‘Magos,’ he said. ‘I apologise for the late hour. Marshal Macks told me where you were.’

‘She remembers then,’ said Drusher. That was something.

‘May I come in?’

‘Why not?’ replied Drusher, holding the door wide.

Voriet stepped inside. He looked with some alarm at the sea raptor. It had taken up a perch on the top of the dresser and clacked its beak at the interrogator.

‘Is that quite safe?’ asked Voriet.

‘Don’t mind him,’ said Drusher.

‘Are you… keeping it as a pet?’

‘Not really. It just won’t leave.’

‘Have you given it a name?’ Voriet asked.

‘No,’ Drusher lied.

Voriet cleared his throat.

‘Speaking of leaving,’ he said. ‘He’s gone.’

‘Who?’

‘You know very well,’ said Voriet. ‘Eisenhorn. He and Nayl and Medea. They’ve gone. Made shift. Left Gershom.’

‘And they’ve left you here?’

‘Yes,’ said Voriet.

‘Are you surprised?’ asked Drusher. ‘I mean, he knew. Eisenhorn knew all about you. He couldn’t trust you, could he?’

‘He could,’ said Voriet. ‘After all that. He should have known that he could. I’m disappointed. I thought… Anyway…’

‘Caffeine?’ asked Drusher.

‘Thank you, no,’ said Voriet. ‘I can’t stay. I’m leaving Gershom tomorrow. I’m going to the ordos, to make a full report.’

‘Are you?’

‘A full report,’ said Voriet. ‘I intend to… to… make the case for him. Insist that they revise their ruling. Reconsider his status. Perhaps offer him support and assistance with his undertaking.’

‘His war?’

‘Yes, that.’ Voriet looked awkward. ‘I want to help him,’ he said. ‘And I need to offer the ordos information to establish good faith. Do you know where he’s gone?’

‘Eisenhorn?’

‘Yes. Did he tell you where he was going?’

‘He’s off on his insane adventures,’ said Drusher. ‘Off to find the King in Yellow.’

‘I know that,’ said Voriet.

‘Then you know as much as I do, interrogator.’

‘He mentioned a place,’ said Voriet. ‘Queen Mab. The City of Dust. You mentioned it too.’

‘It could be anywhere,’ said Drusher. ‘Literally,’ he added, with a smile.

‘You don’t know where it is?’

‘I don’t,’ said Drusher. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t help you.’

‘Did he mention anywhere else? Any other names? Anything?’

‘No, I’m sorry, he didn’t. He’s a very closed person, Voriet. You know that. He doesn’t trust anyone. I was hardly his friend.’

Voriet nodded. ‘All right.’

‘You sure you won’t have some caffeine?’

‘No,’ said Voriet. ‘Thank you, magos. I’m sorry to have intruded.’

The lights faded away. The night highway was empty and quiet. Drusher closed the blinds and sat back down to his work. The raptor clacked its beak.

‘Shut up,’ said Drusher. ‘It wasn’t a big lie. I just decided something was… classified.’