‘More serious transgressions are dealt with by seignioral process. The procedures are set by whichever of their Lordships and Ladyships are sitting that day, so they are unpredictable. The penalties usually amount to the removal or denial of privileges and property, and the loss or partial loss of land. Some are sent for military service. Corvée is an alternative for those without land. Most serious transgressors are also reduced to basic serfdom, which is of course only what they deserve. It’s the most effective deterrent for others.’

She was unsmiling, watching how I reacted. In fact, I was still persisting in thinking that the theory of a crime-free society was not mine.

Crime everywhere is the same, the law everywhere is the same. Only details vary. My books were published in many different island groups around the world, each one of which had its own penal code. The crimes I described were recognized and understood everywhere, or at least I assumed they were because no one ever complained that they didn’t recognize the laws that my villains broke. How could they not? One human killing another is murder, whatever you call it.

But something she said was also sticking in my mind: reduction to serfdom as a punishment? That did interest me, coming from the woman who said she ran the police here. I thought about it for a while.

Then I said: ‘Do you have something against serfs?’

‘Nothing at all.’

‘You said reduction to serfdom was a punishment.’

‘It is.’

‘And you agree with it?’

‘It’s never my decision. Police have nothing to do with sentencing.’

‘But you just said you thought they had it coming,’ I said. ‘Vassals who transgress – they are downgraded to serf as a deterrent to others. So it’s essentially about class and privilege.’

‘Deep waters, Todd. Years ago, when I was young and still learning, I made a huge mistake. I’m not talking about police work now. It involved a couple of serfs – I thought I could trust them, and did so. They betrayed me. I’ve never forgotten that.’

‘And they did this because they were serfs?’

‘I couldn’t think of any other reason.’

I was confounded by her prejudice, so openly declared. She was the top cop on the island. Shouldn’t she factor out personal grudges?