It took her another moment to work out that the voice was coming through her implants. Someone was trying to communicate with her remotely, and was managing to do so despite the device Tarrant had injected into her neck. The voice was male, with a deep and resonant warmth to it that somehow soothed her jangled nerves. It certainly did not sound like the voice of someone intent on doing her harm.

Who are you? she spoke tentatively into the air.

<You need to get out of there,> said the voice. <Go over to the door, Gaby.>

Gabrielle hesitated, then did as she was instructed. The door had no visible handle of any type, and she had already tried pushing it open, to no avail. The lock was clearly electronic.

To her amazement, it swung quietly open at her approach. She stared outside at the far wall of the cave in astonishment.

How did you do that? she demanded. Who are you?

<I need you to come and find me, Gaby,> said the voice. <Ive been lost out here for a long, long time, and I can only stay for a little while. So believe me when I say you need to hurry.>

Gabrielle swallowed hard, and stepped out onto the sloping floor of the cave. When no one challenged her, she scanned up and down the length of the cave, seeing that it was entirely deserted. Downslope lay only darkness.

<Go up, Gaby.>

What if someone sees me? she whispered.

<I can see you through their cameras, but they cant not for now, anyway. Get moving, girl.>

She pushed her breather mask into one pocket of her coat and headed upwards to where the cave accessed a tunnel drilled out of the rock. Overhead lights shone down on rows of parked trucks and racks of equipment.

<Now go left.>

She halted. Im not going anywhere until you tell me who the hell you are, she whispered loudly. How do I know youre not working for Tarrant? And just where are you sending me?

<You can call me Bash,> said the voice. <Im a friend. You can trust me.>

She held her ground, even though her heart was hammering in her chest. That isnt enough, she said. Why are you helping me like this?

<Ive been fighting a war>, said Bash. <Ive been far away, in places you couldnt even begin to imagine. Im so close to figuring out just what it is the Wanderers been hiding all this time.>

What war? she hissed, peering ahead of herself as she proceeded further along the tunnel. And what the hell is the Wanderer? Up ahead she could see what looked like the entrance to another cavern. Are you talking about the Freehold?

<Find Megan,> said the voice. <Shell know what to do.>

Who? Whos Meg . . . ?