Joya sighed. ‘Easier said than done. The best way to get to the bottom of this would be to undertake a deep search of the dinosaurs’ military networks. Unfortunately, however, our computers are structurally incompatible with theirs. Infiltrating their hardware is easy enough, but to date we have not succeeded in hacking into their software. Which is why we’ve had to resort to eavesdropping to gather information. But that’s a clumsy and imperfect way of going about things and will almost certainly not enable us to resolve this mystery in the short time we have available.’

‘Well, Professor, in my opinion, your concerns are deluded.’ Kachika was impatient now to get back to the business of monitoring her soldiers’ progress on the big screens. ‘Nevertheless, I will provide you with the antpower required to conduct an investigation into this matter. But this cannot be allowed to affect in any way our war against the dinosaurs. Right now, the thing that makes my feelers stand on end is the possibility that the dinosaurs may continue to exist on this Earth. And that, Professor Joya, is our Federation’s one and only cause.’

Without another word, Professor Joya turned and left. The next day, she went missing.

16

Defection

Two soldier ants crept beneath the gate of the imperial palace of Gondwana. 3,000 ants had been charged with laying mine-grains throughout the palace’s computer systems and inside the skulls of the palace dinosaurs and these two were the last to withdraw. Having slipped through the crack beneath the gate, they began the precipitous descent of the tall palace steps. From the sheer cliff-face of the top step, they spotted the figure of an ant climbing towards them.

‘Eh? Isn’t that Professor Joya?’ the first soldier ant said to the other in surprise.

‘The Federation’s chief scientist? You’re right, it is her.’

‘Professor Joya!’ The soldier ants greeted the chief scientist with a concentrated burst of pheromones.

Glancing up at them, Joya gave a start, as though she might scuttle off and hide. After a moment of hesitation, she steeled herself and continued on up to meet them.

‘Professor, what are you doing here?’

‘I’ve come to… ah… inspect the deployment of mine-grains in the palace.’

‘It’s all done. The troops have already withdrawn.’ The soldier ant paused. ‘What’s a high-ranking officer like you doing here? It’s too dangerous!’

‘I need… I need to have a look. As you know, this zone is of particular importance.’ And with that, Joya scurried swiftly towards the gate of the imperial palace and vanished beneath it.

‘Did she seem a bit off to you?’ asked the first soldier ant, gazing after Joya.

‘She did. Something’s not right. Where’s your radio? We need to report this to the commander right away.’

*