Edeard's gondola carried on down Great Major Canal, with Bellis on one side and Sampalok on the other. The difference was pronounced. Along the canal, the cylindrical buildings of Bellis were roofed by long twisting spires, cup-like juliet balconies bulged out of the walls as if they'd sagged open.

Sampalok was made up from big tenements not dissimilar to the one Edeard lived in, except these were three or four times the size, and the maisonettes were smaller. Families here were packed in tight. The broad streets circling the tenements were cluttered with rubbish; the district's ge-monkey sanitation teams seemed unable to cope. It was worse than Ashwell had been. Ami that would be a good starting point, Edeard thought, improve basic living conditions, give people higher expectations. So why doesn't the District Master do something?

As if reflecting their surroundings, the residents close to the canal stared sullenly at the gondoliers carrying the constables. They spat into the water and made obscene gestures. A few third hands nudged at the little craft. Gangs of kids jeered when they saw the uniforms.

'Little buggers, Boyd grunted.

'They need to be shown a different way, Edeard said. 'That's all.

'Too late, Macsen said. 'This is what they know, it's the way life is lived here. You can't change it.

Edeard stared at the skyline of sturdy uninspiring buildings, thinking how he could improve them, the new forms and functions he could shape. 'Don't be too sure, he whispered.

Kanseen gave him a curious look, but said nothing.

They all disembarked at First Pool and made their way into Myco. It was strange for Edeard seeing it in daylight for once. Nothing like as shabby as its neighbour, the small district was occupied predominately by the families of fishermen and shipbuilders, with a large Guild presence. They had a much stronger sense of community; pride Macsen called it.

'News for you, Chae's directed longtalk informed Edeard as I hey walked down Maley Street, not far from the House of Blue Petals.

'What?

'You're not going to believe who's just turned up to examine the ingots.

'Who?

'The good Captain Ivarl, himself.

The squad members close to Edeard started grinning, hungry with anticipation.

'That makes sense, Edeard replied.

'Lady, we've got him, Boyd told the others, giving them a broad two thumbs up.

'What do you mean? Chae asked.

'He's come to gloat, Edeard told him. His own farsight showed him the squads from Bellis and Neph hurrying through Pholas Park. As expected, they already crossed into Sampalok via the bridge over Trade Route Canal, which put them a lot closer to the hideaway than Edeard. They'd arrive a good ten minutes early.

'What are you thinking? Kanseen asked shrewdly.

Edeard halted the squads, and beckoned Felax forward. He handed an envelope over to the young probationary constable. 'I want you to go directly to the house in Whitemire Street and deliver this to the sergeants from the other squads.

The lad saluted. 'Yes, sir, Waterwalker.

'Quick as you can now, Edeard said. He instructed one of the ge-eagles to keep watch on the lad as he started running.

'What's happening? Macsen demanded.

'Slight change of plan, Edeard announced. 'Follow me, please.

He turned off down Campden Avenue, which was lined with winter-flowering Jakral trees whose sky-blue puffball flowers were just budding. Water dripped of the encrustations of snow on their overhanging branches. There were a lot of whispers and longtalk queries behind him, which he ignored. They were heading away from Sampalok now; the avenue led straight to the Upper Tail Canal which bordered the Port district.

'Dinlay, Edeard called. 'Take Urarl's squad, and split off down the next alley. He held up the map so only his friend could see it. 'That's the building we want; you come at it from this side, his finger indicated. 'Make sure no one leaves, remember to watch the windows, and the roof.

'What's in there? Dinlay asked.

Edeard leant forward so his lips were almost touching Dinlay's ear. 'The ingots.

The switch had been made with considerable precision in the middle of the night. As the gondolas loaded with ingots made their way back from the Chemistry Guild yard to the safety of Sampalok they passed under several bridges along Roseway Canal, including the broad stone and iron archway at the end of Abad's Royal Boulevard, which led over to Nighthouse district. It took precision timing, but Ivarl made sure that another gondola was going in the opposite direction at exactly the same time. For a few seconds the gondolas were out of direct view of the ge-eagles which the constables were using to observe them. The solid bridge structure made farsight difficult especially when the gondolas were surrounded by a seclusion haze. Identical boxes were thrown between the gondolas.

Edeard had to admire how smoothly they'd managed it. What Ivarl hadn't taken into account was for Edeard to know the plan in its entirety, and be using the sight of a ge-cat swimming idly under the bridge. Grand Master Finitan had been happy to help, loaning Edeard fifteen of the genistars so he could position several under each bridge. Once Edeard had confirmed the switch had been made, it was easy for him to track the new gondolas as they took a long route back round to Myco, where they landed the boxes at a slipway. Ivarl's men carried the boxes into a fisherman's warehouse.

'Oh dear, Chae's sardonic longtalk reverberated round Edeard's squads. 'Captain Ivarl seems to be upset about something. His gifted sight showed the gang master rushing out of the house in Sampalok, his face red, almost running. Several of his lieutenants were following, their expressions anxious.

Edeard grinned at the warehouse, twenty yards ahead now. The big doors were open, showing a gloomy interior filled with barrels. Several fishermen and women were sitting outside, mending nets. More nets were hung up in great loops inside, drying off.

'Seal it up, Edeard told his squads.

The people working on the nets looked up in alarm as the constables appeared. Ge-eagles swooped low, keeping a keen eye on the slipway leading into the warehouse. Ge-hounds growled in warning.

'Please remain where you are, Edeard announced. 'I have a warrant to search the premises.

Dinlay and two constables blocked one of the fishermen who tried to sprint away.

'Kanseen, take Macsen and Droal inside, have a scan round for me, please. You might want to check the cellars.

'You sneaky beast, she muttered, grinning as she went into the warehouse.

Then Edeard's farsight caught someone running down the slipway on the other side of the warehouse. He jumped off the side of the canal, holding the surface of the water firm as he landed. It held his weight, with only a slight dint under each foot as he ran round to the slipway. People on the other side of the wide canal stooped and stared. Fingers were pointed. Cheers echoed across the icy water. Children called their friends to watch. It was the Waterwalker, they cried, he's doing it again.

Edeard arrived at the end of the slipway. Lian was there, trying to push a small dinghy into the water. 'Don't go, Edeard asked nicely. 'We're only just getting started.

Lian was longtalking frantically. One hand went to the coat pocket with his pistol.

Edeard gave him a warning look. 'It didn't do Arminel any good. Remember?

Lian glared furiously, but backed away from the boat, raising his hands. Droal came down the slipway behind him and removed the pistol before slapping on the handcuffs.

'What is going on? demanded the sergeant from Bellis station. Edeard's farsight observed them arriving at the house in Sampalok.

'We farsighted them moving the stolen items earlier, Edeard replied, keeping his mental tone level as he examined the dinghy. 'Didn't have time to tell you. Sorry. My runner has a list for you. It has the names of everyone involved in the Chemical Guild robbery. Most of them live in the tenements close to the hideaway. Would you arrest them, please? He was aware of the callous humour shining out of Chae's mind as the Bellis sergeant snatched the envelope from Felax.