They walked out of the administrative director's office together, through the administrative wing corridor, past the guards who were still in the process of being properly appointed through a review that was three weeks from completion, out through the main entrance and into the capital morning.
The city was ordinary and bright around them.
The working list had twenty-one open items.
The system was warm on her shoulder.
'The report,' it said. Very quietly. Just to her.
"Not now," she said.
'Just one observation,' it said.
She waited.
'Subject is walking through the capital with Mahir,' it said. 'She is not at the same time reviewing documentation, running variables, planning the next item, or building anything. She is just walking. With someone she wanted to have here.' A pause. 'The report notes that this is the second instance of sitting still. Third if you count the relay.'
"I'm walking," she said. "That's not still."
