Rapt went to stand beside Arc. “Drax and the guards,” he said, looking straight at Sorrel. “They’re ferals. That’s all.”

CHAPTER 35 – GANAN

It was fully dark by the time the group led by the Zorah got to the drain. All the males had gone with Arc’s group.

“We should risk using the PlAK’s light,” Sorrel whispered to Caroni. “The dust is really thick, and it might save us a lot of time – we don’t want to just blunder past the drain.” She burned with adrenaline and was glad Emrallie was with them on this night.

“I see something above,” Genus muttered. “I think it’s the end of the drain. Look up there.”

It seemed too soon, but in the PlAK’s dim light, they all saw it.

“Your turn, Emrallie,” Caroni said.

Sorrel stood beside her friend and risked shining the searchlight up the drain. “It’s short,” Emrallie said, looking up. “I’ll climb up beside it, using the rocks. Can you keep the light on?”

“Go as fast as you can,” Caroni said. Emrallie rubbed dirt on her gloves and jumped for a handhold that Sorrel couldn’t see. They waited, struggling to breathe in the dust, watching Emrallie climb.

A rope snaked down. “Come up one at a time,” Emrallie whisper-shouted from above.

Sorrel stowed away the PlAK and grasped the rope. She held her body away from the drain as Emrallie had once shown her in Jiba. “Anchor your feet,” she’d explained. “Climbing’s for legs, not arms. And keep looking up.”

They stood at the edge of the camp, just inside the wall. “There’s the cabin where the women sleep,” Sorrel whispered, pointing to the outline of the building just ahead.

“We can hardly see anything,” Caroni said. “Are you sure you can find your way across the camp?”

“The women can. Or we can use the PlAK, if we go quickly.”

“They’re locked in, you said? With a key?”

“Sounded like bolts; I’m not sure.”

“Let’s look. You lead, Sorrel. Everyone else, wait here.”

The cabin door was held closed with deadbolts on the outside. There was a lock, but it was old. Caroni eased the bolts back and they squeaked.

“LT?” said a voice from inside. “Did you bring the soup?”

“It’s me,” Sorrel said. “Me and others. Let us in.”

“I’ll get the rest,” Caroni said, as the door opened.

“Leave one person outside,” Sorrel said.

“Why?”

“They can pull the bolts after we go in. If the guard comes back, he’ll think everything is as he left it. Hurry.”

Tribals and Lowlanders gathered inside the barracks. It was dark and stuffy; an old-time flashlight on the wall gave some light.

“Our water’s nearly done,” Selan said. “What’s happening?”