And yet I knew I had to do something. The Carnivores had been keen to silence all the witnesses on the liner, and I had little doubt we’d share the same fate. I ground my knuckles into the cradle of my other hand. I couldn’t imagine a scenario in which he’d allow us to report what had transpired here. As soon as he’d ascertained we were telling the truth about the whereabouts of Sudak and his son, we’d be done for.

The Trouble Dog’s avatar reappeared onscreen. “I’m receiving a transmission from the Brain,” she informed me.

“From our team?”

“No, it’s a general broadcast from somebody who identifies themselves as Ona Sudak, a Conglomeration citizen.”

“Put it on the monitor.”

“Aye aye.”

The screen cleared to reveal a middle-aged woman with closely cropped white hair. She was wearing a survival suit. Her cheeks looked hollow and her eyes were ringed with exhaustion.

“—so far unharmed,” she was saying.

“The Righteous Fury’s responding,” the Trouble Dog said.

“Can we listen in?”

“Sure.”

There was a sharp hiss of static, and then I heard Menderes saying, “All I can do is apologise, ma’am. The Fenrir had no idea you were aboard the vessel. As soon as I heard, I came here with all speed. I couldn’t risk a transmission, so I am glad I am not too late.”

“Thank you, Jacob.” Sudak’s face registered sadness and relief. I could only begin to guess what she’d endured in the week since her liner crashed. The thing that surprised me most, however, was the way Menderes seemed to be acting with uncharacteristic deference. I glanced questioningly at Laura but she frowned back, equally puzzled.

Who was this woman?

I watched her wipe the back of her hand across her forehead, leaving a dirty smudge. “I’m sending you my coordinates,” she said. “Come and get me.”

“I’ll have a team with you as soon as we can prep the shuttle,” Menderes said. “Is my son with you?”

Sudak looked puzzled.

“Preston?” She shook her head. “No, I haven’t seen him. But there are others here in the tunnels. He could be with them.”

Sixty-Three: Ona Sudak

SIXTY-THREE

ONA SUDAK

Enough!

The bear towered over me.

You are simply pleading for your own deliverance.

I looked up at it, annoyed by the interruption. “Those are my shipmates up there on the big ship. If I can get on board, perhaps I can convince them to back off.”

The creature’s snout lowered to within centimetres of my face. Its jaws were wide enough to accommodate my entire head. Its breath smelled like a butcher’s shop on a hot afternoon.

You have no interest in preventing conflict. You simply wish to escape.

“Can you blame me?”

Given your history, no.