Kerdis’ voice betrayed his skepticism. “Broke the window? Of the imperial palace? Those things are made of the same plastine used for the ports on warships. You don’t just break that.”

If the man heard him, he gave no sign. His eyes were no longer on the bag that Dalgaz held, were no longer on anything. He was mumbling now, and Dalgaz reached forward and gripped his collar, pulling his face up.

“Tell me now,” he said, his voice harsh. “And I want all you know, do you understand? Was there any mention, anything at all, about a penetrata? I don’t care what you saw, and I don’t care if you’re afraid. You tell me.”

The man watched him. “No….” he stammered. “Nothing….”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes….”

Dalgaz nodded, sighing inwardly. They wouldn’t get anything more out of the man tonight, and he didn’t want to push him too hard in case they needed him later. He extended the bag and the bottle to him, and after a few seconds’ hesitation he took it. Dalgaz turned to Kerdis. “Can you see that he gets to the transport tube all right? I don’t want him to get rolled.”

Kerdis nodded, guiding the man up by the arm, making sure he had the bag with the bottle held securely to his chest, walking him to the door and out into the night. When the soldier returned a few minutes later he sat again.

“Awfully hard on him, weren’t you, Dalgaz?” he asked. “He’ll probably polish off the whole bottle of that champagne tonight just to keep the nightmares away.”