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Do you realize how much danger we’re in because you bungled that attack! I want full details sent to me immediately.’

‘That will be done when the situation becomes clear,’ said the woman.

‘We should attack,’ said Armand. ‘An outright attack while they’re at they’re weakest. The Council are in turmoil. Walid and Leabie are hurt even if they’re not dead. It’s time I did something positive.’

The woman held up a hand. ‘The war must remain in the shadows for now, Duke Geoffrey Armand of Europe.’

226

‘When do I get a say in this?’ said Armand. ‘When do all the promises come true? I’ve helped you from day one – when is it my turn?’

‘You are the channel through which our plans flow, just as I am the channel through which the leadership speaks. When you are Emperor you will speak for us.’

‘When I’m the Emperor,’ said Armand.

‘Yes.’

‘And when will that be? How close is it, now?’

‘Very close. There will be further information and instructions soon. Return to your house. Wait for our messages.’

Armand sighed. ‘All right. You know what you’re doing. All right.’

He turned to go back. ‘Wait a minute,’ he said. ‘What about –’

But she’d gone. He looked around. Teleportation? Telepathic invisibility? ‘Ah, cruk it,’ he said.

He headed back for the house. The first thing he was going to do when he was the Emperor was get himself a new harem.

227

4

Europe

Kuleya had been watching them for half an hour. Either they hadn’t noticed her, or they were very, very good at not letting on they knew they were under surveillance. But then, a fourteen-year-old girl by herself, trying on hats, doesn’t look that strange or threatening. Which was, of course, the whole reason to give her the mission in the first place.

She’d picked up some bits and pieces from the two humans’

surface thoughts. The shopping trip was a deliberate attempt to attract attention. A desperate last bid, thought Kuleya. She hadn’t dared to probe further, in case she alerted them.

The three of them had gone to ground after the attack on Kibero. Some very serious searching had been done, but they’d been almost invisible for a month. Traces here and there suggested they were investigating the boss. Which was as it should be. But the fact they hadn’t taken any action suggested they weren’t getting very far with the search. Which was as it should be.

And then, one hour ago, Roz Forrester had used her newly created family credit account to buy a jacket.

Kuleya had started her search in the tailor’s, following the faint trace of memories through the crowds and shops, each brain softly being asked, Have you seen these people? It hadn’t taken long.

228

Now she had to decide between acting right away and waiting, making doubly sure they weren’t aware of her presence. Of course, the longer she waited, the greater the chance of discovery.

Decisions, decisions.

‘I’m keeping count, you know,’ said Chris.

The Doctor picked up a dark-brown fedora. ‘Hmm?’

‘And this is the twenty-seventh shop we’ve been in.’

The Doctor popped the hat on his head. ‘What do you think?’

‘It doesn’t go with what you’re wearing,’ Roz pointed out. She was sitting on a padded seat nearby, wearing a red and purple dress and a pair of sandals.

She was also wearing an enormous, wide-rimmed straw hat, festooned with bird-of-paradise feathers. The price tag hung down in front of her face. She flicked it away. ‘And since you never wear anything else, you’d better buy something that matches.’

The Doctor stood in front of a full-length mirror, fingering the crumpled material of his clothes. ‘I don’t always wear the same thing,’ he protested.

‘What, you’ve had that jacket cloned?’ said Roz.

‘It’s not the number of shops I mind,’ said Chris. ‘So much as the fact that neither of you ever buy anything.’

Roz waved a red and grey sleeve at him. ‘What about this jacket?’

‘I like this jacket,’ protested the Doctor.

Roz put a finger to her lips. Chris looked around. A shop robot was meandering up to them, rolling