“Why don’t you wait here for now,” said Nielsen. “It’s better that way, don’t you think?”

Kira nodded numbly and watched the other woman drift off to supervise the disembarking process.

The Entropists came over then, and Veera said, “Our apologies for causing—”

“—such a disturbance, Prisoner. The fault is ours for telling the Numenists—”

“—that there are greater infinities than the set of real numbers. For some reason, that offends their concept—”

“—of the Number Supreme.”

Kira waved her hand. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

The Entropists bobbed their heads as one. “It seems—” said Jorrus.

“—that we must part ways,” said Veera. “Therefore, we wished to thank you for sharing the information about your suit with us, and—”

“—for giving us the opportunity to explore the Jelly ship—”

“—and we wish to give you this,” said Jorrus. He handed her a small, gem-like token. It was a disk of what looked like sapphire with a fractal pattern embedded within.

The sight of the fractal gave Kira a shiver of familiarity. The pattern wasn’t the one from her dreams, but it was similar. “What is it?”

Veera spread her hands in a gesture of benediction. “Safe passage to the Motherhouse of our order, the Nova Energium, in orbit around Shin-Zar. We know—”

“—you feel compelled to assist the League, and we would not dissuade you. But—”

“—should you wish otherwise—”

“—our order will guarantee you sanctuary. The Nova Energium—”

“—is the most advanced research laboratory in settled space. Not even the finest labs on Earth are as well equipped … or as well defended. If anyone can rid you of this organism—”

“—it is the minds at the Nova Energium.”

Sanctuary. The word resonated with Kira. Touched, she pocketed the token and said, “Thank you. I may not be able to accept your offer, but it means a lot to me.”

Veera and Jorrus slipped their hands into the opposing sleeves of their robes and clasped their forearms across their chests. “May your path always lead to knowledge, Prisoner.”

“Knowledge to freedom.”

Then the Entropists departed, and Kira was again alone. She didn’t have long with her thoughts before the woman, Inarë, and the cat with the unpronounceable name stopped next to her. The woman was carrying a large floral-patterned carpet bag. She had no other luggage. The cat was perched on her shoulders, every strand of its hair standing on end in the zero-g.

The woman chuckled. “You seem to be having an interesting time of it, Ellen Kaminski.”

“That’s not my name,” said Kira, in no mood to talk.

“Of course it isn’t.”

“Did you want something?”

“Why yes,” said the woman. “Yes I do. I wanted to tell you this: eat the path, or the path will eat you. To paraphrase an old quote.”

“Which means?”

For once Inarë appeared serious. “We all saw what you can do. It seems you have a larger part to play than most in this dismal scheme of ours.”