Damen frowned as they each answered, more confused by the second. 'Planets?' he heard himself say. 'And flight? Do you mean like birds?' He looked to Matthias as Dutch patted the man's shoulder as though he might better explain how any of this could be possible. Her hand remained on Matthias's shoulder, a quietly intimate gesture, her tone still calm as she regarded Damen once more.

'I am not injured,' he said, rubbing a hand against his temple as he, once again, recalled the events of the night before. If he had any further wounds, they were only the delighted scratches of Halvik's women. 'What is this booze?'