“Perhaps our Esper is on the same wave length as the computer's signals, so that it somehow jams them. That would make sense, wouldn't it? Initiator, I just know they're not dead.”

“All right, Ruth. Let's assume that all eighteen of them are inside Ark One. The next question is: Have they met the Overlord, the governors, whoever runs this city, and are they being treated as honoured guests? Or ... “

“There ought to be someone out here to welcome us,” said Ruth in a small voice. “If everything's all right.”

There was a silence.

“So what do we do now?”

“Wait for Tomi,” said Rowan practically.

“Of course! How silly I am being, worrying about things that may not even be happening. As soon as he comes he'll be able to tell us exactly what the situation is. When will that be.?”

“Not until the moon is high over the dam. Crossing in the dark is too dangerous. But he might not come tonight. Maybe not until tomorrow.”

It was maddeningly vague, but there was nothing they could do about it, except wait.

They camped among the trees, within sight of the dam, but out of sight of anyone within the Dome. “Though everyone sleeps at night,” Swift said. “The slaves are drugged and the computer induces sleep in everyone else.”

“But these are different times. It's as well to be careful,” Healhand added.

They watched the moon slide slowly westward, occasionally veiled by a thin drift of cloud. The wind rose and it grew chilly. They huddled close, not daring to light a fire. At last the moon set and the stars blazed out. Pale owls drifted over the col. “He won't come now,” said Swift. “We'll leave the forest and go down the hill, where we can light a fire and get warm. “

They slept late, but the next day still seemed to last for ever. Ruth thought she had never seen the sun move so slowly across the sky. At dusk they put out their fire and moved into the forest.

Again the moon rose and lit the Dome. Again it climbed higher and shone upon the concrete path across the dam. They waited. The light moved off the dam, and the river and its embankments were in darkness again.

“He hasn't come.”

“But he always comes. He was going to bring us ... “

“Perhaps he can't. Perhaps the arrival of your people has changed what happens in the City.”

“But in what way? We have to know what's happening. We can't leave our friends, but if we go in after them we may be walking into a trap,” the Initiator said.

“If someone could sneak into the Ark and find out…” Ruth suggested hopefully.

“But even if we found the passage you speak of, the soldiers will be guarding it. The Three-eyes aren't stupid.”

“What about Tomi's way?'' Rowan suggested. “Across the darn and down into the Ark that way.”