‘So all of the animals and birds you sent to Eden …’

‘Will be able to be revived in the short term, but beyond that we can’t truly know,’ Doktaruth said. ‘Of course, the idea is that the animals will be awakened and replaced every ten years, except for an animal whose species goes extinct. And we will be constantly monitoring the process and improving the science and technology of cryosleep so that the safe periods will grow longer.’

Cassy said rather abruptly, ‘I don’t suppose I could look at the last flamebird one more time.’

The older woman laughed. ‘If it were up to me, Cassandra, I would let you pet the bird to your heart’s content. But it is being kept in the live animal enclosure, and I need my security pass to enter it. That pass of your father’s would get you in, but your visit would be recorded and all hell would break loose. I promise, when they bring the bird to me, I will send word and you can come and see it.’

‘You promise?’ Cassy asked urgently, looking suddenly younger.

Doktaruth gave her a pitying look. ‘You are not responsible for what they have done to these birds just because you painted them.’

‘I know … it had to be this way, I know,’ Cassy said distractedly.

It must have sounded as odd to the older woman as it did to me, for she gave Cassy a searching look, then she said, ‘I will see if I can get the bird here sooner. Say I have some tests to run. It might not be too difficult this week, with all the fuss around the completed Sentinel program being uplinked to the Balance of Terror arsenal for the first time. All the top government people from the five powers will be here for it, not to mention the spinners and the press. There will be so much additional security that we won’t be able to take a step near the thing without being interrogated, but the rest of our projects ought to be under less scrutiny than usual. Of course they will watch strangers like hawks, but you and I do not fall into that category.’

Cassy looked taken aback. ‘I hadn’t realised they were going to link Sentinel to the Balance of Terror weapons. I thought it was just a ceremony about the completion of the project.’

‘Oh, don’t look so worried,’ Doktaruth laughed. ‘The uplink will only be partial because a complete link would lock us humans out of the loop. But after a barrage of tests – and assuming they are successful – the development phase will be at an end and the program will be installed in a permanent terminal in a remote high-security facility. Then a full uplink to the BOT computers will be established. But speaking of security, I think you have been here long enough. I don’t want Lei to come sauntering in and see you.’ She glanced down at the small bracelet on her wrist. ‘I will walk you back to the cafeteria and grab a sandwich. I haven’t eaten since breakfast and I can use my pass to get you out.’