"That you intend," Kate repeats. She'd been on good on the stage, quick and charismatic and picking lessons to bolster her natural talents. She'd never been an actress, as such, but she knows how to perform. And, here, she knows how to stress her voice, fill it with just the right amount of doubt and disbelief.

Normally, oh, normally she'd be using all of the weight of her presence and standing in this community to keep it all calm. She's done it before, when arguments grew heated, and dimly she's aware if it was anyone else doing this, she'd probably be trying to calm her down.

Probably.

Except every cool tone from Mr Graves, every moment of control, every assumption of authority has her wanting to yell, throw something. Punch him. There's no authority here, no law, no society except what they make it, but here he is, talking like he's just strolled out of the Commissioner's office. Like he has the God-given right to do as he pleases.

"Why is it up to you, Mr Graves? And who is this 'us'? Cos from the way you're talkin', it sheer as hell ain't anybody standin' here."