But I wasn't here to offer a cultural critique.
'Notice anything?' I asked Betancore.
He made a casual gesture around the landing platform. They don't get many visitors in this season. Trade's all but dead, the world's on tick-over/
"Which is why Eyclone thought it vulnerable.'
"Yes. Most of the ships here are local, trans-atmospheric. Some are for the custodians' use, the others are simply berthed-up over Dormant. I make three non-locals, aside from us. Two trader launches and a private cutter/
'Ask around. See if you can find out who they belong to and what their business is/
'Sure thing/
'Eyclone's pinnace, the one you shot down. Did it come from here?'
He took a suck on his narc-tube and shook his head. 'Either came from orbit, or up from some private location. Lowink picked up its transmissions to Eyclone/
Til ask to see those. But it could have come from orbit? Eyclone may have a starship up there?'
'Don't worry, I already thought to look. If there was one there, it's gone, and it made no signals/
'I'd like to know how that bastard got here, and how he was intending to leave again/
Til find that out/ said Betancore, crashing the tube stub under his heel. He meant it
What about Vibben?' he asked.
'Do you know what her wishes were? She never mentioned anything to me. Did she want her remains sent back to Tornish for burial?'
"You'd do that?'
'If that was what she wanted. Is it?'
'I don't know, Eisenhorn. She never told me either/
Take a look through her effects, see if she left any testament or instructions. Can you do that?'
'I'd like to do that/ he said.
I was tired by then. I spent another hour with Aemos in his cramped, data-slate-filled room, preparing a report for Carpel. I set out the basic details, reserving anything I felt he didn't need to know. I accounted for my actions. I made Aemos check them against local law, to prepare myself in case Carpel raised a prosecution. I wasn't unduly worried about him, and
in truth I was bulletproof against local legislation, but I wanted to check anyway. An Amalathian prides himself on working with the structures of Imperial society, not above or beyond them. Or through them, as a mon-odominant might. I wanted Carpel and the senior officials of Hubris on my side, helping my investigation.
When my report was complete, I retired to my room. I paused by Vibben's door, went in, and gently placed the Scipio naval pistol between her hands on her chest, folding the shroud back afterwards. It was hers, it had done its work. It deserved to be laid to rest with her.