The object that had caused such a row seemed to be nothing more than some kind of box or maybe a jar. It was circular and squat with a protuberance in the centre which looked not unlike the lip of a jar, but there was no handle and no obvious way of opening it. He picked it up and turned it in his hands. It was seamless and completely smooth. The potter who shaped this was a master of his trade. He tried poking the thing at the top, but it was solid and unyielding.

"Put that ...