‘One other thing,’ she added. ‘Once you’re on your way to the Moon with Mitchell, we want you to send the contents of the Tau Ceti database to this network location.’ Saul received a string of data even as she spoke. ‘We’ll share those files with any survivors on Mars ad the other research platforms, see what we can find out. After that, it’s up to you to get your own copy through to at least one of the colonies.’

‘I’ll miss you,’ he said.

He could hear the catch in her throat as she replied. ‘Goodbye, Saul – from both of us. Take care.’

And with that she was gone.

He sat down hard in the dirt and dust, suddenly light-headed. After a minute he heard something like gunfire from the direction of the hotel. Three shots in rapid succession, then, after a brief pause, one last shot that affected him like a hammer blow.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Florida Array, 8 February 2235

The hopper dropped from the sky later that afternoon, a bright fleck of silver resolving gradually into a brightly coloured tourist bus, descending on VTOL jets. Random detritus erupted from the car park as Saul watched from a short distance away. The bus rotated a few times before folding its wings away and landing, its turbines diminishing from a high-pitched whine to a low rumble.

He then jogged forward and climbed through the hatch as soon as it opened. He spotted Mitchell sitting in a cramped acceleration chair – just behind the pilot, who raised one hand in greeting before reaching back for his controls.

‘Saul.’ Mitchell smiled a greeting hesitantly, almost shyly. ‘It’s been a while.’

Saul stared back at him, his mind full of all the things he’d learned about Mitchell.

‘For Christ’s sake, man, at least sit down.’ Mitchell then glanced at the pilot. ‘Hey Sam? I think we can—’

The aircraft lurched immediately with an escalating howl, and Saul stumbled as he quickly pulled himself into the seat next to Mitchell’s. A light blinked on, and a computerized voice urged him to strap in.

‘Sorry,’ Sam called over one shoulder. ‘Figured it was best not to stick around here. We got shot at during our approach.’

While Saul strapped himself in, the sun went sliding past the window, as the hopper rotated in mid-air.

‘Olivia told me you were aiming to head for the Moon,’ he began.

Mitchell nodded. ‘And she explained what you’re planning to do. I mean about shutting down the whole Array.’

‘What else did she say?’

‘That you’d done a pretty good job of digging up a lt of classified information.’

‘I know about the Founder Network and the recovered artefacts, if that’s what you mean. And I also know what happened to you.’