Ivy raised her eyes to the sky where the stars flecked the night. Below Orion hung the jewelled thread of Eridanus.

The girl drew a shuddering breath. "It's a terrible thing to ... to murder a star."

Strike remained silent. There was nothing to say.

It would take tardy light more than fifteen years to bring news of the sudden flare of reckless life in that small star ... an orgy that would sap its last reserves of strength and leave it a dark and frigid ember in the lonely void.

 Prev. P 20/20