‘I have an honorary doctorate,’ I said. ‘It was given to me by the Citizens’ University of Salay, awarded a few years ago. They like my books. But I never use it as an honorific, and in fact I’m surprised you even know about it.’

‘We have ways and means of checking out our speakers,’ Wendow said. ‘A citizens’ university, you say? How very fascinating. That would be a college for serfs, I take it? We don’t have a system of honorary degrees on this island, so we’re unused to the concept. Salay – you’ve had to come a long way.’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘It’s a lot warmer than this place.’

‘Of course, I was thinking about the university.’

‘Culturally, Salay is renowned—’

But Wendow had abruptly lost interest. He began typing on his cellphone, having slipped two detachable finger covers from one of his gloves. He was holding the phone in his other massively gloved hand so I couldn’t see what he was doing. He completed his message, then quickly slipped the finger covers back into place.

Soon afterwards the taxi arrived outside a large, concrete-built edifice, a rectangular block with small windows rising up in an orderly grid. The sign carrying the hotel name was partially obscured by grime, not snow. I noticed that Wendow was not readying himself to leave the taxi with me, and that the cab’s meter was still running.

‘I just need a few moments to dump my stuff. Will you wait for me here, with the cab?’

‘No, I can’t do that,’ he said, and I sensed his impatience with me. ‘I have to go straight to the conference hall. You should be with me. There are a couple of important guests I want to welcome, whom you should meet. However, we are now running a little late and I need to make certain our practical arrangements are in place. Because I’ve been on leave my assistants have been preparing the conference.’

‘Then how will I get across to the hall – and where exactly is it?’

‘I’ve sent texts to two of our History Society members asking them to collect you here, at the hotel,’ he said. ‘They will meet you in the lobby in a few minutes’ time. They know what to do and where to take you.’

‘All right,’ I said. He was staring at me, waiting for me to leave. I opened the taxi door to a massive inflow of freezing air. I struggled past him, having to pull my bag past his legs. ‘Should we exchange cellphone numbers, in case we need to make contact?’