Bellis clucked her tongue, irritated with him, but said nothing.

"I’ll bring what you need," he said. "A letter in Salt and Ragamoll. Seals, advice, papers, and proof. Enough to convince the cactus traders to go north for us. And enough to let the New Crobuzon government know what’s happening. Enough to protect them."

The park shifted with the waves. The sculptures creaked as they corrected. Neither Bellis nor Silas spoke. For a while there was only the sound of water and birds.

They’ll know we’re alive,thought Bellis. At least, they’ll know he’s alive.

She stopped that thought, quickly. "We can get word to them," she said decisively.

"You’ll have to find a way," said Silas. "Do you realize what’s at stake here?"

Don’t treat me like a fucking imbecile, she thought furiously, but he caught her eye for a second and seemed quite unabashed.

"Do you realize," he repeated, "what you’ll have to do? There’ll be guards, Armadan guards. You’ll have to get past them. You’ll have to get past the anophelii, for Jabber’s sake. Can you do this?"

"I will make it happen," said Bellis coldly, and he nodded slowly. He started to speak again, and for the briefest moment seemed unsure of what to say. "I’ll not… have a chance to see you," he said slowly. "I’d better stay away."

"Of course," said Bellis. "We can’t risk anything now."

His face betrayed an unhappiness, something unfulfilled. Bellis pursed her lips.

"I’m sorry for that, and for…" he said. He shrugged and looked away from her. "When you return, and it’s all done, perhaps then we can…" His voice petered out.

Bellis felt a flicker of slight surprise at his sadness. She felt nothing. She was not even disappointed. They had sought and found something in each other, and they had business together (an absurdly understated formulation for their project), but that was all. She bore him no ill feelings. She even felt a residue of affection and gratitude to him, like a film of grease. But no more than that. She was surprised by his faltering tone, his regret and apology and hints of deeper feelings.

Bellis discovered, with unfolding interest, that she was not quite convinced by him. She did not believe his insinuations. She could not tell whether he believed them himself, but she knew, suddenly, that she did not.

She found that calming. She sat still, after he was gone, with her hands folded, her pale face immobile and lapped by the wind.

They came and told her that her language skills were requested, that she was to travel on a scientific expedition.