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there was nothing the ambassadors could do about it.
    ‘In ten minutes we’ll need to be on our way back down,’ Dalal announced. ‘And that’s assuming we cut our margins to the bone.’
    ‘Our margin is still good,’ Kanu said. He had searched half of his allotted area of the ship, seeing only empty corridors and service shafts, plus the occasional vault-like cargo bay. Since some of the bays retained pressure, there might be survivors hidden among the ranks of cargo pallets. But unless they made themselves known, they were going to remain there.
    ‘Wait,’ Lucien said, stepping back from vis console, vis gloved fingers spread wide. ‘I’ve just been locked out.’
    After a moment, Dalal said, ‘And me.’
    ‘The fault has spread to my console as well,’ Swift said, his hands becoming a blur on the controls.
    Kanu was also unable to continue his search, and he noticed Korsakov suffering the same problem. The schematics had vanished. All the displays were showing the same thing: a block of Swahili, appearing and disappearing over and over.
     
    IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY WE RECLAIM THIS WORLD FOR PEOPLE! LET THIS BE THE FIRST LIGHT OF A NEW MARTIAN DAWN! LET FIRE CLEANSE THE FACE OF MARS IN READINESS FOR THE RECLAMATION!
     
    ‘The message was almost certainly meant to be read by robots, rather than humans,’ Swift said. ‘They would have been counting on us reaching the wreck in advance of any diplomatic party. Had you not arrived first, we would have triggered exactly this response.’
    ‘We’re leaving,’ Dalal said. ‘This instant.’
    ‘For once,’ Kanu said, ‘I think you’ll find the four of us in unanimous agreement.’
     
    The elevator returned them to the level where they had boarded. They still had to pass through the airlock, but for the first time Kanu allowed himself to hope they might yet make it our alive.
    ‘Lucien is the newest ambassador,’ Dalal said. ‘Ve should go first. It’s only fair.’
    ‘Agreed,’ Kanu said. ‘It’s settled. Lucien first. Then you, Garudi. Yevgeny next, then me. Strict order of hierarchy, and save the arguing for later.’
    Korsakov said, ‘You mean to be last, Kanu?’
    ‘Makes sense – I’ve been on Mars the longest.’
    ‘I won’t leave this ship with a robot still inside it, free to do what it likes with a human asset.’
    Kanu had to stop himself seizing the other man by the shoulders. ‘Get some perspective, Yev. We were about to hand it over to the machines anyway.’
    The lock was ready to receive Lucien. As the door closed, Dalal said, ‘Don’t wait for us outside. Get back to the flier and prepare to leave.’
    Lucien gave a nod through vis visor as the door closed. Kanu watched the airlock indicators crawl through their automatic cycle.
    ‘I’m clear,’ Lucien said, after what felt like an eternity. ‘Jumping off.’ There was a thump, an intake of breath. ‘Down and moving. Flier is intact.’
    ‘Lock’s cycling for Garudi,’ Kanu said.
    ‘I could attempt to force the mechanism to open both doors at the same time,’ Swift said.
    ‘And risk jamming it completely?’ Korsakov said. ‘No. We’ll leave the way we came in.’
    Finally the lock was ready to accept Dalal. She stepped inside, turned away from the door and initiated the cycle. The door sealed and the interminable process recommenced. Air out, door open, air in again. Kanu cursed the intransigent stupidity of the airlock for not understanding their deeper predicament.
    ‘I’m out,’ Dalal said. ‘Crossing ground. Lucien is at the flier. Are you all right?’
    ‘Yes, we’re fine. Yevgeny’s next.’
    It could only have taken as long for Korsakov to cycle through the lock as the other two, but to Kanu it felt like at least twice as much time. Now there was so little to lose, he wondered if perhaps Swift ought to force the lock after all.
    But the air was pumping back in now. Korsakov was outside.
    ‘Are you clear, Yev?’
    ‘I see the flier. Lucien and