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They cauards identified therounds were empty, silent The Ceda paused and stared up at the hazy stars overhead

Brys said nothing He waited, standing at the old ht sky reflected in the twin lenses in front of Kuru Qan’s eyes Wondering what the Ceda was thinking

Tehol Beddict sh the croards hiain’

‘No you’re not,’ she replied ‘You’re just trying to put ht et suspicious, that’s why You’re not fooling me, with those absurd trousers and that idiotic insect on your shoulder’

Tehol looked down in surprise ‘Ezgara! I thought I left you on the roof’

‘You’ve na Oh, ht see the resemblance, but as it stands, that’s a stupid name’

‘The three of us are deeply offended, as is uard here and, one must assume, his two brothers wherever they are Thus, the six of us Deeply offended’

‘Where is Bugg?’

‘Somewhere in that crowd behind you, I suppose’

‘Well, no They’re all looking’

‘Oh, he was there a er, and the people are cla’

‘No they aren’t, Rucket They’re, no doubt, that contrariness is sexually attractive Maybe for soer But I take exception to your taking exception to everything I say’

‘Noho’s being contrary?’

She scowled ‘I was intending to invite you to a late night bite There is a courtyard restaurant not far from here-’

‘The Trampled Peacock’

‘Why, yes I a to me, for obvious reasons, that clandestine trysts are co a certain cheapness and slatternly behaviour on your part I don’t knohy I am surprised that you’re so loose, actually I should have expected it Accordingly, I want nothing to do with you’

‘I’ve never been there’

‘You haven’t? Then how do you know of it?’