Chapters (50)
- Cover
- MARAUDER
- HISTORICAL ARCHIVES SUBSECTION C/5 category ALPHA
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- EPILOGUE
- TIME LINE
- SHOAL TRILOGY
- EVENTS FOLLOWING EMPIRE OF LIGHT AND PRECEDING MARAUDER
- Acknowledgements
- Also by Gary Gibson
She glanced at Bash, noting his hopeful expression.
Okay, she said, lets do it.
SEVEN
Megan
2763 (the present)
The morning after Megan found herself locked into a basement room on Avilon alongside Bash, Sifra appeared in their cell in the company of the Freeholder, who had Megans satchel slung over his shoulder.
She had been asleep, curled up on the cold hard concrete next to Bashs cot, when they entered. Sifra held an antique Consortium-era assault pistol in one hand, and she saw he still affected a straggly blond goatee, although there were now a few silver streaks. His hair still stuck up in places, giving him the appearance of someone perpetually in the process of just waking up.
He gazed down at her, then nodded with satisfaction. Good work, Luiz, he said to the Freeholder, then grabbed Megan by the arm, hauling her to her feet.
He pressed the barrel of the pistol against her neck and guided her towards the corner of the room farthest away from Bash.
Hello, Megan, said Sifra. Long time no see. Were you surprised to discover I was still alive?
She found it hard to swallow with the gun pushed against her throat. How did you do it, Anil? I left you and Gregor for dead. Didnt the Wanderer try and finish you off?
It lost interest in us, said Sifra, because we no longer had what it wanted. We were stuck out there on the wreck of the Beauregard for very nearly two years, and all thanks to you. Two whole years before General Schelling was able to send out a rescue drone. Plenty of time for me to think about what Id do if I ever met you again.
General Schelling? She laughed because, the last shed heard, the former president of the Three Star Alliance had been reduced to the status of a wanted fugitive. Thats rich. And how is the evil old fucker these days?
Sifra responded by driving his free hand into her belly. She felt her legs give way beneath her, and she slumped back onto the floor.
Sifra stood over her, breathing hard. Shut your smart mouth, Megan, she told herself.
Luiz, said Sifra over his shoulder. Lets see whats in that bag of hers.
Luiz emptied the contents on to the floor, then bent down to pick up Kazims security override device, handing it to Sifra.
Sifra held the device up before her face. I know you got this from a friend of yours, he said. Arturo Kazim, shipping agent and part-time sans de sezi dealer.
Megan looked away. It doesnt matter where I got it from, she replied in a voice now a monotone. It doesnt work.
Sifra nodded, and let the device fall back on to the floor with a clatter. On the contrary, he said, it works just fine.
Megan looked up at him, confused. What the hell are you talking about?