They disembarked to find a thin sleet outlining the shape of the containment field around them. The Grand Barge, dwarfing everything in its vicinity, had recently been repainted and refitted, and its upper hull was now festooned with pennants.

Gabrielle tried to look appreciative. Indeed, under any other circumstances, the sights and sounds of this day would have struck her as extraordinary. Her younger self would have revelled in the commotion, in the smell of the water able to find its way through the containment field. Yes, that previous Gabrielle would have been thrilled, but she now had to force herself to pay attention to conceal the tension and fear that gripped her.

Other barges, equally opulent if not quite so enormous, waited at alternative moorings. These would be transporting Abramovics research staff, whose purpose was to analyse and measure all the data recovered from the Ship of the Covenant.

And then, unless she acted, she herself would be killed and her body secretly disposed of, as had happened to every Speaker-Elect before her.

Members of the security services expeditionary forces, under Karls command, stood at attention on either side of the ramp leading up into the barge, their body armour glittering in the morning light. They had, she knew, arrived fresh from wiping out a Freehold stronghold in the Montos de Frenezo. Most Freeholders had long since fled Redstone, but a few fanatics stayed behind to strike against the Demarchy.

The hull sealed itself behind them as soon as they entered the Grand Barge, a deep bass rumble then running up through her feet and into her bones as the fusion-driven turbines began to power up.

They were under way.

FOUR

Gabrielle

There were endless civic duties to be performed en route, as the barges slowly made their way one by one downriver and away from Port Gabriel. She duly performed her part, having been trained for this day throughout her life. The final ceremony did not come to a close until the sun was long sunk beneath the horizon, and then it was time for Mater Cassanas to accompany her to her temporary quarters aboard.

Barely a minute had passed before a knock came at the door. Karl entered as soon as Mater Cassanas opened it.

Ill speak with the Elect alone, he told the older woman. Ill let you know when you can return.

I dont know what youre planning to do when we reach Dios, Pater Petrova, but

Take care, Mater Cassanas, said Karl, not to say anything you might regret. Your boy lives or dies by my word.

For all I know hes dead already, she spat, rounding on him and visibly shaking with anger. How would I know?

Karl studied her with clear contempt, and Gabrielle waited, heart in mouth, to see what he might do next.