Chen Zhongren studied Andō closely, frowning. “You believe we can reclaim our seats, against Madame? We all got these seats in the first place thanks largely to Madame.”

Andō met his eyes. “I have three billion voting shares, my own connections, family, my ten bash’children and their… abilities, and Ganymede and Danaë, who are mine, firmly, not Madame’s, mine. Whether I reach out my hand from here, or from a prison, makes little difference to me. You may strike out on your own if you wish, but I am confident.”

Chen Zhongren nodded. “Was this Danaë’s idea?”

The others say Andō flinched here, as if the question found his armor’s chink. “This is my solution,” he answered. “The only solution. I will not let Madame unite all the Hives, not even under Tai-kun. Those of you who are too tired to fight may do as you will. The rest I hope will join me and help to build a weak new board with Dominic at its helm. Dominic will destroy those who destroyed us, and then we will destroy Dominic and take all back again. The other six Hives have fallen, but not irrevocably, not while we endure. Who is with me?”

CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH

I Was Wrong.

I was wrong. I had lost conviction’s armor when I first faced Jehovah at my capture, and for thirteen years I embraced doubt, which lacks the oak’s strength but sways reedlike before all storms, and so ensures one will at least never again be wrong. Fool that I am, I cast that doubt aside. I was so sure. When I awoke I would fly with zephyr speed to bring Bridger back to Jehovah, who would marshal His many fathers to commit all Hives to sharing Bridger’s gift with a grateful world. That was the Plan, and I, Its agent, thought I understood. As if the trowel that slops mortar on the stones can understand the exalted aim of the cathedral. Unleash your vengeance on me, reader, Furies, God; I who forgot the lesson bought with Apollo’s blood deserve no less.

«Welcome back, Mycroft. You’re now the new Anonymous.»

I awoke in the hygienic prison of a Utopian hospital bed. My doctors knew I would not consent to convalescence without restraint, and, weakened as I was, they still showed due respect to Apollo’s murderer by fashioning my straps of Cannergel.

«There were four coups while you were under.» Papadelias sat at my bedside, warming me with soft Greek and himself with coffee. «Ancelet exposed themself as the Anonymous and resigned so the Humanists can rush an election to make them President. The Mitsubishi Directors have all been arrested, the Cousins have scrapped their government and are holding elections under an interim constitution, and the entire European government was assassinated, so Spain’s taken over as interim… they’re saying Prime Minister but Dictator is more accurate. I can activate your tracker if you want to see the news.»

It took some tries to get my voice to work again. «Je-Jehovah?»