Chapter 43

           ThetidewasoutatEmber,leavingawetexpanseofsandthatstretchedalmosttothelistingwreckoftheFreeTradeEnforcer.Therocksthatthecarrierhadgashedherselfonwereexposed,gatheredinshallowwateratthebowlikeafossilisedoutpouringoftheship’sguts.Seabirdswereperchedthere,screamingshrillyateachother.Athinwindcameinacrossthesandandmademinuteripplesinthepuddlesleftbyourfootprints.Uponthepromenade,AnchanaSalomao’sfacehadbeentakendown,intensifyingthebleakemptinessofthestreet.

           "Ithoughtyou’dhavegone,"saidIreneElliottbesideme.

           "It’sinthepipe.Harlan’sWorldaredraggingouttheneedlecastauthorisation.Theyreallydon’twantmeback."

           "Andnoonewantsyouhere."

           Ishrugged."It’snotanewsituationforme."

           Wewalkedoninsilenceforawhile.Itwasapeculiarfeeling,talkingtoIreneElliottinherownbody.InthedaysleadinguptotheHeadintheCloudsgig,I’dbecomeaccustomedtolookingdowntoherface,butthisbig-bonedblondesleevewasalmostastallasme,andtherewasanauraofgauntcompetenceaboutherthathadonlycomethroughfaintlyinhermannerismsintheotherbody.

           "I’vebeenofferedajob,"shesaidatlength."SecurityconsultingforMainlined.h.f.Youheardofthem?"

           Ishookmyhead.

           "QuitehighprofileontheEastCoast.Theymusthavetheirheadhuntersontheinquiryboardorsomething.SoonastheUNclearedme,theywereknockingonthedoor.Explodingoffer,fivegrandifIsignedthereandthen."

           "Yeah,standardpractice.Congratulations.