‘If gravity is really just the curvature of four-space,’ Agata continued, ‘then light that passes close to this star will be bent less than it would be under Vittorio’s theory. I know that sounds strange, but in Lila’s theory the curved space around the star makes centrifugal force stronger than it would be in flat space, so it’s harder to bend the light’s trajectory. With no glare to hamper the observations, we could measure the apparent positions of home-cluster star trails as they approach the edge of this star’s disc, and see which predictions turn out to be correct.’

She summoned an illustration of the phenomenon onto her chest.

‘I’ve exaggerated the scale of the effect here,’ Agata admitted, ‘but it would certainly be measurable with a small telescope.’

Ramiro thought this sounded harmless enough. The last applicant who’d claimed to be drawn to the mission by the chance to carry out a scientific project had wanted to experiment with exotic methods of pulverising Esilio’s surface from orbit, in order to impose their own entropic arrow as firmly as possible. Listening to the woman’s wish-list of weapons that she hoped to load onto the Surveyor had been entertaining, but a theodolite or two would probably be easier to sell to the Council than a flying armoury.

Greta, though, was as suspicious as ever. ‘You’d be willing to give up twelve years of your life, just to observe this minor optical effect?’

‘I would,’ Agata replied. ‘The precise angle by which a beam of light is deflected by a star might not sound important, but until we know for sure whether matter and energy really do curve four-space, the answers that we’re struggling to find to much bigger questions – the geometry of the cosmos, the reasons for the entropy gradient – will just be guesswork.’ She paused, then added, ‘I also think the mission’s worthwhile for its own sake. If there are people who can’t live with the majority’s decisions on the Peerless any more, we should let them leave.’

‘I understand that you were close to one of the instrument builders?’ Greta pressed her. ‘To Medoro?’

‘Yes.’

‘So wouldn’t you rather see his killers punished?’

‘Did I miss the news where they were caught and tried?’ Agata replied sarcastically. ‘If it’s a choice between letting them migrate to Esilio and having them around to do the same thing again, I’d rather get rid of them.’

‘So you see this as protecting other travellers?’

‘Other travellers,’ Agata agreed, ‘and the messaging system itself. I debated Ramiro in the campaign – and I still believe every word I said about the benefits of the system.’

‘How old are you?’ Greta asked.

‘A dozen and ten.’