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“Look at these figures for stress placement and tunnel maintenance. They couldn’t have gone down eight—no, nine—levels with that structure if the rock was unstable. Finch mentioned something about explosive gas—I’d bet it was an isolated pocket, or a series of pockets. That would ruin half the operations, or even poison the atmosphere. There must be more detailed data recording the relative strength of the different veins. And in any case, if instability was known to be present, they must have easer drills that can push through with a minimum of vibration. Hoy, those were standard at the House mines.”
    By the door into the cavernous operations room, Yehoshua laughed. He was lounging at his ease, eight white-clad soldiers standing at intervals around the room. “House miner,” he said. “Wouldn’t you know.”
    Lily turned with a grin. “Yes, and I hated every minute of it. Funny that it’s serving me well now. Didn’t you say you were, too?”
    â€œBoth my cousin Alsayid and me. Filistia House.”
    â€œAh,” said Lily, suddenly mindful of her supposed identity, and she turned back to face Callioux. “Comrade Yehoshua said that you are in charge of the force barricading the thirties dig.” Callioux nodded. “Then I volunteer myself to break in. I think you know my goal.”
    â€œTo liberate a friend. Yes. And I know that comrade Jehane is interested in you, Heredes. Unprecedented, such interest. Well.” Callioux paused to consider.
    â€œYou know, Sura,” continued Yehoshua from the door, “that we are under time constraints.”
    â€œI am well aware of that,” replied Callioux without looking up. “Just as I am aware that we outgun what guards are left in the thirties dig if only we could get past their topside guns.”
    â€œI think it could be done,” said Rainbow abruptly, “getting through by ya shafts into ya thirties.” Her uninvited comment seemed brash, coming from a Ridani, despite her mild voice and the supposed emancipatory purpose of Jehane’s revolution. “Ya main drill engineer were ya indentured Unrulian, and he be in ya hospital.” She swiveled to meet Lily’s interested gaze. “Can you handle ya easer drill?”
    â€œI’ve done it. Not with any precision, though.”
    â€œHold on.” Callioux slapped the view table buttons so that all the lights vanished except for the red and green 20s and 30s. “Do you propose to go on this expedition alone, Heredes?”
    â€œNo. I’ll take two companions, both of whom are trained fighters, and a ’bot. This would be a quick strike.”
    â€œAnd take what information you’ve gained from us in to the troops holding out in the thirties? I think not.”
    â€œI’ll go,” said Yehoshua abruptly. “I’m familiar with mines. And I’ll ask for volunteers.”
    â€œI volunteer,” said Rainbow quietly.
    â€œLily—” began Finch.
    â€œFinch, remember, Swann’s there somewhere.”
    He frowned and looked down.
    â€œBut I wouldn’t suggest,” added Yehoshua to Callioux, “that you let the man who assaulted comrade Caenna go.”
    â€œBut you must,” interrupted Lily. “I need him. You have no idea how much I need him in an operation of this kind. And it won’t happen again.” The large room, illuminated by a vague ceiling glow, dwarfed her figure, but even in such space, sterile and contained, her resolve showed clearly in the lines of her body. “You must let me speak to him. I doubt if any of your people can reason with him.”
    â€œAnd you can?” Yehoshua’s voice was softly mocking, but he raised his dark eyes to Callioux, questioning.
    â€œTime constrains us, comrade,” answered Callioux to Yehoshua’s unspoken question. “Jehane is already preparing to evacuate the planet and