‘Fariss.’ ‘Here,’ she whispered. He blinked and wiped his eyes, trying to clear his vision. It didn’t help much. ‘Where are you?’ ‘Up near the hatch. Found some lumps in the side of the catoplasma, like you said. Can get real close to the lid, but something heavy’s on it.’ Thales levered himself upright and tried to rub the crick from his neck. He’d been sleeping, curled around, on the floor of the tank. ‘I could get on your—’ ‘Sssh!’ she said. ‘C’n hear somethin’.’ Thales’s heart pounded, sending a rush through his body. He bent down and rubbed circulation back into his legs. Had the Politics found them? The hatch opened without preamble, and a light flashed down on them. He saw Fariss braced against the wall, ready to spring. ‘Thales Berniere?’ said someone from above. He recognised the voice, vaguely. ‘Who is it? I c-can’t s-see you.’ The light moved, shining away from his eyes and onto a rope ladder which dropped into the space between him and Fariss.
