“This is what we know about my lifeboat. It was sighted when the solar sail began to grow. The sail was huge, like a metal flag reflecting Kheth’s light, very easy to see. Tannasen was in command of Spindrift, and immediately he took the research ship to investigate.” “Sooth,” Devi said. “That’s nothing new.” “What happened after that?” Skye asked him. “Tannasen rendezvoused with the lifeboat, and found you.” “No. It was months before he reached the lifeboat. What happened next was, the solar sail started to shred. It was torn apart when it hit pebbles in the nebula. It was set upon by butterfly gnomes. Suppose the DI in command of the lifeboat mistook that for an attack?” Devi stared thoughtfully at Ord. “Then it might have warned any other lifeboats behind it to stay quiet . . . just like you warned Ord.” Skye nodded.
