As the guard led the group down a bewildering series of passageways, Grimm saw that Haven seemed to be laid out as a series of concentric circles, with straight, radial corridors at regular intervals like spokes on a wheel. The guard explained the layout.

"The circles are numbered from one to twenty, and the segments between the corridors are all in different colours. The corridors have letters from A to AD. As you can see, we're currently in section Twenty Green, heading for corridor G and Blue sector. The hab block where you'll be staying is in section Seventeen Blue, so we'll be taking G corridor, moving towards the hub for three circles and turning right. It's really easy to find your way around once you know the co-ordinates of anywhere."

Several people milled around the walkways. Some were dressed like Armitage, others wore coloured one-piece suits, and a few wore white coats and carried Technological implements.

Grimm mused that none of these people seemed to be under fifty years of age or so. He only saw a single woman, who could not have been younger than sixty, certainly well beyond child-bearing age.

Perhaps this is why Armitage seems so interested in Drex, he thought, shivering at the idea before dismissing it as ridiculous. The Administrator seemed to be a gentleman, even if he were holding some secret.

"Here you go, people," the guard called. "You can use rooms 112 to 116. Your gear's stashed in 112. Administrator Armitage'll be giving you a call in a couple of hours or so, I imagine. Be seeing you."

With what appeared to be a mock salute, the guard strode away.

Room 112 proved to be spacious, comfortably appointed and well lit. A large bed stood in the centre of the room. Opposite the head of the bed, Grimm saw a large, grey square plaque on the wall, whose function was not immediately apparent. The whole wall was festooned with coloured cartouches. At least the function of the bath, visible through a door opposite the entrance, seemed to be obvious.