The farmer looked straight at me. I couldn’t speak, but I met her gaze, and I let my right hand drop to my side. She addressed Twenty again, deadpan. “I’m happy to testify for you, about what I’ve seen here. So if they’re willing to give up their hostage and come with us – you have my word, justice won’t be compromised.”

Four other farmers appeared at the edge of the hold. Kuwale, still sitting by the wall, raised a hand in greeting, and called out something in a Polynesian language. One of the farmers laughed raucously, and replied. I felt a surge of hope. The ship was swarming with people – and when it came down to the prospect of a massacre, face-to-face, the ACs had buckled.

I put the gun in my back pocket. I shouted up, “He’s free to go!”

Three rose to his feet, looking surly. I said quietly, “She’s dead anyway. You said so, yourself. You’re already savior of the universe.” I tapped my stomach. “Think of your place in history. Don’t tarnish your image, now.” He exchanged glances with Twenty, then started climbing the rope ladder.

I threw the gun into a corner of the hold, then went to help Kuwale. Ve took the ladder slowly; I followed close behind, hoping I’d be able to catch ver if ve lost vis grip.

There must have been thirty farmers on deck – and eight ACs, most of them with guns, who seemed far more tense than the unarmed anarchists. I felt a reprise of horror at the thought of what might have happened. I looked around for Helen Wu, but she was nowhere in sight. Had she returned to the island during the night, to oversee Mosala’s death? I’d heard no boat … but she might have donned scuba gear, and ridden the harvester.

As we started making our way toward the edge of the deck, where a concertina bridge linked the two ships, Twenty called out, “Don’t think you’re going to walk away with stolen property.”

The farmer was losing patience; she turned to me. “Do you want to empty out your pockets, and save us all some time? Your friend needs a doctor.”

“I know.”

Twenty approached me. She looked around the deck, meaningfully, and my blood froze. It wasn’t over yet. They hoped that whatever they’d done to Mosala was irreversible by now … but they weren’t certain, and they were ready to start shooting rather than turn me loose with footage which proved that the danger was real.

They knew Mosala too well. I had no idea how I’d convince her, without it; she already believed that I’d cried wolf, once.

I had no choice, though. I invoked Witness , and wiped everything. “Okay. It’s done. It’s erased.”

“I don’t believe you.”