After a moment, Goodsir releases him and sits back.

"What on earth are we to do? We cannot keep fighting the same fights—we cannot stay mired in the past—but we cannot let Hickey repeat his sins either."

"I agree," he says. "It is difficult to safeguard others against him without sounding like we're merely trying to blacken his name. But we must." He sighs. "You know, he was convinced back then that he had been ... chosen by the Tuunbaq. Can you imagine the presumption? And I expect he believes the same of the forces at work here. That makes him even more dangerous."

"It would certainly make our lives *simpler," Goodsir agrees with a grimace. "If there's one thing I cannot understand, it's why Billy Gibson has resumed keeping company with him. The very man who literally stabbed him in the back. Who—"

He breaks off before he can blurt out who ordered me to cut him up for meat.

"Who has wronged him time and time again," he amends.

"I expect you're right. Nevertheless..." He shakes his head. "We must be careful, in any event. Will you be all right, tonight?"

"You have nothing for which to apologise," Goodsir says. "Will you get home all right on your own?"