Chapter 24: Surety

Ming had decided, walking back behind Bao in the frost, what she would do if he asked. She had decided again in Han's office, and again at dawn, lying awake in her narrow bed listening to the fox breathe in the corner. Don't lie to him, Han had said. He'll know. She wasn't going to lie. She put her hands flat on the desk, on either side of the folded strip of paper. She looked across at the inspector's pale old face. "Inspector," she said. "The fox Yingning..." "Your Honor," said Nine. He had come down off the windowsill. Ming hadn't heard him. He was standing beside her desk with his hands folded in his sleeves and his head bowed, the most courteous thing in the outer hall, and his voice was mild and pleasant and perfectly calm. "Forgive the interruption," he said. "A point of procedure. Of Pledges and…