‘Several. In this case, a slight twitch of the masseteric ligament on the left side. A micro-expression that indicates annoyance or aggravation. You wonder why I am reading and not working. You ask if the book is good, when what you want to ask is why it’s you who has to do the patrol sweep in the rain. The answer to your un-vocalised question is that I am researching. I am not reading for recreation. I am investigating Esic Fargul’s library, or at least those parts of it that have not been reduced to pulp by damp and insect activity.’

Garofar glanced around the library. It had to hold upwards of ten thousand books.

‘You… pick books at random?’

‘No, I am working methodically.’

Garofar couldn’t hide a laugh.

‘You’re reading them all? The entire library?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good luck with that, mam,’ he smiled. ‘I guess you’ll be here a few years after we’ve all gone.’

‘Why?’

‘Well, to read all the books… I mean…’

‘I have one hundred and seventeen more to go,’ she said.

‘You’re joking,’ he said.

‘I must be,’ she said with a flash of raised eyebrows.

‘You can’t have read… I mean… We’ve been here a couple of weeks.’

She put the book down.

‘You really don’t know what a savant is, do you, deputy?’

Garofar thought he did, but clearly he didn’t.

‘You could explain,’ he suggested.

‘Do you know what the Heuristic Amplification Disciplines of the Neo-Distaff Institute are?’ she asked.

‘I do not, mam.’

‘Then a direct explanation will be ineffective. Do you know what a sponge is?’

‘Yes,’ he replied tightly.

‘Then I am a sponge, and data is water.’

‘I see,’ he said.

‘Do you know what a metaphor is, deputy?’

‘I do, mam.’

‘And according to your masseteric ligament, you know what condescension is too. So I apologise for that. Now, let’s discuss your lateral cheek septum.’

‘My…?’

‘Your other tell, deputy,’ said Jaff. ‘A micro-twitch. When I mentioned the cold store, you lied. You didn’t check it.’

Garofar sighed.

‘No, mam. I… I know I should have. But it’s a waste of time. All those bodies. I mean, they’re not going anywhere…’

‘Can you say that with certainty, deputy?’ she asked.