After that had come many long and boring hours of first flattening out and smoothing the metal strip, then gradually producing a sharpened point by whittling one edge against the grille covering the ventilation system.

She now wrapped the strip of sheet fabric around the unsharpened edge and tied it off. It felt too light, too insubstantial in her hands, more like a toy than a weapon, and yet beneath the overhead lights its edge glittered as sharp and deadly as she might wish. It could certainly cut a throat . . . or slice a wrist.

Could she take her own life, or even Bashs, if it came to that? She had no idea. Shed dreamed often enough of cutting the throats of Tarrant or Sifra. Could that be so hard, after poisoning a roomful of people or murdering a stranger with a crowbar?

Every now and then, she would stare at the makeshift shank clasped in her hand, and think back to the days of luxurious bedchambers and servants. What would that other Gabrielle have thought, she now wondered, if she had ever been able to foresee what lay in her future?

She studied it for a little while longer then, as always, tucked the long metal strip back inside a pair of socks, before returning the fabric grip beneath her mattress. She did it all with the exactitude of a priestess performing a complicated but long-practised rite.

The next day, Tarrant himself came to fetch her, instead of just the usual guards.

Its time for you to have a chat with Megan, he declared, leading her back along the passageway. Make it very clear to her just how much is at stake if she interferes.

What about Bash? asked Gabrielle, aware he was still asleep in his bunk.

The guards will fetch him in a little while, replied Tarrant. You dont need him for you to talk to Megan.

Theres something I dont understand, she said. Megan told me what happened to those other machine-heads when they got here. How come Im not affected or the Ingersolls pilot?

The Ingersoll has been refurbished with shielding specifically designed to resist the Wanderers informational attacks, Tarrant explained. Youll be safe from any such interference when you link to the Wanderer through Bash. And, if we still have any problems, we can always fully reactivate your inhibitor.

They entered the communications suite where the bridging sessions were carried out. Schelling and Sifra were already there, waiting for them. Gabrielle automatically took her usual seat but, for some inexplicable reason, she felt more vulnerable there without having Bash seated across from her.

Tarrant moved around in front of her. Remember, he said. Theres a nova mine in close orbit around Bellhavens sun. So if she doesnt

I didnt forget, she interrupted him. Anything else?