It was far from a perfect plan, but it was the best they could do: tell the same story to their respective authorities and hope that no one would go looking for the imaginary trapper and find Seven instead. Ysbel hoped that it wouldn’t fall apart until Raia and Seven had had the chance to find Seven’s brothers and sisters, or at least find a good hiding place in deepest bear country. As it was, it didn’t even outlast the day.

Although she and Goodwill had made it back to the canoe in good time, and were paddling with the current as they headed downriver, the sun was setting by the time they came around the big bend where the hopper had landed. The level light was in their eyes and dazzling off the water, and by the time they saw that a second hopper was standing close by their own, it was too late to turn back.

The security bot’s winged knife flashed in the air above the river and a green spark began to pulse in one corner of Ysbel’s vision – her link had switched itself on. The security bot turned and took up station above the canoe and Zaquil spoke inside her head, and she was in freefall again.

‘Welcome back,’ he said. ‘Iryn Moonsdaughter has arrived, and she has many questions.’

19.

As soon as the hopper had touched down at Ogres Grave, Ysbel summoned a runabout from the landing field’s garage and linked to Ilan.

‘Hey,’ he said.

‘Hey,’ she said, feeling self-conscious because she had an ulterior motive for calling him. A good one, but still.

‘Did you find what you were looking for?’ Ilan said.

‘Not exactly. Where are you?’

‘At the dig on Razorback Island. We’re about to broil a mess of fresh-caught fish if you want to come join.’

Ysbel’s link floated a little window showing a close-up of Ilan’s face, the view swinging around to show a pebble strand and people, humans and natives, busy around a campfire.

She said, ‘I wish I could be there. But I have to report to Mitkos.’

‘Debrief and so on.’

‘Something like that.’

The runabout she’d summoned was trundling across the landing field’s dusty hardpan. Unlike the sleek models used in Concord, this one was got up in ethnic style, open-topped and square-cornered like a wagon, its bodywork wooden planking and wicker. After spending so much time with Goodwill, Ysbel thought it looked ridiculous and patronising.

‘When will you be back in town?’ she said to Ilan.

‘I could stop by tomorrow evening. Will you still be around, or will you be back on the hunt?’

‘I’ll be at my place, looking forward to seeing you,’ Ysbel said, with a dirty little pinch of guilt.