Megan opened her mouth to explain, then she grinned and shook her head. Well, you can ask all you want, she said, but thats something Im keeping to myself. Sorry.

Then at least tell me how your friend Bash ended up brain-damaged? Is that connected to all of this in some way?

It is. And his vegetative state is because of something done to him by the same people who kidnapped Gabrielle. Hes my oldest friend, Miss Stiles. I . . . couldnt just leave him with them.

Call me Martha, said Stiles. Must have been hellishly difficult, leading him all the way from the lake to that canopy tree. He cant even walk a couple of paces without someone guiding him, can he?

No, Megan agreed. No, he cant.

Stiles sighed and put her coffee on the floor between her feet, before sitting back.

Im going to do something really stupid, and trust you, she declared. The only alternative is throwing all three of you back outside, but Im not going to do that. Want to know why?

Go on.

I saw how well you cared for him for Bash. I saw the way you handled him. Call it gut instinct, but something about you made me feel sure you were a good person, even if you were being more than a little economical with the truth.

Megan hardly knew what to say. I . . . thank you, but I think you should be aware that the Freeholders are going to be looking for us, and for Gabrielle in particular.

Stiles thought for a moment. Thanks for the warning, but I dont know how likely that really is, since the dropships a total write-off. For all they know, you three got killed in the explosion.

Megan nodded. I wont deny I was kind of hoping they might think that.

Ill admit we managed to find your trail, Stiles continued, but only just, and the storm thats coming in is going to obliterate it pretty swiftly. Now, why dont you tell me just what it is you have planned for Gabrielle, once youre finally gone from here?

Im going to take her somewhere safe, and a long way away from Redstone, said Megan with heartfelt conviction. She leaned forward. You know, we could leave right now. If you gave us some transport, we could be out of your hair forever.

Stiles shook her head. Forget it. With the current no-fly restrictions, your only way out of here is overland, and were hundreds of kilometres from the nearest settlement not to mention that the storms going to hit any minute now. And besides, your friend Bash still needs to take his turn in the medbox.

Then I want to ask you a favour, Martha . . . maybe a big one. I badly need to get to Aguirre so I can arrange safe passage off Redstone for all three of us. But I cant do that if I take the others with me.