“I’ll send one of the women,” Sorrel said. She leaned down, grabbed Drax by his boots and dragged him out the door.

Outside, there were no more sounds of fighting and the dust was a solid thing around her. She ran in the direction of the gully. Arriving at the wall, she saw several figures standing in a circle, looking down. Rapt was there, gun over his shoulder. Caroni and Emrallie were supporting each other. Rashelope had her machete in one hand and her shovel in the other. Kes stood inside the circle, a small pile of clothing at his feet. The camp women who had joined the fight stood around in silence.

Sorrel walked up to Kes. Tears had drawn lines through the dust on his face.

“What happened?” she said. “Where are the other guards?” She reached out to touch him, and he stepped back, stumbling a little.

“It’s Lichen,” Rashelope said. “Someone shot her. In the back. Maybe it was one of us.”

“Was that the shot I heard?” Sorrel stammered.

“Does it matter?” Rashelope said.

“It doesn’t,” Caroni said.

Lichen lay face down in the dirt. “Don’t touch her. I don’t want to see her face,” Emrallie said, her voice choked.

“Was anyone else hurt?” Sorrel said.

“Journey is dead. Also another of yours – aah – Genus, I think her name is – was,” Kes said. “Some of us are hurt, yes. Slate lost a hand. I don’t think Sandstorm will make it.”

“Where are the wall guards?”

“Dead. They weren’t young and didn’t expect anyone from the inside. We pushed them over the wall. Did you find Ganan?”

“Yes. Two of the camp women are holding him. What about the other guards? The ones on the other side? They must have heard the shot.”

“I don’t know. Arc led some of our band to find them and they haven’t come back.”

Caroni lifted her head. “Go and look for them, Kes. Take at least six of your band – I think there are three or four guards unaccounted for.” She looked down at Lichen’s crumpled figure. “Kill them, if they don’t surrender. Do you have string or rope? If they give up their weapons, tie them up where you find them. How bad is your shoulder?”

“It can wait. See to Slate and Sandstorm. They’re over there, and I think they’re badly hurt.”

Caroni faced the others, but before she could speak again, Rashelope leaned down to lift Lichen’s lifeless body. Her shoulders shook and Sorrel knew she was crying although she could not see her face. She felt a breath of wind and looked up – perhaps the dust would lift at last. She heard footsteps behind her and turned.

Petal and Iris led Ganan towards them, his face raised to the sky.