Megan watched him, with her head propped up on one elbow, as Sarbakshian coughed violently and rolled onto his back, swallowing with evident difficulty. Although the bedroom was dimly lit, she could see that when he opened his eyes they were rimmed with red, while his face was pale and bloodless. There was no sign of the lusty energy hed demonstrated just a few short hours before, when she had allowed him to believe he was seducing her.

God damn you, look at you, he said, staring at her. How does anyone drink that much and wake up without a hangover?

Another benefit of being a machine-head, she said. Full functional control of the diuretic system, the increased ability to process alcohol so no hangovers.

He thought for a second. So were you only faking becoming drunk last night?

Youll never know, she said, and nodded past him. I woke you up because you have an alert, and it looks like an urgent one.

Sarbakshian twisted his head the other way to see a pale red globe floating by his bedside. He reached out and touched it, and it vanished like a soap bubble. Whatever it was must have been private, because she could see nothing more. Its your friend Sifra, Sarbakshian grunted. Hes on the move. His dropships just departed the Liberia.

Megan pulled herself out of the bed and looked around for her clothes. Any idea where hes heading? she asked, finding and pulling on her underwear.

I had someone put a tracking device on that ship of his, and its heading east. Sarbakshian frowned. Well, well.

What?

He turned and looked at her. Its heading for the Montos de Frenezo. He seems an interesting fellow, your Sifra.

About what youre thinking, she said, I dont know the answer.

What was I going to ask?

Whether he had anything to do with what happened to the Demarchy. If I knew, I swear to God Id tell you. But right now I have to go.

She hunted around until she found her top, and pulled it on. She looked down at him, still sprawled amidst tangled sheets. Theres just one more thing I need from you, Sabby.

He chuckled. After last night, Im ready to say yes to just about anything.

If Sarbakshian regretted making that offer before hearing just what it was she wanted, he did a good job of hiding it.

An hour later, Megan boarded his personal jump-car and started checking its systems. It wasnt machine-head compatible, but required only a minimum of manual intervention. All she needed to do, Sarbakshian told her, was tell it where she wanted to go. Manual control was entirely optional. Megan would have preferred something a little more interactive something she could genuinely control but, for all that, it was a surprisingly roomy beast.