“They'd be caught at once. They wouldn't stand a chance.”

“Suppose they pretended to be a slave? A slave with a message for Lord Tomi. It might work.” There was silence and Rowan went on desperately. “I know it's a crazy idea, but it's better than sitting here waiting.” Her voice trembled and Ruth realised that Rowan was as anxious about Tomi as she was about Luke.

“Well, I think it's worth trying,” she said, and Rowan flashed her a grateful smile.

“What chance would any of us have to pass for a slave? Just look at us.” Swift threw out his arm. “We're straight backed and sun tanned and well fed.”

“I'd take the risk, Swift.” The old man with the white beard spoke.

“Oh no, Stargazer. Even you look too healthy to be a slave. And what if they caught you, old friend? Back to another life-time of shovelling muck on level Five. After only a year of freedom? It's not to be thought of.”

Ruth stared across the shadowy dam. She swallowed and all the terror of her dream was on her, the fear of heights, the sense of sliding, falling, being forced down down into the destroying waters. I can't, she thought. There must be someone else.

In the silence she heard her own voice, flat and un-emotional. “I'll go. It's partly my responsibility anyway. It was my dreams ... I'm skinnier than any of you and my skin's still quite pale.”

“Ruth, you can’t. “

“Your hair's too short and what would you do for a uniform?”

“Yes, a slave's tunic. Without that you wouldn't stand a chance.”

In the silence, Ruth let out a slow sigh of relief. She had done the necessary, the honourable thing. And now she was off the hook.

“What about Sweetgrass's tunic?” Arbor said suddenly. “You see,” he explained to Ruth and the Initiator, “when an escaped slave is welcomed into the community we hold a ceremony and burn their slave tunic. But Sweetgrass only got away three weeks ago. We haven't had the ceremony. It would have been tonight. At the full moon.”

Ruth managed a stiff smile. “I bet with a slave's tunic and my hair mussed up I could get away with it.”

“It's still an awful risk.”

“Less than if any of you went. I'm just a stranger - passing by. They'll know you're escaped slaves.”

“But if they catch you, how would you explain away what you're wearing?”

“Oh, I'd think of something. I could say I found it thrown among the bushes and that my clothes were wet from crossing the river. I could think of something.”

“Arbor, will you run to the village for the tunic.” Rowan took his hands. He looked at her for a moment.

“I don't know why I do this. But . . . I'll be back at dawn.” He kissed Rowan, and then was off like a rabbit, twisting to and fro among the bushes that covered the col.