The second thing he thought was that there wasn’t any air.

Being underwater was as close as Alex’s mind could get to understanding the sensation. A feeling of the silent environment pressing in, simultaneously surrounding him and supporting him. But it wasn’t like being underwater at all. After a few panicking seconds, his body relaxed.

The stormy night had vanished. It was a bright but dismal day, and they stood on a small ledge jutting out from a high cliff. Behind them, where Alex would have expected to see the gate they had just stepped though, stood only a sheer, solid wall of rock, stretching up out of sight.

Far below, a pale landscape spread out like a desert of snow, vast and featureless, save for a black forest clustered darkly along the distant horizon. Their narrow shelf led off around a curve in the rock face, just a few feet away. And there, just where the path turned, the tall man stood, pulling on his coat.

Father. It worked! . . . Did it work?

Zia’s voice sounded inside Alex’s head, horribly intimate.

Yes. Alexia. I am well. All is well. The tall man removed his hard white mask, letting it drop without a sound. The smooth skin of his face practically glowed. Silver-black hair shone thickly as he swept it back from his high forehead. Alex knew that his father would have looked very much like this man. He tried to stop thinking about that.

Zia ran and hugged the tall figure. He patted her head.

Well done, Hans. The man looked at Beckman. A perfect incantation under less than perfect circumstances. You learned well. We must see about getting you out from your exoskeleton soon. Too much longer, and you may never be able to remove it.

Beckman smiled and pulled back his coat collar and bright polka-dot scarf. The wounds in his neck were gone. The tubes connecting him to his robotic body had fused seamlessly with the skin. Already too late, I think. Passing through the gate has . . . healed things together, ha-ha. But I like this body. I like being strong.

The tall man pursed his lips quizzically, then nodded, before turning to Alex.

And, Alexander. You are with us. As it should be. Taking your father’s place.

Alex opened his mouth to speak and found he couldn’t. He tried thinking a reply and sending it out, wondering if they would hear. No. I’m not with you. I’ll never be with you. My dad would never have been with you.

The tall man’s smile broadened sympathetically. Well. We knew your father better than you ever did, child. As for you: we shall see. There is lots of time to come. For the moment, we shall treat you as a guest, if you behave like one. But first, we must complete. Come.

He turned and strode beyond the corner. Zia and Beckman hurried after him.