She peered at Megan for a moment, then looked back towards the lake, now lost somewhere over the far horizon. The official story I heard was that there had been an attempt to kidnap the Speaker-Elect before me, which was why they made Karl I mean, Gregor Tarrant my bodyguard. But he told me once that he had heard other stories, that the girl before me somehow escaped, with help, and that the official story was just a cover-up. But he couldnt find any proof and decided it was just a rumour, and nothing more.

Megan felt her blood chill. If Tarrant had kept digging further, he might eventually have worked out who she really was.

Its slightly more complicated than that, she said.

She told Gabrielle about her flight through Dios with Malcolm and how she had no memories of her previous life in the Demarchy. Gabrielles eyes widened and her skin turned even paler than from just the cold.

You dont remember anything? asked Gabrielle.

Not a thing. I know that her my name was Est, but thats all.

So what they were going to do to me . . . they had already done to you. And now you have all Dakota Merricks memories?

Yes, but Im not her, Megan replied, a touch defensively.

But you are her, arent you? Were both genetically identical to her, so if you have her memories as well, then . . .

Megan shook her head adamantly. That still doesnt make me her. She died centuries ago. I have no . . .

No responsibility for the things she did or the decisions she made, she had almost said.

Who is he, really? asked Gabrielle, changing the subject. Gregor Tarrant, I mean. Before we escaped, I knew him as Karl Petrova. What does he even want from me?

He wants an opportunity to merge you with the Ship of the Covenant himself, then give you to the Wanderer so it can use you the same way Tarrant wants to use Bash as a means to an end. She went on to tell Gabrielle about her first encounter with the alien entity, and the circumstances whereby Bash had been reduced to a near-vegetative state.

Thats so terrible, said Gabrielle, her eyes downcast, once Megan finished the whole story.

Gabrielle, I have to ask . . . is Tarrant the father of your child?

Gabrielle lowered her gaze to the stony black ground at her feet, then nodded. I feel such a fool. Her hand folded over her belly. All the time, he was telling me such ridiculous lies, and I believed him because I wanted to.

Are you sure you want to keep it?

Gabrielle darted a surprised glance towards her. It didnt do anything wrong, she said. Its all I have left . . . as Bash is all you have left.

Come again?

Thats the reason you came to find Bash, isnt it? Because you care about him.