Neal Asher - PROCTORS Mr Coti pulled his rain cape closer about his shoulders and looked nervously out from under hisbarley-bowl hat. Cloud occluded the light of the moons. The rain was coming down in sheets and having turned the street into a quagmire was now turning it into a stream. This was good for Cotis work since as a board-cutter in the wilderness he was much in demand at this time of the year but the cutting of boards was the last thing on his mind at that moment. It was imperative he got to Chief Scientist Lumibefore they found him. This was his only insurance of survival: once he had imparted his news Cromwell would leave him alone. Cromwell would not dare to go up against C S Lumi. Coti halted at the corner of Blue Street the boards creaky and slippery underneath him and for a moment thought he might be able to reach his destination without mishap — Lumis house was only a street away — then he saw the caped figures lurking in a side alley and darted back for cover. Few options now remained to him. He could either make a run for Lumis house while making as much noise as possible and attracting all the attention