“They'd kill him if they knew what he was doing.”

“And us,” someone else chimed in. “Kill us or take us back to slavery.”

“So he went back to the Ark, pretending that he'd been lost for a year. And now he sends the things we need down river at the full moon. Or hauls them across the dam if they're too heavy to float.”

“Like the plough.'' Ruth nodded. “I see.”

“But this is wonderful!” the Initiator exclaimed. “Don't you see? We can meet this Tomi, have him show us the way in. We can meet the Lords as equals and talk to them about Ark Three. Perhaps we can persuade them to start a new life Outside.”

“They won't listen. They'll kill you or turn you into slaves,” Swift said definitely.

“I can't believe that. Not when they find out who we are. It's unthinkable.”

“Think about it anyway.” Treefeller leaned forward, his great hands clasped together. “Before you do anything rash, think about it. They are not like you, soft and gentle.”

“Soft?” The Initiator Rushed. “We made the journey across the hills. I think we could fight for our freedom if we had to.”

“They'd crush you. They have the computer. And the soldiers. Two thousand soldiers.”

“Two thousand!”

“Don't be in a hurry to make plans. Talk to Tomi. That is a good idea. See what he thinks. He has told us that he has been trying to undermine the work of the computer ever since he got back.”

''How?”

“I don't know. But he has plans. You must ask him.”

“On the night of the full moon? Is that when he comes

Outside?”

“Often the night before. We go up usually on the night after the full moon to see if he has brought anything for us.”

“So, you don't always see him?”

“No. He has to be secret. We don't know the time of his coming or going. “

“The moon will be full tomorrow,” said Stargazer. “It rises early in the night.”

“Then we should go up to Ark One today, shouldn't we? You can meet the other eighteen who came with us from Ark Three. Then we will wait for Tomi and make a plan.”

THEY CROSSED the river and the col between the two mountains, and arrived in the dark forest shortly before sunset. Ten men and women came with them, among them Swift and Treefeller, Healhand, Arbor and Rowan. The others remained in the village, waiting for a signal, should they be needed.

“Don't we have to cross the river higher up?” Ruth whispered to Swift as they drew close to the great bulk of the Ark.

“No. See that great wall? It holds the river in its course. That building on top is a dam. The water goes down into a machine called a generator that makes the electricity to run the Ark. Do you understand?”