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was—not quite human.”
    â€œWe’ve all seen inhumanity. I daresay well see more.” Callioux’s gesture toward the monitor above the door seemed impatient with human foibles. “Now. I have a meeting. I leave you in charge, Yehoshua. Heredes has tactical command of her own people. I send you along as observer, and to offer support if necessary, and to watch our backs. You have—Rainbow? How much time?”
    â€œEighteen hours,” said Rainbow.
    Lily met Jenny in a holding cell adjacent to, and looking into, the high security cell where Yehoshua’s soldiers had incarcerated Kyosti. From her stand by the door she could see, through a translucent window, Kyosti lying on his back on the hard plastine bench that was the room’s only obvious piece of furniture. He lay perfectly still, hands cupped under the disarray of his light hair, eyes shut. The only movement discernable was the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.
    â€œHe looks like he’s in a coma,” said Lily.
    Evidently some apprehension sounded in her voice, because Jenny smiled and rested a comforting hand on Lily’s tense back. “I don’t think so. When he came to after the stun blast wore off, he shook—trembled, like he had a palsy—for at least fifteen minutes. No one went in. I wasn’t allowed to speak to him. Then he stopped, as if he had controlled it somehow, and he took one circuit around the room, hand on the wall as if”—she raised her eyebrows in surprise—“it just occurred to me now, as if he was using touch to gain information, and then he lay down. He’s been like that ever since.”
    â€œWonderful,” said Lily, running a pale hand through her straight, black hair in a gesture made nervous by the expression of worry that marked her gaze as she watched Kyosti’s prostrate form. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath.
    â€œHe must have an incredible memory,” Jenny said a little too casually, “to have linked you saying Finch’s name over comm with your former lover. How did he know he had the right person?”
    â€œHe can’t have known. He may have known I had two lovers before him—yes—” She considered, lowering her hand. He had known, but she had not told him; he had told her himself. She had never discovered how he had found out. “Well, he knew that much,” she went on, not ready to divulge this information to Jenny. “But I never told him their names or anything about them.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œQuite sure. I never figured it was any of his business.” Jenny still regarded her skeptically. “Someday when we’re not under surveillance, I have a long story to tell you.”
    â€œSure, Lily-hae.” Jenny laughed, glancing at the tall man in the other cell. “I don’t doubt it.”
    â€œBut.” In the neutral glare of the cell’s lights, reflecting off the grey sheen of wall, Lily’s expression hardened. “Right now I’ve got a new assignment. I’m going to ask you to volunteer for a dangerous job, Jenny. You must refuse if you have too. I know you have dependents. I can use you, because of your experience, but not to their cost. Something can be arranged—”
    â€œLily.” Jenny let one hand indicate the empty loops on her tight-fitting mercenary’s suit that usually carried weapons—weapons now in the custody of Jehane’s troops. “What am I? A mercenary. No matter who I hire out to, Lia and Gregori risk losing me. I’ve made what provisions I can, left them with some collateral, a plan of action to follow. And Lia’s more canny than she seems—she just rarely lets it show.” She touched the back of her left hand to her forehead, light palm against her dark skin. “Bolyai fired me. Now you’re hiring. I’m yours.”
    â€œYou could join Jehane. I