Well? demanded Sifra, gesturing towards the remaining prisoners with his pistol. How many more of them do I have to kill before you start talking?

Gabrielle stared at Sifra, seeing only Thijs wearing a different skin. They were the same man, really: calculating, vicious, and ultimately weak.

No, she said quietly. You want me to break down and tell you everything, and then youre going to murder every last one of us, regardless. So why should I tell you anything?

Sifra stared at her impassively, his fingers flexing around the grip of his gun. Gabrielle felt a strange calm come over her. She knew she was going to die; she had already accepted it. At least this way its my choice.

Fine, Sifra said at last. He beckoned to Tarrant, still cradling Evie against his shoulder. The kid give it to me.

Tarrant stared at him uncertainly.

Gabrielle felt her sense of calm melt away as quickly as it had appeared. Gregor, she said, no.

Tarrant was clearly experiencing a deep internal conflict, and for a moment she thought he might refuse. But then he lifted Evie away from his shoulder and handed her to his colleague.

No, said Gabrielle again, and began moving towards Sifra.

Hard, rough hands seized hold of her from behind.

Bring her over here, said Sifra, carrying the child over to the far end of the room, and laying her down on a small table by the entrance.

A guard dragged Gabrielle over beside him. Sifra had reversed his pistol in his hand, so he was now holding the butt over Evies tiny, fragile head.

Times up, said Sifra. Start talking.

Gabrielle struggled to breathe, her lungs aching with a kind of pain she had never experienced before. She didnt want to believe what was happening was real, or that she was really here.

Just tell him what he wants to know, Tarrant grated, stepping up behind her.

Shes your daughter, she croaked, twisting round to face him. How could you let him do something like this?

Instead of answering, he looked away.

Well? asked Sifra, raising his pistol a little higher.

Megan Jacinth isnt her real name, Gabrielle finally said, in a rush. She was the last Speaker-Elect before me. They made up the story about a kidnap attempt to hide the fact that she had managed to escape on her own but not until after shed merged with the Ship of the Covenant.

Sifra and Tarrant stared at each other.

Bullshit, said Sifra, raising his pistol again as if about to bring it smashing down.

Wait a minute, said Tarrant, putting out his hand.

Sifra halted.

How do you know all this? Tarrant asked her. Did Megan tell you?

Shes making this up, Sifra was shaking his head. Dont seriously tell me you believe her?

I want to be clear about this. Tarrant was staring at Gabrielle. Youre telling me Megan is also a clone of Dakota Merrick?

Gabrielle nodded.