‘They are not your sins, little one,’ Seven said, with surprising gentleness. ‘And look at it this way: my keepers helped to make me who I am.’

‘I don’t just mean the camp,’ Goodwill said.

He and Seven were sharing a look, as if each was recognising something in the other. Making a connection based on a shared history thousands of years deep.

‘If we find Seven’s brothers and sisters, they’ll need a place where they can live their best lives,’ Raia said. ‘A reserve or preserve protected from feral bears, large enough for them to be able to support themselves.’

‘Somewhere with a river running through it,’ Seven said. ‘And a way to access your books, and the books of Goodwill’s people, so that I can learn about the world and the people in it.’

‘But first, we need to find out who collaborated with the natives who ran the camp,’ Raia said. ‘Whether it was an agency or a rogue element. Who authorised it, if it was an agency, and how high that authorisation goes. I don’t have the means to access other agencies’ files, and Trina can’t help me anymore. Her privileges have been revoked, and she’s being watched. That’s why I took a chance on reaching out to you.’

‘I was asked to find out everything I could about the map, to satisfy Mother’s curiosity about it,’ Ysbel told Raia. ‘I’m sure she’d be interested in Seven and his songs, too.’

‘Do you answer to her directly?’ Raia said.

‘Zaquil might. I have a contact in Special Operations.’

‘And do you trust this contact?’

It was a good question. Ysbel said carefully, ‘I hope I can.’

‘I am only the bailiff of an insignificant fishing village,’ Goodwill said. ‘I have no power or voice in the affairs of my people. Especially when it concerns something as delicate and extraordinary as this. But my cousin, Juniper Saltmire, is chief clerk to a delegate of the Committee of the Five Hundred. I can ask her to bring this to the attention of the proper people. To find out who was responsible.’

‘I’ll be grateful for any help you can give us. And understand if you can’t help at all. But if you can, please try to keep Trina out of it,’ Raia said, with a fiercely anxious look. ‘Seven too. I don’t want people to come hunting for him, hoping to turn him into some kind of zoological specimen.’

‘I’ve already had quite enough of that,’ Seven said.

‘And be careful who you ask, and what you tell them. For your sake as well as ours,’ Raia said, and picked up her pack and her rifle.

‘We’re already in trouble,’ Ysbel said, thinking of Kirder Halmasdaughter and Damage Limitation. ‘It would be easier if you could come back with us.’