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good idea, people. There’s a reason why it’s called the Madness Maze, and an even better reason why no one’s been allowed into it for so long. Do I really have to remind everyone here that the last ten thousand people to enter the Maze lost their minds and their lives? Every single one of them died screaming. I wouldn’t go into the Maze if I was completely desperate. Hell, I am completely desperate, and I’m still not going anywhere near it! No, people, the Maze is what we do when we’ve tried everything else, including prayer and closing our eyes and hoping it’s all been a nasty dream. Next.”
    “Can I put in a bid for Mistworld?” said Brett. “Always a good bet when you’re on the lam. Still fairly independant from the rest of the Empire, and proud of it. A whole planet of rogues, individual thinkers, and complete head cases. Even Finn would think twice about trying to take Mistworld by force. And the stack of alien porn we’re carrying will sell for major credits in Mistport. More than enough to buy us a proper ship, with room to move around in and a decent weapons system. Probably with enough left over to hire a reasonably sized corps of mercenaries. Mistworld has the best connections in the Empire—assuming Emma Steel didn’t shut them all down before she left.”
    “Not a bad plan,” said Jesamine. “And tempting. But I have played on Mistworld, and I am here to tell you it is the arse end of the Empire. No civilized comforts, colder than a witch’s tit, and more bounty hunters per square mile than any other planet in the Empire. You saw the broadcast; we’re wanted dead or alive, with a hell of a price on our heads. They’d be queuing up to take a crack at us on Mistworld.”
    “Exactly,” said Lewis. “I’d rank it just ahead of Haden, but only just.”
    Brett sulked. He’d already worked out a really clever plan for selling the alien porn in Mistport and then disappearing with all the money the moment the others turned their backs. He had his own ideas about the future, and they very definitely didn’t include being a hero. Or Rose Constantine. A thought struck him. He might have been voted down, but he still had a secret ace up his sleeve. When Finn made Brett drink the esper drug, he acquired rudimentary telepathy, and a limited but useful ability to compel other minds to do his will. He didn’t use it much because it gave him killer headaches, but needs must when the devil vomits on your shoes. Very cautiously, he reached out to the minds around him, threading his compulsion delicately into their thoughts.
    “Mistworld . . .” Jesamine said dreamily.
    Lewis frowned. “The place does have strong connections to Owen and Hazel . . .”
    “Did anyone just hear something?” said Rose.
    Saturday turned his great head and looked straight at Brett. The con man quickly shut down his probe, and pulled his strongest mental shields into position. He supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised Rose picked up something, their minds had touched once, but Saturday . . . Did the reptiloid have some kind of esp too? Brett shuddered internally. As if the bloody lizard wasn’t dangerous enough already . . . Brett hunkered down behind his shields and put on his most innocent expression. Rose was looking at him thoughtfully. Brett could feel cold beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.
    “No, forget Mistworld,” said Lewis. “Bad idea.”
    “It seems obvious to me that we should go to Lachrymae Christi first,” said Jesamine. “It’s the one world where we can be sure of finding a living hero from the Great Rebellion. Tobias Moon is still there, even if no one has seen him in the flesh for ages. The last surviving Hadenman . . . Oh, I’ve always wanted to meet a Hadenman. They made such great villains in those old drama serials, fighting Julian Skye and all those other vid heroes. If anyone knows what happened to Owen, and Hazel, it’s got to be Tobias Moon.”
    “Good try,” said