Bash finally stopped thrashing about and fell back again, breathing loudly through his nose. His eyes revealed no hint of human intelligence. Tarrant and Sifra stood back cautiously, waiting to see if hed jump up again.

I think thats it, said Tarrant. Now we see if weve established a bridge.

What the hell are you talking about? demanded Megan.

Tarrant looked over at her. Youre about to talk to the Wanderer, via Bash.

I dont understand what youre

I told you that one of the Kelvins pilots went into a coma and never recovered. But his co-pilot, before he died, found he could communicate with the Wanderer through the unconscious pilots implants, by linking mind-to-mind with him. We think thats the reason he survived longer, because the Wanderer wasnt tapping directly into his own implants.

Whereas what Gregor shot you with inhibits your higher-level implant functions, added Sifra, pulling his gloves back on and coming to stand beside her once more. The device on Bashs head boosts his. All we need you to do is link to Bash, and see what you get. Got that?

Megan nodded tightly, unable to take her eyes away from Sifras hands.

Okay, said Tarrant, reaching out once more to the virtual panel hovering beside him. Im now going to patch Bash through the comms array. Tell me if you hear or feel or sense anything at all.

As Tarrant adjusted something, Megan felt her skin begin to prickle. She had the sudden sense that there was someone else standing immediately behind her, where Sifra had been. Yet he was there right in front of her, watching with evident fascination.

It took an enormous amount of willpower not to look behind her to see if something was there that shouldnt be.

Anything? asked Tarrant.

Not yet.

<Bash?>

No reply, but the link appeared to be functioning optimally.

In the next moment, she had the inescapable sense of being noticed by something cold and alien, and utterly unlike anything she had ever come into contact with before.

<Bash, are you there? Can you . . . ?>

NOT YOU ARE NOT THEY WHO SAIL DEPTHS

Megan gasped as a torrent of sensory information came racing towards her across the link with Bash. A welter of alien sensations assaulted her, and for a moment she was lost in the flood.

She cut the link, with cold perspiration beading her skin. She noticed Tarrant and Sifra staring at her.

What happened just now? asked Tarrant.

She shook her head. I dont know. Ill try again.

Is there anything at all you can describe?

She thought for a moment. Imagine looking up at the stars, she said, and seeing the sky rip open and an enormous eye stare down at you.

The two men exchanged uncertain glances. Try again, instructed Tarrant.

<Who are you?> she asked. <Are you on board the Wanderer?>

WE SEEK THE LEAF THAT FLOATS ON THE RIVER OF LIGHT THAT FALLS THROUGH THE SKY