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domes were all dimming down for the day, reflecting the brightening blue of the sky as a shimmering blur. He could just make out his own dome, 3327 North, out to the west, standing well above the surrounding forest of stems, shafts and domes that made up the upper-middle layers. From down here, against the enormous blue, home looked tiny. The stem upon which his dome was perched seemed insubstantial, a thread of plascrete holding up a dome the size of a small town. It looked like it might blow away in the first strong wind.
    It wouldn’t, though. It was only angle and distance that made it appear so. Dernan Mann knew that the stem holding up 3327 North was as solid and unyielding as the rest of them – shielding power conduits, recyc piping and maglift shafts, just as they had for a millennium, since mankind had finally left the polluted, dangerous, flooded surface of the planet and taken to the air.
    But still, seen from this perspective it looked so very … fragile.
    It all did.
    It all was.
    Turning away from the window, Mann crossed to his desk. It took only a couple of moments to get through his coded access sequence and punch in the appropriate number.
    â€˜Prelature.’ The voice was abrupt, busy, officious.
    â€˜Can I have vis, please?’
    â€˜Name?’
    â€˜Doctor Dernan Mann.’
    There was a pause on the other end. Then his terminal flicked to life. The receptionist looked exactly the same as he sounded.
    â€˜Doctor Mann, good morning. How may I be of assistance?’
    â€˜I would like to speak to the Prelate, please.’
    â€˜I’m afraid that’s quite impossible this morning, Doctor. The Prelate is extremely busy. I can book you a vid slot for tomorrow, second shift, or the following—’
    â€˜You do know who I am, don’t you?’ Dernan cut the assistant off and directed his coldest, most detached glare into the terminal.
    â€˜Of course, Doctor.’
    â€˜Then I’m sure you realise that I wouldn’t simply call and demand to speak to the Prelate without a very good reason.’
    For a moment the man’s face was wracked with indecision. Then he clearly came to the conclusion that it was worth risking the wrath of the Prelate to avoid that of the head of DGAP.
    â€˜I’ll put you through right away, Doctor.’
    â€˜Thank you.’ Mann allowed the receptionist a tight smile before the screen flicked into a holding display for a few seconds, then the Prelate herself appeared.
    â€˜Doctor Mann. To what do I owe the pleasure of such an early call?’
    â€˜Good morning, Madam Prelate. Can I assume that this channel is secure?’
    â€˜As secure as any com channel can be.’
    No, not necessarily, she meant. ‘In that case, I should like to speak to you personally at the first available opportunity, preferably here at DGAP.’
    â€˜Is this important, Doctor? I’m afraid I have a very busy schedule today, and—’
    â€˜Madam, how many times have I called you in the early hours of first shift and summoned you to DGAP?’
    For a long moment the Prelate stared though the terminal, with that famous gaze which made you feel as though your whole soul was on display.
    â€˜I shall see you in a little over an hour, Doctor. Will that be sufficient?’
    â€˜Perfectly, Prelate.’
    â€˜Will that be all?’
    â€˜Actually, I do have one more favour to ask. Would you be able to put in a request to the appropriate parties that my son Larinan be placed to my department, effective immediately?’
    The Prelate’s left eyebrow twitched slightly upwards.
    â€˜That would be your youngest son?’
    â€˜The same, Madam.’
    â€˜Do you know, Doctor Mann’ – the old woman directed a cold smile at him – ‘I do believe that meeting you this morning might well turn out to be worth cancelling my appointments for. I shall see you soon.’
    The terminal went blank and