The question shocks jagged laughter from Kovacs. He shakes his head. "If Quell was here? Right now?"

He turns his head, hand over his eyes. All sounds feel distant. Even Quell's image, haunting him from a distance of inches, feels mournful. The laughter peters off.

He leans against a stone wall, feeling the cold seep into the skin of his back. He hopes his sweat stains the marble.

"That's a good taunt. Try it again when I'm paying less attention."