'So they put him in charge of training recruits? Macsen exclaimed.

Dinlay winced, glancing about uncomfortably. 'Not so loud. He doesn't like being reminded he threw his career away.

Boyd chuckled. 'Career. In the constables. Aren't you the comedian.

Dinlay gave him an angry look before putting his wire-rimmed glasses on. There was something about him which reminded Edeard of Fahin, not just his short-sight problem, but the way he was so dedicated to his life choice, yet at the same time so obviously wasn't cut out for it.

Edeard shivered despite pulling on a thick woollen jumper. He hadn't thought of Fahin in a long time, and his disturbingly weird dream left the memory of resurrected skeletons lingering like a bad aftertaste. It was an unfortunate combination to be starting his first morning with.

Not that it was morning yet, he noticed as they scurried down the station's central stair to the small hall where they would spend the next six months learning their new craft. The glowing nebulas of Querencia's night sky were still visible through the feathery curtain of cloud drifting in from the sea. Dawn was at least another hour away.

Edeard still wasn't used to the way Makkathran buildings blocked his farsight. So he was surprised when they arrived in the hall that another probationary constable was already there along with Sergeant Chae. She was about his age, perhaps a little older, with dark hair cut shorter than he'd ever seen on a girl before. Her face was rounded with chubby cheeks and what looked like a permanent scowl. Even by Makkathran standards, her thoughts were heavily veiled, allowing no hint as to her true feelings. Edeard tried not to be too obvious in the way he checked her out, but when his eyes switched from her legs — long but thighs rather too plump — to her chest he suddenly realized she was watching him. She raised an eyebrow in scornful query. His cheeks reddened and he turned away.

Chae was standing at the head of the room, under one of the ceiling's circular light patches. Thankfully, his anger seemed to have vanished. 'Very good, boys and girls, almost on time. Now believe it or not, this early morning is not designed with the sole purpose to make your lives miserable, I'll have plenty of opportunity for that over the next few months. No. Today I want us to get acquainted. That means, we'll be starting with some simple tests to discover the level of your psychic abilities — or the lack of them. This way we can combine you into a squad which together will perform a great deal better than the sum of its parts. And believe me you will need to work together. There are gangs out there who will happily shred your flesh and feed you to the fil-rats if you try and interrupt their activities.

Edeard wasn't quite sure he believed that, and hoped his thoughts didn't show his doubt. He concentrated on trying to achieve the same passivity that everyone else was displaying.

'Constable Kanseen, would you begin please, Chae said. He gestured at the bench in front of him. There were five metal balls resting on the ancient wood, the smallest was the size of a human fist, while the others were progressively larger. A sixth ball sat on the floor, a good eighteen inches in diameter.

'Which one? Kanseen asked.

'You just show me what you can do, young lady, Chae said. There was a strong note of contempt ringing through his voice. 'That way I can assess what duties to assign you. If any.

Kanseen's face hardened into an even more disapproving scowl. She glared at the fourth ball. It slowly rose into the air.

Macsen whistled approvingly and clapped. The other probationary constables grinned appreciatively. Edeard took a moment, and joined in the acknowledgement. He assumed someone had given her the same advice as him about not revealing her full strength.

'That it? Chae asked.

'Sir, Kanseen grunted.

'Okay, thank you. Boyd, let's see what you're made of.

A grinning Boyd stepped forward. The fourth ball quivered and rose a couple of inches above the wood. Boyd's brow glistened with perspiration.

Macsen managed to lift the fifth ball. Dinlay produced a confident grin and elevated the fifth and second balls, which drew him a heavy round of applause. Even Kanseen joined in.

'All right, Edeard, show them how the countryside is so much better than the city.

Edeard nodded slowly and moved forward. The others were watching eagerly. He was sorely tempted to fling the sixth ball right at the sergeant, but Topar's caution was still fresh in his mind.

His third hand closed round the fifth ball and sent it bobbing up through the air until it was halfway to the ceiling. The others cheered. He lifted the second ball, then made a show of straining to lift the third, allowing it to hover a few inches above the wood.

The first ball shot off the table and streaked towards Edeard. His shield hardened, deflecting it easily enough. At the same time he dropped the three balls he was holding aloft.

All of the probationary constables fell silent, staring at him and Chae.

'Very good, Edeard, Chae drawled. 'You almost convinced me. Little too much time between the hit and the drop, though. Work on that.

Edeard gave the sergeant a sullen stare.

Chae leaned forward, in a stage whisper he said: 'I have friends in the Eggshaper Guild guard, lad.

Edeard reddened.

'Constables should be honest above all else, Chae continued. 'Especially with their own squad mates. Ultimately your lives may depend on each other. Now do you want to try again?

Edeard pulled the sixth ball into the air. He heard Boyd gasp in surprise.

'Thank you, Edeard, Chae said. 'Now then; farsight. I have placed some markers around the district. Let's see who can find what.

Edeard let the sixth ball down gently. He wondered what Chae would have said if he'd known how much more he could lift.

The psychic tests went on for another hour, measuring their various talents until Chae declared he'd had enough of them. Edeard was interested in the results. Kanseen had a farsight almost as good as his own, while Dinlay could probably long-shout halfway across the Iguru Plain — a capability he was inordinately proud of. Macsen's shield seemed disproportionaly stronger than his third hand — nothing Chae threw at him got through. Boyd was all round unexceptional. It left Edeard wondering if he was above average or if his squad mates were distinctly below average. Sergeant Chae's psychic ability was certainly powerful enough.

Chae told them to get some breakfast then report for uniform fitting. 'If any of you have money I'd advise you to spend it on your tunic. Those without money will have the cost taken out of their pay for the next six months, and I assure you it won't leave you with much at the end of the week.

They trooped along to the station's main hall, a long chamber with an arching ceiling and a big crystal window at the far end. Some of the benches were already occupied. A sergeant told them the bench at the far end would be theirs for the duration of their probationary period. The rest of the constables ignored them.

Ge-monkeys hurried out of the kitchen bringing crockery. They were adept at receiving orders, Edeard found when he instructed one to bring tea and scrambled eggs. At least the station provided their food. He wondered if he should try to longtalk Salrana. The sun was just starting to rise outside.

'I've never seen anyone lift so much, Boyd said. 'You've got a lot of talent, Edeard.

Edeard shrugged.

'I claim first rights to stand behind him when the shit starts flying, Macsen said. 'And the bullets.

'You all look like you can handle yourselves if we get pushed into a corner, Edeard said.

'Don't have a lot of choice, do we? Macsen said. 'Not enough skill for a Guild, and not rich enough to buy into the militia. So here we are, all of us clinging to the arse end of life and we're only just starting out. One big long fall into the sewage from here on in, my fellow failures.