Theyre trying to what? exclaimed Tarrant, when she gave her latest report.

Having spent the better part of three hours interrogating the Wanderer, Megan now had difficulty forming words. I think what its saying, she rasped, is that the Makers are trying to redefine the laws of the universe. Theyve converted entire star systems at the core of the galaxy into gigantic computers, transmuting them on the subatomic level. For some related reason, they needed access to the black hole at the galaxys centre. The Core Transcendence tried to stop them encroaching on its territory, and the Makers just . . . wiped them out.

But why? asked Tarrant. What purpose could there possibly be in all this?

She coughed and massaged her eyes vigorously with the heels of her hands. They think theres something hidden beyond our universe, and therefore if they change the rules by which this universe operates, they can gain entry into that greater reality.

Tarrant appeared clearly unsettled. Youre talking about them in the present tense. Are you saying theyre still around?

She nodded tiredly, wanting nothing more now than to go to sleep. Theyre still around, all right, and building something around the black hole itself. But what it is, I couldnt even begin to guess.

She let her eyes slide shut for just a second, and she was rewarded with the flat of a hand striking her on one cheek. She gasped from the shock, and reopened her eyes to see Sifra leaning directly over her.

You need to stay with us, he snapped, before turning to face Tarrant. This is all very interesting, but it sure as hell isnt what we came here for. We need, instead, to focus on getting hold of practical information.

Megan laughed wearily. What does it take to make you understand? she said. Its not going to provide anything unless it gets our nova drive in return.

Sifra gave her a scowl. Then make it very clear that well destroy it if it refuses to negotiate. Maybe itll start to see reason once it understands whats at stake.

And what if it attacks us?

Then we jump out of range, said Sifra. Its not as if it can follow us, after all. The Kelvin may have been taken by surprise, but its not going to catch us out the same way.

That was it, then, she thought hopelessly. They were going to keep forcing her and Bash to link to the Wanderer until they both died or were left permanently brain-damaged.

It was too late for Bash anyway. He had soon stopped speaking altogether, and when she sat by him and took his hand and tried to talk to him, he just stared blankly past her as if unaware either of her or of his surroundings.

She had to act soon, before she herself wound up the same way.