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system, and he means to leave behind the prisoners in the thirties if he has to.”
    â€œBut that’s five thousand people,” cried Finch. “You can’t just abandon them.”
    â€œTen thousand,” murmured Yehoshua.
    â€œI hardly think,” replied Callioux drily, “that the government will kill them for the unfortunate accident of having been left behind. They need their work force, after all, and these mines are valuable to them, and justifiably unpopular with free workers. In any case, if a small force, at little risk to us, can break through, then it will be to our credit. And if it fails”—Callioux’s shrug was eloquent—“we have lost a few noble comrades, martyrs to the cause of freedom, and this woman and her associates, who are of doubtful loyalty in any case. Therefore, I am minded to let comrade Heredes have her way. After all, how many of the prisoners whom we have liberated are convicted murderers? At least her companion did not succeed”—a glance here for Finch, who paled—“and was stopped, need I add, by another one of her people. Have you already formulated a plan, Heredes?”
    â€œIs this right?” Lily looked at Rainbow. “We have one central elevator shaft, that runs to just beneath the main control center in the surface dome, and four auxiliary shafts in each of the four spokes. And the power plant is here, beside the control center.”
    â€œSure,” agreed Rainbow, mystified.
    Lily turned to Callioux. “When the main power goes the first time, bring your assault unit in close to the dome. When it goes the second time—”
    â€œHold on.” Callioux touched the tabletop, tracing a thin thread out from the 30s dig. “They’ve cut all links—we can’t control their power plant from Main Block anymore.”
    â€œThat’s good,” said Lily. “That will confuse them even more. When the power goes the second time, you assault the dome.”
    â€œPerhaps you’ll be good enough to explain,” replied Callioux facetiously, “where you’ll be at that point.”
    Lily pointed to the circle that marked the 30s main control center in the surface dome. “Here.”
    Callioux chuckled. “I see. You don’t lack nerve, I’ll give you that. Very well. I’ll give you one rev, Heredes. Comrade Yehoshua. A strike force and attendant troop ships will wait that long, in case you can break through to the surface. Otherwise we’ll leave you.”
    Lily smiled. “Generous, in its own way.”
    â€œQuite generous.” Callioux did not return the smile.
    â€œBut Lily—” Finch stood up, distressed.
    She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Finch. I’ve got to go. Just don’t worry.”
    â€œThen I’ll come with you—”
    â€œFinch.” This gently. “You’d be a liability. I’m sorry.”
    He sank back into his chair, letting his hands cover the thick strands of his black hair. “I’m going to lose everyone,” he murmured.
    Lily knelt beside him and reached forward to kiss him. Thought better of it, suddenly, seeing Kyosti’s dead, set expression as he had tried to throttle him, and patted him on the arm instead. The gesture seemed remarkably weak. “Finch, think about it this way. With people like Kyosti on our side, how can we lose?”
    Finch did not look up, merely shuddered. The bruising that mottled his throat had begun to purple.
    â€œThis seems to me,” said Callioux, switching the view table off completely, “like a great deal of fuss over what is frankly a rather small incident within the scope of what we have seen during the course of our revolution.”
    â€œYou didn’t see the attack.” Yehoshua motioned to his soldiers to converge on the door. “It was—eerie. That’s the only word I can think of. His expression