I stepped inside and went straight for the canisters. I crouched over the empty. There didn't seem to be any web on the empty. I picked up one end and said to Kirill:

"Here, grab one, and don't drop it—it's heavy."

I looked up and felt a catch in my throat. I couldn't utter a sound. I wanted to shout “Stop! Freeze!” but I couldn't. And I probably wouldn't have had time, anyway, it all happened so fast. Kirill stepped over the empty, turned his back to the canisters, and got his whole back into the silver web. I shut my eyes. I went numb and the only thing I heard was the web tearing. It was a weak crackly noise. I was crouched there with my eyes shut, unable to feel my arms or my legs, when Kirill spoke.

"Well, shall we get on with it?"

"Let's go."

We picked up the empty and headed for the door, walking sideways. It was terrifically heavy, the bitch, it was hard for the two of us to drag it. We came out into the sun and stopped by the boot. Tender reached out for it.

"OK,” said Kirill. “One, two … "

"No,” I said. “Let's wait a sec. Put it down first."

We set it down.

"Turn around. Let's see your back."

He turned without a single word. I looked—there was nothing on his back. I turned him this way and that, but there was nothing. I looked back at the canisters, and there was nothing there either.

"Listen,” I said to Kirill, still looking at the canisters. “Did you see the spider web?"

"What web? Where?"

"All right. We were lucky."

But to myself I thought: actually, there's no way of knowing that yet.

"All right, let's heave-ho."