The tension against the Demarchists is building and a spy is sent to Europa to retrieve a thing from a sleeper agent.   But, as with Night Passage, things aren't quite as they seem.

I don't think this story is up to the same standards as the previous ones in that it just doesn't seem to work in my head.   Like, how did Cholok know where Vargovic's extraction point would be?   Cholok had no need to know what Vargovic's plans were after the operation especially considering the fact that no one was sure if Cholok was even trustworthy.

The Denizen made clear that Cholok was no longer working for Vargovic's handlers and they seem to make it clear that they weren't in on the plot to help the Denizen -- or were they?

It just all ends in a muddle that could have been tidied up a lot better, me thinks.   Or maybe i'm missing something?

Anyway, if you're reading the whole Revelation Space Universe saga then you got to read this one too, so you might as well get on with it and stop moaning.

Available in the collection, Galactic North.

And now straight into Weather. ( )