The room had been divided into an open-plan office, as they’d promised, with several desks, tables and sofas, just like she’d requested. She’d told them that she wasn’t doing this alone, and she had absolutely meant it. And there, beside the desk nearest the window, was her old chair. She sat down in it, leaned back, and felt it adjust in exactly the way that she needed.

She wished James Quentin were here. He’d have been a good partner, with his uncertainty and his conscience; he was such a natural scientist. She hadn’t known him for very long, but she missed him. Eva didn’t understand why the wrong people so often had to pay the price.

She’d spent yesterday afternoon with the director – or former director, as she was now – who had apparently decided that changes should be made.

‘You’ll need to talk about the care homes,’ she’d said, taking Eva’s arm as though she were an old friend. ‘I think they’re the biggest challenge we face, and no one knows what to do. We thought we could cope with the numbers, but we can’t. It’s increasing every year.’

Of course it was, Eva thought.

‘At first, it seemed such a good thing to offer the pouch as an alternative to abortion. A number of … well, interested parties, offered financial support.’

Eva raised her eyebrows, but made no comment.

‘But now … Basically, they’ve changed their mind. The money is gone and the homes need help, in the short term. In the longer term, we need a solution, and that means debate, legislation …’

‘You know it will open other debates,’ Eva said, with sharpness in her tone. ‘Sterilisation. Cryogenics …’

‘Yes.’ The former director was nodding.

‘Genetic modification.’

‘We have strong ethics laws in place—’

‘Genetic selection.’

‘Yes, absolutely,’ she’d said, smiling and leaning back in her chair. She was wearing casual clothes, a knitted jumper; she looked different to before. ‘I’m so glad it’s you taking over. Debate everything.’

And that was exactly what Eva intended to do. She was going to start with the care homes. And natural birth. The risks and the choice. The money. The inequality.