"The Senate’s met," he continued, "after we’d questioned Fennec. It’s generally believed that Sack and you had no deliberate part in calling New Crobuzon here. Your story’s been accepted. You don’t need to show me your letter."

Bellis nodded and felt her heart beat quickly.

"You gave yourselves up," he said in a dead tone. "You told us what you know. I know you. I’ve watched you-both of you. I’ve watched you carefully."

She nodded again.

"So you’re believed. So that’s that. You’ll be allowed to go free, if you want." He paused then, for just a tiny second. And later Bellis remembered that pause, and could not forgive him. "You get to choose your sentence."

Bellis looked away and smoothed her letter and breathed deeply for a while, then looked back at him.

"Sentence?" she said. "You said you believed me…"

"I do," he said. "I was the main reason you were believed." He did not say this as if he expected gratitude. "Which is why your prospective sentences are as they are. Why you’re not dead, as Silas Fennec will be dead, once we get what we need from him.

"But you knew you’d not go unpunished. Since when did intent determine judgment? Whatever you thought, or convinced yourself you thought you were doing, you’re responsible for unleashing a war that killed thousands of my people." His voice hardened.

"You should consider yourself fortunate," he continued, "that we want to keep the details of all this quiet. If the citizens ever heard what you’d done, you’d definitely be dead. Secrecy allows us a degree of leniency. You should be glad I’ve testified as to your character. I fought hard to have you both freed." His beautiful voice was frightening her.

"Tell me," she heard herself ask, and Doul met her eyes as he answered.

"I’m here representing the Senate, to see Tanner Sack and Bellis Coldwine," he said clearly. "To sentence you both. Ten years, here, alone. Or time already served, plus lashes.

"It’s your choice."

Doul left soon after that, leaving Bellis very alone.

Fennec had betrayed her. There would be no pamphlets from Simon Fench. No one would listen to her. The city would not turn back.

Doul had not even asked to see her letter. He did not take it from her; he did not peer over her shoulder as she held it; he did not show any interest in it at all.

Don’t you understand what I’ve told you?Bellis thought. You know what revelations are in this. This isn’t any normal kind of communication, all personal secrets and details and nods and references meaningless to any but two people. This is unique-this is my clear communication; this is my own clear voice, everything I’ve done and seen here.

Don’t you want to read it, Doul?