Last night, she hadn't been able to eat dinner- no surprise, Mayweather had said, given what had happened on the planet.

Then he sighed, and with a tone very like surprise said: "Yes.

"A little surprise for you," said the fat man hastily.

"Such a surprise," Clotho said, even though she didn't sound surprised.

That had come as a surprise to Stavia, though she hadn't said anything to contradict it.

There was a pause, and then a woman's voice tinged with surprise said, "Tommy?"

What a surprise," she said with a tone of annoyance.

A surprise,' he said, opening the door to the bedroom.

"Darling, what an unexpected surprise," he said, rising to greet her with an embrace.

No surprises," Ryan said, finally getting to his own briefing.