However, there was a final choice. This was to disperse and depart from Nelquay to any of the score or so of other islands in the close vicinity. From there they should quickly move on to the many other islands, in every direction, losing themselves in the hundreds of thousands of islands and island groups spread across the Midway Sea. They should travel alone or, at most, in pairs. The black caps routinely patrolled on many islands. Nowhere was completely free of them, but there was safety in small numbers and a willingness to keep travelling. Observing that all the survivors from the ship were young, the seigniory official pointed out that the logical overall direction of travel might seem to be homewards, to the north. She knew the urge to return home was strong, but she spelled out the risks of re-arrest should they make it back. She reminded them of the islands’ liberal shelterate laws that gave powerful if not complete protection from the escouades.

Finally, she said that the seigniory would give a useful sum of travel money to anyone wishing to move from Nelquay, and would provide advice about local ferry services departing in the next couple of days. Extra ships could be put into service if needed.

Spoder said he took the third choice. He travelled alone, but about fifty others were with him on the first of the ferries. Soon after that the opportunities of the sheer number of other islands made sure that the concentration was quickly dispersed. He transferred from one island to another, almost at random, usually changing ferries as soon as he arrived in another port. Within ten days he had landed on the island of Quy, smaller than Nelquay and with a warmer climate. Here at last he rested. But only for a while.

Spoder told me that over the next five years he discovered how to survive as a fugitive. He changed islands constantly, never remaining in any one place for more than a few weeks, however safe or attractive it seemed. He found jobs in most of his ports of call, begged in the streets in some others. He matured, learnt skills, made brief friendships. He was constantly alert for the arrival or presence of the black caps, terrified of what would happen to him if he was apprehended. He soon realized that most of the ordinary islanders shared his hatred of the squads of military police, and it was the local people who would tip him off if they heard of black cap activity close by. He had one close encounter with an escouade on the island of Demmer, but he successfully eluded them and did not see any others. He never lost his fear of them.

On Manlayl, the only island on his long itinerary where the benign climate and the way of life tempted him to settle permanently, Spoder met and was befriended by a former fugitive, called Thuneton.