“For everything. For falling out of the cargo plane. For stumbling on those traitors, and telling them our location. I’m sorry I won’t get to see you dance.” The words tumble out, and I’m not sure what part of me is speaking. I can barely move my lips.

“Don’t be a fool,” Bellara says. “We’ll get out of this.” I can tell she does not believe it.

Selvie and Marie stand several paces apart. Selvie is tensed to run. Marie seems relaxed. They speak for minutes, and Selvie shakes her head each time Marie gestures. The gesturing becomes more desperate, until at long last Selvie gives a tired nod. She follows Marie and both figures disappear from view.

“It’s a trap!” I say, trying to struggle to my feet. Bellara holds me down, though I am so much bigger and stronger. I try not to pass out from the effort of fighting her, until sweat covers my face. Only Selvie’s reappearance takes the fight out of me.

Selvie jogs back into camp, her face animated. She is followed at a cautious distance by Marie, and several soldiers behind her. They are all armed, and one of those soldiers is Martin, her cousin. My hair stands on end.

“Put your weapons down!” Selvie orders. “They are friendlies. Everyone put your weapons down!”

This time Bellara isn’t able to keep me down. I surge to my feet. “No! It’s a trick, don’t let them . . .”

Selvie throws herself toward me. “Teado, you must calm down. It isn’t a trick!”

Before anyone can make sense of the confusion, Marie and her men are among us. My friends are disarmed, and Marie crosses the distance to stand beside Selvie. She looks down at me with what I take as a look of arrogant pity. I summon all my reserves and take a swipe at her.

Martin Changes before my blow can land. He catches my arm and clamps me by the shoulders, wrestling me into submission with a distressingly small amount of effort. Several soldiers gather around me and, despite my calls for Selvie and Bellara not to be tricked, I am forced from my hiding spot.

They half carry, half drag me to the mouth of the canyon. I can see Benny still smoking off on the plains, and the destruction left in the wake of the ambush, battle, and my own counterattack. There are about forty new motorbikes down beyond the runway, and I see Marie’s men combing the battlefield. Despite their betrayal, they are still wearing jackets with the Bava militia patch on the shoulder.

A gunshot rings out on the plain. Another follows it. There is a scream, and I look to see that Marie’s men are executing the enemy wounded.

I turn to look over my shoulder, confused, and find Marie standing beside me. She has a satisfied look on her face.