And risk exposing the Demarchy of Uchida to the kind of scrutiny people like Thijs would rather die than allow? He chuckled. Ive been preparing for this day for a long time, Gaby. Well soon have new identities and new lives. He squeezed her shoulder again, then raised his fingers to tousle her hair gently. Picture us some place warm where it never gets as cold as it does everywhere on this damn world, and living under some other sun. There are a thousand places I could get work as a security consultant, and youll be able to decide for yourself what you want to do with the rest of your life. Just another day or two, and all this will be behind you, I promise. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and flashed her a reassuring smile. Why do you ask? Having second thoughts?

She frowned. No, of course not.

Theres no turning back after this, Gaby.

Havent I told you often enough how much I hate every last one of them? she hissed through clenched teeth. She remembered times before she had met Karl, when it had taken all her willpower not to scream and to suppress the raw red anger she kept so tightly bundled deep inside herself. I despise them all, more than you can

He reached down and pressed a finger against her lips. I know, he said, but I still needed to ask.

She pushed his hand away and laughed. Im not sure you could ever really understand, Karl. Not without being a woman.

Karl had not been her first. That had been Thijs, who had come into her quarters one night years before, when she had been little more than a child, chasing Mater Cassanas out of Gabrielles bedchamber before raping her. It had given her an insight into her true value in the eyes not only of Thijs but also of Lampard, Abramovic and even Mater Cassanas herself.

Gabrielle

She silenced him with a kiss. But its true what you say. Itll all be over soon, and then the both of us will be gone from here forever.

Then theres something you need to do, he said, sliding his legs over the side of the bed and standing up. She pushed herself up on one elbow as he started to dress.

What is it?

He pulled on his trousers, then removed something from his jacket pocket, holding it up where she could see it. Do you know what this is?

Gabrielle saw a thumb-sized vial filled with a dark red liquid the colour of blood. What is it?

This, said Karl, is our ticket to freedom. Nanocytes, carrying a neurotoxin cargo. Theyre entirely harmless unless activated by a remote signal. When that happens, they release the neurotoxin into the bloodstream. Death then follows quite quickly.