There was one easy way of getting that; best work his way round to it now.

'I need to know more about you,' he said.

'We are strangers here, like yourself. We have business elsewhere. Our business is your business, though you do not know it yet. That is all I can tell you for the moment,' said Auric.

'Got secrets to keep, eh?'

'Like yourself, yes.'

'Will you help us?' asked the female. She certainly did have a one-track mind, Janus thought. What was it Auric had said earlier about her being frozen on a specific path? Her manner suggested that was the case.

'Yes, I will help you, but it will take time to make the arrangements, and I will need money…' He gestured to Auric, indicating that he wanted the jewels. The tall psyker bowed his head in acknowledgement. There was a flicker of light and a shiver of sensation as he dropped one of the stones into Janus's hand. Janus licked his lips.

'Are you sure that is wise, Auric? He does not seem entirely trustworthy,' said the female. Sensible woman, Janus thought. Maybe I will take the proceeds and hire myself some assassins and get the rest of the gems off you that way. The plan had a certain appeal. Or maybe he would pay off his gambling debts to Fat Roj. The stone was certainly worth enough to get the Fat Man's hunters off his back. But not the other things… There was not enough money in the galaxy to get rid of them.

'He will do what he is paid to do, Athenys. Believe me. I know this. He may not think so now, but he will.'

Janus did not like the way their conversation passed over his head, even when they were being ''polite'' and speaking his language. It reminded him too much of the way people talked about their pets. He was used to feeling superior to those around him, not being made to feel inferior.

'Our business is done for now,' he said. 'Meet me at the starport terminal in six hours and I will inform you of any further arrangements.'

'See that you do meet us, human,' said the female. 'Or you will have cause to regret this day.'

'I already regret it,' said Janus wryly, feeling the hard tingle of the stone in his hands and laughing inside. If he could just get a fraction of its value, he would be out of here, on his way to a place where these strangers would never catch him.

He glanced up to see if they had managed to read any expression on his face, but to his surprise, they were gone. He thought he caught the faintest flash of a white trimmed cloak vanishing through the doorway. Good riddance, he thought, wondering what the safest way to dispose of this loot would be. He grinned to himself: if anybody would have an answer to that, it would be Justina.

Time to go see her. Yes, yes, yes, whispered the voices in his head, but for once he managed to ignore them, knowing it was probably a mistake. He gestured for the nearest bargirl. She wriggled her way across the room towards him.

'Where the boss?' he asked. She shrugged and ran a hand along his forearm, then leaned forward and whispered in his ear.