorry we had to hurt you, Surt. Prozor and I needed to be in that bauble. None of you knew what was at stake, and we weren’t exactly in a position to go explaining ourselves.’

‘They called her in,’ Strambli said. ‘Bosa didn’t just stumble on us out here. They made it happen. Tell ’em, Captain.’

‘It’s the truth,’ Trusko said, easing away from the console with the caution of a man who might still lose his throat at any minute. ‘We were made into bait, and now she’s here. The fault’s mine and mine alone. I signed on Prozor and I signed on Fura, and my every instinct should have been screaming at me not to.’

‘But they weren’t, and now we’re here,’ Prozor said. ‘Which is why we need to talk particulars. The plan’s simple. Bosa likes to board the ships she takes. She’ll be boardin’ this one in two shakes, and we need to be ready for her when she comes. There are two more suits of Ghostie armour.’

‘There’s four of us who aren’t wearing suits,’ Drozna said.

‘I know,’ I said. ‘But we couldn’t all wear the armour, anyway. I’m sorry, Drozna. I think you’d be handy in a fight, but the armour just wouldn’t fit you.’

He gave a thoughtful look, nodded, accepting the blunt logic of his fate with a certain equanimity. ‘But you mentioned weapons.’

‘We’ll dole ’em out,’ Prozor said. ‘And we’ll need crossbows, too.’

‘They’re ready,’ the big man said.