"How did you get off Araldis during the invasion?
"Fedor. Someone gave her an AiV and sent her looking for your flagship. She stared straight at Pellegrini. Jo-Jo didnt need to see her face clearly to read the hostility. "She picked us up on the way. We were caught in a firefight out in the desert, with the Saqr. She could have left us for dead. But she didnt. Thats not her way.
"You sent her? burst out Mulravey. She spoke to all of them, but her face turned towards Trin. "She didnt abandon us. You sent her.
"No, said Pellegrini, seeking the attention of the girl next to Mulravey. "Djes, thats not how it was.
Jess? Jo-Jos mind threw out an anchor. That was what Bethany had called her daughter. He scrambled to remember the girls description and came up empty, other than the half-Miolaquan heritage. He wanted the girl to step closer to the light, so he could decide if the strangeness hed noticed before fitted with being part fish.
"Its all she talked about, in fact, added Randall. "Finding a way to get back here to help you all.
The survivors began to murmur among themselves again.
"Quiet! Pellegrini ordered.
Jo-Jo clamped his lips together. The Principe applied his arrogant manner with ease, and mostly they seemed ready to accept it.
"Youve seen the lights in the night sky? Tell us what is happening. Is it OLOSS? the Principe asked.
Jo-Jo waited for Randall, but she didnt say anything. After a moment, he spoke. "We got no way of really knowing, but we can guess. We think the Extros have made a move to invade the OLOSS worlds-the same way they did here.
"So were at war, like before. Does that mean therell be no help? said a woman from the back.
"Cant honestly answer that, said Jo-Jo.
Randall suddenly spoke up. "We flew over somethin brewin near one of the mines. The Saqr are all over it. Mebbe we can learn somethin from there.
"Youre suggesting we go and spy on them? asked the girl, Djes.
"Recon, said Randall. "Yeah. If OLOSS is at war with the Extros, then we need to do what we- "Were fortunate to be alive, interjected Pellegrini. "The toll to reach safety has been significant. We are not mercenaries. It would not serve us to antagonise our invaders; there are not enough of us to fight. I will not allow it. He ground out the last of his words with grim authority.
"Seems mebbe the others might like a say in that. Randall tone was sardonic.
"We have barely enough to eat. We are too weak to contemplate such a notion.
"You want to starve to death or die of some disease while the rest of Orion fights?
Randall was deliberately baiting him. They had no way to ferry any of the survivors back to the mines. The AiV would barely make one trip, let alone several. Yet Randall was seeding dissent.
"You should rest now, said Pellegrini. "Well talk more when everyone has slept. He stood up. "Djes, find them beds.
On his cue, the group dispersed; some disappeared past the narrow overhang into the next cave.
The girl, Djes, took them to an area on one side of the cave, a little way in from the entrance. An "esque followed them with an armful of brush. "We shake it out so there are no insects. You can sleep in peace, she said, as the "esque divided the brush into three piles.
Randall and Catchut dropped onto their piles, but Jo-Jo sidled close to the girl. "Djes, he said softly. "Is your mother Bethany Ionil?
She stiffened. He smelt a waft of something salty from her, as though shed been shocked into exuding a scent. "You know my mother?
Jo-Jo took a deep breath to counteract a surge of emotion. Beths daughter was alive. "I do.
"Then keep away from me. She turned and walked deeper into the cave.
The emotion trickled out of him, and he sank onto the brush alongside Randall. What else could he have expected? Beth had abandoned her.
"Good job, said Randall with quiet sarcasm. "Didnt her mother dump her here?
"How did you know that? demanded Jo-Jo in a fierce whisper.
Randall rolled away from him without answering. He thought he heard her chuckle. Or it could have been a snore.
He lay on his back, ignoring the p.r.i.c.kling of the brush. The cave harboured a confusion of smells, but unwashed bodies and the pungent odour of fish battled for highest honours. No doubt that was how theyd survived-on fish.
He thought about Bethany as people muttered and moved about him. Bethany had made him swear that he would find her daughter and tell her how her mother regretted what shed done. When hed agreed to that, hed never for a moment thought that his path would actually cross with Bethanys daughters. It seemed stranger than he could imagine, and too difficult to fathom how fate had brought him here.
But was it fate?
Some odd notion lurking in his subconscious thought otherwise. A notion? Or a presence? Fatigue made it hard to tell, and despite the strange surroundings and the presence of half-starved strangers, tiredness won over everything else and soon he was asleep.
THALES.
Thales woke in darkness, pain shooting up the side of his neck. "Fariss.
"Here, she whispered.
He blinked and wiped his eyes, trying to clear his vision. It didnt help much. "Where are you?
"Up near the hatch. Found some lumps in the side of the catoplasma, like you said. Can get real close to the lid, but something heavys on it.
Thales levered himself upright and tried to rub the crick from his neck. Hed been sleeping, curled around, on the floor of the tank. "I could get on your- "Sssh! she said. "Cn hear somethin.
Thaless heart pounded, sending a rush through his body. He bent down and rubbed circulation back into his legs. Had the Politics found them?
The hatch opened without preamble, and a light flashed down on them. He saw Fariss braced against the wall, ready to spring.
"Thales Berniere? said someone from above.
He recognised the voice, vaguely. "Who is it? I c-cant s-see you.
The light moved, shining away from his eyes and onto a rope ladder which dropped into the s.p.a.ce between him and Fariss.
