‘Chase will adore you for this,’ he said. ‘This changes everything. With two successful subjects, we can keep the Loom operating full-time. No more shutdowns to let Sark rest.’

Gobleka nodded.

‘We’ll need to prepare a message,’ he said. ‘We’re going to need more staff here to manage the operation. Maybe Chase herself will come.’

‘You can tell her how you turned him,’ said Davinch.

‘Actually,’ said Gobleka. ‘I don’t think I had to turn him at all. Just give him a little push. I think this is where he was going all along. He just needed to tip over. That’s why there was no fight, no convulsions. He was basically already there.’

‘Gods below,’ said Davinch in awe. ‘To think… to think this man was ordo. That they used him and trusted him. Gave him authority. Damn, Goran, I thought their selection programme was rigorous and–’

‘I think that proves the King is winning,’ said Gobleka. ‘The warp’s everywhere, in everything. Even in the very heart of the Holy Inquisition, the very bastards who are supposed to be bulwarks of the fight against it. We’re close, Davinch. Months, maybe a year or two. So close. I knew the Rot-God’s kingdom was shaky, but it’s already disintegrating. It’s not even going to be a struggle to topple it. It’s rotten to the core. One touch from us and it’ll all come crashing down.’

He started to laugh again, but it trailed off. He frowned and sniffed the air.

‘Do you smell that?’

‘No,’ replied Davinch.

‘Smoke,’ said Gobleka. ‘Something’s on fire.’

‘I don’t smell it,’ said Davinch. He had gone back to cleaning and patching his face with the contents of the med kit.

‘Of course you don’t,’ snapped Gobleka, ‘your nose is mushed across your dumb face.’

He went to the top of the steps and looked over the rail.

‘I can see light down there. Way down.’ He glanced at Davinch. ‘Shit,’ he said. ‘I think the sump’s on fire. The sump well.’

Davinch lowered the crumpled, bloody dressing in his hand.

‘Are you serious?’ he asked.

‘Yes, I’m frigging serious!’

‘What do we do?’ asked Davinch.

‘Put it out. Fast.’

‘But how? We don’t have any–’

Gobleka looked up towards the main gantry.

‘Sark’ll have to do it. Trap it. Snuff it.’

‘He’s been running on full for a while,’ said Davinch anxiously. ‘What if he isn’t strong enough? I mean, what if he’s about to crash? He needs so long to recuperate–’

‘Help me with Eisenhorn,’ said Gobleka.

‘What?’

‘Just do it, Davinch!’ Gobleka fixed him with a savage look. ‘Do you want to tell the King how we let the Loom burn?’ he asked.

Davinch shook his head.

‘Then help me get this frigger up there,’ said Gobleka. He paused. ‘Wait… Show me his gun.’

‘What?’