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‘How much further?’ Kai murmured out of the side of his mouth Even in the charmless National Guard uniform – heavy black wool coat and trousers, and tricolour sash – her assistant lealow of pure health and physicality When walking, he paced like an aristocrat, or a predator, rather than trudging like an ordinarya nine-to-five job There was very little they could do to disguise that, though Smears of uising hi would have been too risky

‘Next street,’ Irene muttered back Next to Kai she was coret, and so she wasunnoticed Her own plain brown hair and regular features took actual work to , or really any more attractive than ‘neat and tidy’ But since o unnoticed, that was a benefit in her line of work

Fortunately women served in the National Guard, and she hadn’t needed to bind her breasts, or anything like that, to blend in The European Republic that had spread from the French Revolution in this alternate world was oppressive, vicious, hard-line and highly dangerous, but it did at least let woet themselves killed in the armed forces Probably because they needed thewars, but that was another problem

They turned the next corner, and Irene flicked a glance towards the raddled old building that was their target It was barely in one piece: decaying brick was seamed with ivy and cracks, the shutters were locked shut in place and covered with graffiti, and the roof was h they had a perfect right to be there Kai banged on the door, waited for a response, then kicked it open The two of them stomped inside

Kai peered into the darkness Shafts of light filtered round the edges of the shutters, enough to let the’s interior The staircase that led up to the first and second floors looked just barely passable, but all the furniture was gone, and the walls were covered with revolutionary doght once have been a library, but noas a decrepit barn of a building, which would probably have been turned down by passing cows as too uncomfortable

‘I don’t understand how there still can be a link to the Library from this place,’ Kai said

‘Nor do we But if it takes us back to base, that’s good enough for ht coh the doorway, the place was even darker ‘Sometimes it can take years for a world’s entrance to the Library to shift Sometimes it can take centuries But with all the local libraries and bookshops shut down or under aruard, this is our best bet’ GUE

Frorine Vale, 221b Baker Street

To: Inspector Singh, New Scotland Yard

Singh,

For the love of God, can’t you give nant pool, and its cri These last feeeks have drivenseems worth my time or attention Even my research seems a waste of effort I must have a decent case to occupy me, or else I believe the machine that is my brain will spin out of control

In answer to your queries about Rotherha works, I would have thought it clear that the two are connected

It should be obvious that the victim was decoyed down to the new ultrafiltrationworks and h the systeive credence to the claim that he was drowned in the Serpentine in Hyde Park, where his body was found Check the financial holdings of Rotherham’s niece, and her private library – I believe you’ll find evidence of her scientific studies there The alibi that the niece’s husband gave her is also very dubious, and he will probably break under pressure

Winters and Strongrock are out of London at the moment, on a rock has confided toher post in order to rescue hiht not have condoned her methods, but she achieved the results they wanted anyhow But I dare say it could have been worse

Give h It will keep ht and reason are the best medicine for my current inertia, and will keep me from worse alternatives