She claimed that she wasn’t especially worried that her partner was overdue, said that Raia had spent plenty of time in bear country and knew how to look after herself, but Ysbel sensed a taut impatience quivering beneath the woman’s apparent calm. They swiftly transferred camping equipment and supplies from the flitter to the dinghy and without ceremony set off on the first stage of the journey. The growl of the dinghy’s motor echoed off trees on either side of the river as Trina drove the little craft upstream at a fair lick, steering deftly around shoals of rocks and little tree-clad islands. Ysbel laid her rifle across her knees in case the racket attracted unwelcome attention from feral bears, and hoped that she wouldn’t have to put its tranquilliser darts to the test.

It was mid-morning, a cool crisp autumn day. Fleets of white clouds sailing the sky on a freshening wind. Patches of hemlocks and alders flaming amongst dark-green pines and cedars. The first snows would soon arrive; the deadline for the departure of all humans from the mainland was approaching; the window for finding Raia and Seven was closing.

Ysbel and Trina talked about stations and projects shutting down, the fleet of boats and hoppers ferrying personnel from the mainland to the Gathering Place, how people were being redeployed now that agencies and bureaus involved with interfacing with natives were downsizing. A network of static bots and high-altitude relay balloons had been used to create a local grid for the Gathering Place after Mother’s satellites were lost, but communication with the mainland was limited to shortwave radio and hard-copy texts ferried by hoppers, which was how Ysbel and Trina had made contact, exchanging several letters before agreeing about where and when to meet.

They discussed the latest political developments, too. Originists petitioning for representation on committees discussing future paths, claiming special insight into the true history of Mother and her children. Resignations by senior Authority officers in protest over what they believed was a dishonourable surrender. Wild talk about overthrowing the native government which had come to nothing, not only because humans lacked military techne and were vastly outnumbered, but also because the majority were vehemently against use of force, and supported what was becoming known as the Realignment.

Ysbel had been involved with negotiations over changes in human–native relations ever since she had returned from the Dreaming. Standing before panels, tribunals and councils, explaining what had happened. Forensically dissecting in closed sessions, sentence by sentence, word by word, her conversations with the Other Mother.