Fanwell was non-committal. “They can give a lot of trouble, those cars,” he muttered. “Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni says—”

He did not finish. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni took a poor view of cars in which styling played a more important role than mechanical reliability, but Fanwell did not have the chance to relate these views before Chobie interrupted him. “Mr. J.L.B. Rubbish. Of course he doesn’t like cars like these. These cars are for successful people, not for people called J.L.B. Rubbish. Come on, let’s get going.”

Chobie had rigged up a lamp on the end of a long extension cord. This was plugged into the lean- to building at one side of the yard. Fanwell could not help but notice than from this structure there ran another wire, which snaked back to disappear over the wall. Such electricity as the site had, he realised, was drawn from elsewhere—stolen power. Chobie saw him looking at this. “You’ve got a problem with that, Fanwell? Him over the wall—he’s got much more power than he needs. I’m just taking a little bit—just this much.” He made a gesture with two barely separated fingers—a gesture that signified inconsequential smallness.

“Where did you get this car?” asked Fanwell, as they approached it across the yard.

Chobie was ready with an answer. “I bought it from a man. Paid good money.”

“Where did he get it?”

Chobie shrugged. “How do I know? Do you think you have to know every car’s mother? Do you think you have to know its father? Cars are cars, man. They come, they go. You can’t ask them all the details.”

Fanwell faltered, but only for a moment. He had his suspicions about Chobie, but he did not see what further enquiry he should be expected to make. It might be that Chobie had obtained the car in an underhand way, but it might equally be that he had come by it quite legitimately. Was it his business to find out? No, he thought; not on balance, and he would ask Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni the next day, to see what he said. If he told him that it was wrong to fix cars when there was a doubt about their past, then he would refuse to help Chobie. If, however, he considered it to be all right, then he would help him. After all, the extra money would be useful.