"Climb, Thales. Hurry.
The voice again. He knew it... "Magdalen?
"Yes.
Thales grabbed the bottom of the rope ladder. "Fariss. Come on.
The soldier slid down from her vantage point and boosted him up several rungs. As he laboured up the moving ladder to the lip of the tank, she was behind him, nudging his feet.
Then suddenly they were both outside, breathing clear night air, peering into the dark. Magdalen had extinguished her light, and he could barely make out her outline in the moonless sky.
She took his hand. "Follow, dont speak.
He reached for Fariss and felt better when her hand engulfed his. They walked slowly, connected like this, along the side of the house and through the lanes to the edge of the settlement. Magdalen led them with little hesitation, as if shed practised this dark walk many times.
Not a word pa.s.sed between them until they belted themselves into a small AiV. Even then, as they lifted into the sky above the town, Thales could barely believe their escape.
Finally, Magdalen turned from the front seat to speak. Thales could see her face a little better now. She was still as slim and pale as he remembered: a similar build to Rene, a one-time friend of his wifes who had chosen a different philosophical path from them both.
"This is Linnea, she said, indicating the female pilot. "She was told that you asked for her in the town. She contacted me. Villon must have been watching over you, Thales. Your escape from the robes was more blessed than earned.
"How can I thank you, Magdalen? This is Fariss ODea, my... companion.
Magdalen raised an eyebrow at the soldier bent almost double so as to fit her tall frame into the cabin. "Your tastes have changed, Thales.
"Many things about me have changed, Magdalen. Ive seen and heard much while Ive been away from Scolar.
Magdalen nodded. "I have heard some of it. But you must tell me all.
"How could you have heard?
"We have some informants among the Sophos personal guard.
"We?
"It is not only you who has experienced change, Scholar Thales. Our world is- "Our world is being run by Sophos who are not capable.
Magdalen made a dry sound. "And you believe them to be infected by some virus.
"I dont believe, I know. Villon... believed...
"Villon? Villon is dead! Magdalen exclaimed.
"Now he is, but not then. Thales pressed his fingers against his eyes. "Magdalen, there is so much I can-will-tell you, but the most important must take precedence. The Post-Species invasion is very real, and theyll destroy us if the shift sphere isnt disabled. You saw the "casts.
"The Eclectics believe the same thing, she agreed.
"So how do we do it? asked Fariss.
"Get to Scolar station, said the pilot, Linnea.
They all stared at her. "I worked as an IN tech for a while. She shrugged. "Moved on to essential services a little while ago. Pays more, and comes with transport. Means I get to spend time at home.
Fariss grinned wide at that. "An IN tech. Bonus.
"You know how to shut down the sphere? Thales asked Linnea.
"No, the pilot replied. "But I know how to get up there. Did the shuttle run more times than I could count.
"Scolar station sounds good to me, drawled Fariss.
Thales took her hand in a gesture of calm determination. He knew what he wanted to do: the same thing Villon had wanted. "We will close down the sphere. And then deal with the Sophos.
MIRA.
Mira felt an odd pressure in her head. The beginnings of a headache perhaps, or an adjustment to having Novas mind so close to hers. It left her quite detached as she climbed out of the egress scale into the sunset-soaked desert. Leah was below the horizon, but the ambient light was still bright and burning hot.
She took a moment to absorb the impact of the overwhelming heat, and the knowledge that she was home. Insignia had settled on a dune to the north of the Juanita mine, its scarred outer skin glistening darkly against the red sand.
Close by was another biozoon, a hybrid that Mira recognised by sense rather than sight. Sal.
To the south lay another huge, almost endless object, cylindrical in shape and half-buried in the sand. Miras detachment faded a little as she recognised the creatures gathered in cl.u.s.ters across its hull.
What is it called? she asked Insignia.
Medium. I docked with it when I was searching for you in Post-Species s.p.a.ce. I should add that the other humanesques went aboard.
Josef and Rast Randall? Her heart beat faster. Were they still there? Still alive? She would be pleased to see them.
Yes. Them, and the other two.
Mira paused, taking a moment to recall their names. Latourn and Catchut. So much had happened in between, shed almost forgotten Randalls crew.
Mama, Wanton says the Non-Corporeal ship may be dangerous. Wanton cannot guarantee their reaction to you.
Mira felt inside the pocket of the new fellala shed taken from Insignias storage. Wanton lay at the bottom of it, its normally slick casing grainy to the touch. It had subsumed its last bead of mycose before leaving the biozoon. Its present supply would only last hours. Shed washed the traces of mycose away with gloved hands before placing it in her robe.
Now she squeezed its casing gently in rea.s.surance.
"Baronessa?
The voice called from a terrain vehicle already parked in the shade of the biozoon. The figure inside was shrouded, but she knew it was Jancz.
She closed her hood. The TerV pulled in closer, and the pa.s.senger door opened.
Mira settled inside without a word.
They drove the dune-filled distance to the Post- Species ship. When Jancz stopped just short of the towering sides, Mira broke the silence.
"You remember me? she asked.
"You made a deal with me. Safe pa.s.sage to Loisa for forgetting that wed met. You kept your word. "Esques dont often do that; Im impressed. Thats part of the reason youre down here, not floating around in the mess of your detonated "zoon.
"Part of the reason?
"The other part is not for me to say.