Machines, she said. Millions of them, interlinked and autonomous, comprising a single hive mind. And every last one of them is equipped with a nova drive. Try and imagine the damage an entity like that could do to us to all of humanity. Theyre on their way here, and weve got no more than a year or two at the most before they turn up in force.

Sifra rubbed at his chin. What does this have to do with the Wanderer?

Back when I communicated with the Wanderer, I got a hint from it of something that could halt the Swarm before it reaches us.

Sifra scowled at her. How in hell could you know of such a thing? Surely if something like that was really coming our way, itd be headline news everywhere?

She struggled to think of an explanation that might convince him. The worst thing she could do, she decided, was to tell him the truth.

Look, sometimes I come into contact with other species in particular the Atn, she said, improvising wildly. And its general knowledge that the Atn have records going back longer than any other species in the Milky Way, including the Shoal.

So youre saying the Atn told you this Swarm was on its way here?

Theres an Atn clade in the same system as Morgans World, she said, her mind racing. Its a long story, but I found out that one of their other clades had reported a Swarm passing through their region of space, and . . .

She heard Luiz give a snicker from the far corner of the room, and felt her face grow hot.

Oh, man, said Luiz, I was wrong. This is worth it just for the entertainment value alone.

I think, Sifra said to her, his expression turned sour, that if you wanted to make me even angrier than I already was, you couldnt do better than all this bullshit about swarms and caches.

For Gods sake, she snapped, what do you want from me?

Youre right about one thing, Megan, said Sifra. Going out to the Wanderer on your own, with nothing to offer it, would be suicide. And you dont strike me as the suicidal type. Nevertheless, I feel sure thats just what you were intending to do.

There are things you dont know about me. She chose her words carefully. You asked why I wanted to talk to the Wanderer well, now you know.

God damn it! he shouted, then turned to Luiz. Go ahead. Carve him up. And, while youre at it, let me think about whether he even needs his hands. Or his dick, for that matter. He glanced back at Megan and snapped his fingers. Now I really should have thought of that first.

No, said Megan, her voice calm despite her inner turmoil. Youre not going to singe so much as one damn hair on Bashs head.

And why the hell not? Sifra demanded.

Luiz, meanwhile, regarded her with apparent interest.