His tone was neutral and dangerous. His desk was cleared of paraphernalia. This disturbed me, and I cannot explain why. Usually he is surrounded by a bulwark of detritus. Without it there was no buffer between us.

"I will be meeting with representatives of the Salkrikaltor Commonwealth, and you will translate. You have worked with trade delegations-you know the formula. You will translateinto Salkrikaltor Cray for the representatives, and their translator will render their words into Ragamoll for me. You listen carefully to make sure of him, and he’ll be listening to you. That ensures honesty on both sides. But you arenot a participant. Do I make myself entirely clear?" He labored the point like a teacher. "You will not hear anything that passes between us. You’re a conduit, and nothing more. You hearnothing."

I met the bastard’s eye.

"Matters will be discussed of the highest security. On board a ship, Miss Coldwine, there are very few secrets. Mark me." He leaned toward me. "If you mention what is discussed to anyone-to my officers, your puking nun, or your close friend Dr. Tearfly-I will hear of it."

I am sure I do not need to tell you that I was shocked.

Thus far I have avoided confrontation with the captain, but his anger made him capricious. I will not appear weak to him. Months of bad feeling is a smaller price than to cower strategically whenever he comes close.

Besides which I was enraged.

I put frost in my voice.

"Captain, we discussed these matters when you offered me this post. My record and references are clear. It is beneath you to question me now." I was very grand. "I am not some press-ganged seventeen-year-old for you to intimidate, sir. I will do my job as contracted, and you will not impugn my professionalism."

I have no idea what had angered him, and I do not care. The gods can rot his bastard hide.

And now I sit here with the "puking nun"-although in fact she seems a little better, and has even simpered about taking a service on Shunday-and finish this letter. We are approaching Salkrikaltor, where I will have my chance to seal it and leave it, to be picked up by any New Crobuzon ship passing. It will reach you, this long farewell, only a few weeks late. Which is not so very bad. I hope it finds you well.

I hope that you miss me as I miss you. I do not know what I will do without this means to connect me with you. It will be a year or more before you hear from me again, before another ship steams or sails into the harbor at Nova Esperium, and think of me then! My hair long and braided with mud, no doubt, abjuring clothes, marked with sigils like some savage shaman! If I still remember how to write, I will write to you then, and tell you of my time, and ask what it is like in my city. And perhaps you will have written to me, and you will tell me that all is safe, and that I can come home.