Spin steals the software that starts the universe.

ELEVEN. Super-gorgeous people seem to want constant reassurance.

 Spin and Reuben left the hotel before breakfast. They sat in a taxi without air-conditioning, a stripped down Toyota Corolla, in the gripping heat and the noxious stench of diesel traffic for a couple of hours, with their elbows resting on the window frames. The metal was stinging hot and the air not much cooler. Spin insisted they go to the airport then get another taxi, just to make it harder for Jack to find them. Reuben said Spin was over-rating his attractiveness but went along with it anyway. The second taxi took them high into the volcanic hills. The villa was located outside a small village of indigenous thatch roofed, timber framed houses crowded comfortably into a group. Walls of timber battens created living spaces to catch breezes coming down from the mountains. Inside it was shady and white with concrete terrazzo floors and painted timber screens.

Reuben was trying once again to call Matilda as Spin climbed out of the pool, water dripping from his kaftan of wide, coloured stripes - cream and pale blue. He looked like an articulating deck chair, all angular and pointy, with someone still sitting in it. The Bacall face was brown and the hair had already gone blonde in the sun.

Reuben said, "I still can't get hold of her. I'd like some clarification."

"I know how you feel."

"I'd like to understand her involvement level before we go."

"We go?"

"Yes. High Command."

"High Command what?"

"Orders. To go."

"Go where?"

"The ship will figure something out. Don't worry."

"Oh god."

"The Thespers' Big Beast battleship is moving towards Earth."

"And that's bad?"

"The Thespers say that since we have a ship near Earth they should have one too. They have André on board already, so they say. Taking command. So we said we would go further out."

"Will they shoot at us?"

"I'm sure they'd like to. The ship will collect us in a few hours. We're safe until then."

They looked up as the garden gate opened and they saw Jack's white smile shining at them. At Spin. No 1950's B movie actress could have looked more startled, shocked, stunned, scared and petrified than Spin did at seeing him.

Reuben had another one of his wide selection of ready-to-wear smiles in place as he held out his hand to Jack, "How nice to see you." He looked like he meant it. "Spin was suffering from the heat. We had to get somewhere cooler."

Jack said, "The hotel gave me your message. I've been looking for someone like Spin for a very long time. Looks, attitude, vulnerability. The perfect image we want to project." He shook Reuben's hand. Spin was looking at Reuben in a state of bewildered shock. He said, "Hi, er, excuse us a moment" took Reuben aside and whispered, "Message!!?"

Reuben said in his ear, "Didn't want our disappearance to look suspicious. Never thought he would regard you as totally irresistibly can't-leave-you-alone-amazingly-wonderful."

"Tell him I'm not totally irresistibly can't-leave-me-alone-amazingly-wonderful."

"Okay."

Back with Jack, Reuben said, "Sorry about that. Super-gorgeous people seem to want constant reassurance. Pathetic really."

Spin tried to inflict grievous bodily harm on Reuben with a look which made Jack laugh.

Jack had brought someone with him. "Let me introduce Theo, who is indispensable."