The night seemed to close around her like a glove. Shiv Sakai's teeth glimmered in the soft darkness. "I was thinking we'd borrow a boat." "Good idea." Jaya rubbed gritty eyes. "But they'll probably be looking for that. Here's what we'll do. Rakh comes with me, up into Goudalia. Shiv, you and the others cross the river, and—" That will not be necessary, the ra'tsasa's voice said inside Jaya's mind. Jaya looked up to see Ir Yth floating several feet above the surface of the Ganges. / have distracted your pursuers. "Thank you," Jaya breathed. The ra'tsasa made a dismissive gesture with a lower arm. It was a simple matter. But it is clear to me that we cannot continue with this sort of distraction. We must put you where you will be safe. "That might be tricky." Not at all. You will come here to the ship. I am dispatching a raft, the rahsasa said. She seemed to be looking down at some-thing that Jaya could not see. Reaching out a hand, she turned an invisible dial, ran fingers across the air.
