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It’s so good to see the red circle of Umbra again, rising to begin its night-long journey across the sky. Light blinds us – the gorgeous, glorious glow of proper lamps strung round real, bioweave buildings. If I was a Crux I’d thank god for civilisation.
    I turn to Reef.
    ‘You’re safe now,’ he says. ‘While you’re waiting for updates go and find your friend, she’ll be worried about you. Aura can guide you to the medical centre.’
    That’s it then. Back to normal. I’ll just go and never see him again. He’ll probably forget about me anyway, the moment I disappear from view . . .
    ‘Wait! Rain . . .’
    Heart leaps to mouth, making me too mute to ask, Yes?
    Reef bites his lower lip; not a very Scrutiner thing to do. ‘Back there in the forest you were . . .’
    Disobedient, crazy, abnormal?
    ‘. . . very brave. The way you handled the traptions, the Crux, everything. I’ll mention it all in my report to Aura.’
    I suddenly find my boot-caps unutterably interesting. Mustn’t get excited at compliments. Mustn’t take his praise too seriously. Remember what Papi always says – The weed that sprouts up gets yanked out. I want to stay nice and average. Normal.
    I also want to reach out and touch Reef’s face.
    I shove my hands in my pockets instead.
    ‘I’ll connect soon,’ he continues. ‘No, don’t tell me your Aura code now. I’ll find you.’
    He leans in, and I guess he’s going to do that Lim thing I’ve heard about, where they kiss cheeks to say goodbye-and-go-well , but I’ve still not shaken off the sensation of seeing that Crux’s death and I do not want a repeat with Reef. I flinch and step back, leaving his lips to brush air, not skin. We both say sorry together. I swallow my heart down. His eyes shadow a little.
    ‘Pip, Pip, Pip!’ Zoya’s voice cuts through the muddle of other noises. There she is, waving from a brightly lit building. ‘Over here!’
    I trot over and we hug, which is awkward, because I’m anxious not to touch her skin either.
    ‘Aura said you were back. I was worried sick about you until the guys told me you were probably with the Scrutiner. That’s him, isn’t it, over there? The one who was shooting the Crux creepers. He was amazing.’
    ‘Did they heal all your wounds?’ I ask.
    She grins. ‘Sprayed, sealed and sound again, with my ankle all strapped up. I had this Lim girl looking after me. Weirdest thing – she’s like your twin, but taller and stronger. I told her and she said she doesn’t have a sister but she asked what you were like. Hey, look at you – you’re not even scratched or bruised.’
    She’s right. When I do a quick inventory for aches and injuries, despite all I’ve been through I’m absolutely fine.
    Zoya’s tone changes. ‘You shouldn’t’ve run off and left me like that.’
    ‘I was trying to—’
    ‘It’s OK. I know you were scared. We both were.’
    ‘That’s not why I—’
    ‘Oh, who cares now? You should message Aunty Aranoza to let her know you’re safe. Your papi told me to keep an eye on you, you know. It’s good we’re out of the forest, isn’t it? The medics are keen on feeding us up after the ordeal and the food’s not bad. Doesn’t Rodina look lovely from up here? The lights from the towns are pretty bright over there. They must be having some kind of evening festival.’
    We’re on a gentle slope with West Rodina spreading out like a panoramic stream-screen image. I spot towns I only know as names from maps in school projects, but my eyes are sharper than Zoya’s. I can see these are not happy festival lights. In fact, the horizon is a blood-scarlet backdrop to a devastating view. There’s Hardhills, heart of the foodlands, lit by fierce fires; Blackmoss, home to half a dozen tractor factories, with no lights at all; Noonsun, the summer resort, no more than a pit in the ground. I’m so glad Sea-Ways is safe, away behind me to the east. Of course it is! Nothing could happen to