They did not so much walk as flow over to his table. Their movements had a liquid smoothness that was more cat than human, and put him in mind of a large predator. If a devilcat had taken on the shape of a man it might have moved like that. He was all but hypnotised by them as they flowed up to him. Suddenly they were just there, looming over him.

'Janus Darke,' said the taller of the two. It was not a question but a statement, so Janus nodded his head in acknowledgement. 'We would have business with you.'

The voice was beautiful but muffled, as if the speaker wore a helm and their words were being forced out through a rebreather grille. There was something not at all human about the intonation. Was he looking at some sort of mutant, Janus wondered?

'Go ahead,' said Janus, 'take a seat.'

'Private business,' said the second cowled figure. Its voice was clearer and higher, and Janus was suddenly convinced that it belonged to a woman. Or a female at least. He was not entirely sure the speaker was human.

'This is as private as it's going to get,' said Janus. 'I don't know you. I am not going anywhere with you.'

The female said something in an alien language which sounded more like singing than speech. The other made a curt chopping gesture with his hand. 'Athenys, it is polite to speak in a tongue that all present can understand. We want no misunderstandings here.'

'Very well, Auric, I shall wrench my throat with their barbarous words.'

'Don't trouble yourself on my account,' said Janus. 'You want to talk business, talk business. You want to jabber at each other in bird speech, feel free.'

'Perhaps I should teach this rude one some manners,' said the female. She spoke to Janus directly. 'The One Who Sees requires respect, human. So do I.'

'When you start behaving like you deserve respect, I will give you it,' said Janus.

'A fair response, Athenys, now please restrain yourself. Forgive my companion, captain, she has spent too long walking the path of the warrior. Confrontation is her chosen means of communication.'

'But not yours,' said Janus.

'Only when necessary.'

Janus gestured again but the strangers did not sit. Janus passed his hand over the centre of the table and a control panel rose into view. He reached out and touched a stud upon it. Suddenly the background noise was cut off.

'I have activated the privacy field. No one can hear us. If they are very clever they might be able to read my lips, but as long as you wear those cowls and keep your backs to the room no one but us will understand a word you say. Is this private enough for you?'

'It will do,' said the taller stranger.

'What do you want?'

'I want a ship and a captain.'

'You are in the wrong place.