“…makes you think. A fall from any of those ledges and you’re offal splattered across »the outgoing tide?«. No recovery scheme, no re-sleeve policy, not even family death benefits. It’s a »rage?« that starts in your bones and …”

“…remember when you first realised that was the case?”

“…one of my father’s articles on colonial theory …”

“…playing »?????« on the streets of Danchi. We all did. I remember one time the »streetpolice?« tried to …”

“…reaction?”

“Family are like that—or at least my family were always »?????ing« in a slictopus »plague?« …”

“…even when you were young, right?”

“I wrote that stuff when I was barely out of my teens. Can’t believe they printed it. Can’t believe there were people who »paid good money for/devoted seriousness to?« so much »?????«‘

“But—”

“Is it?” A shrug. “Didn’t feel that way when I »looked back/reconsidered?« from the »blood on my hands?« basis in the »?????«.”

From time to time Brasil or I would rise and make fresh tea in the kitchen. The Black Brigade veterans barely noticed. They were locked on, lost in the wash and detail of a past made suddenly real again just across the table.

“…recall whose decision that was?”

“Obviously not—you guys didn’t have a »chain of command/respect?« worth a fucking …”

Sudden, explosive laughter around the table. But you could see the tear sheen on their eyes.

“…and it was getting too cold for a stealth campaign up there. Infrared would have shown us up like …”

“Yes, it was almost …”

“…Millsport

“…better to lie to them that we had a good chance? I don’t think so.”

“Would have been a hundred fucking kilometres before …”

“…and supplies.”

“…Odisej, as far as I remember. He would have run a »?????« standoff right up to the …”

“…about Alabardos?”

Long pause.

“It’s not clear, it feels »?????«. I remember something about a helicopter? We were going to the helicopter?”

She was trembling slightly. Not for the first time, they sheared away from the subject matter like ripwings from a rifleshot.

“…something about …”

“…essentially a reactive theory …”

“No, probably not. If I examined other »models?« …”

“But isn’t it axiomatic that »the struggle?« for control of »?????« would cause …”

“Is it? Who says that?”

“Well.” An embarrassed hesitation, glances exchanged. “You did. At least, you »argued?/admitted?« that …”

“That’s crabshit! I never said convulsive policy shift was the »key?« to a better …”

“But, Spaventa claims you advocated—”

“Spaventa? That fucking fraud. Is he still breathing?”

“…and your writings on demodynamics show …”

“Look, I’m not a fucking ideologue, alright. We were faced with »a bottleback in the surf?« and we had to …”

“So you’re saying »?????« isn’t the solution to »?????« and reducing »poverty/ignorance?« would mean …”

“Of course it would. I never claimed anything different. What happened to Spaventa, anyway?”

“Umm, well—he teaches at Millsport university these—”

“Does he? The little fuck.”