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one child, one ’bot. My people have skills and information that will be quite valuable to Jehane. I assure you.”
    â€œYour people.” Yehoshua’s emphasis was careful.
    Lily paused, thought back over the impetus that had brought them here. “Well, yes,” she answered slowly, considering. “I suppose they are mine in a way. I’m responsible for them being here now.”
    â€œAnd why here , comrade Heredes? Why Harsh?”
    A certain tone in his voice alerted her, and she chose her words carefully. “Two reasons. I have unfinished business on Harsh: a friend who was unlawfully imprisoned here—not you, Finch, because I didn’t know—I didn’t know, but if I had—” She shook her head, met his gaze fiercely, and had the satisfaction of seeing his face clear, trusting her again, as if the episode with Kyosti had, almost, never happened. “I came here to free her.”
    â€œAnd the other reason?” Yehoshua was still punching buttons on the terminal, scrolling out whatever information remained on her clip. She knew how little was there, fed in by Master Heredes as a screen to her real identity, and his.
    â€œBecause I knew Jehane would be here.”
    â€œYou knew ?” For the first time, Yehoshua’s careful layer of disinterest cracked, to reveal astonishment. “You can’t have known—we didn’t even know until we got here—” He broke off.
    â€œYou’d be surprised at what I know,” said Lily, and she laughed at the absurdity of her comment. “No. What I mean to say, comrade, is that I have a great deal more information that Jehane would like to have—needs to have—but that information goes to him alone. Not through anyone else. My price for recruitment. Do you understand?”
    â€œI understand that you’re pretty damned sure of yourself.” He shook his head. “You can’t meet with Jehane. Impossible. In hostile territory only his personal lieutenants have access to him. But it may be possible for you to speak with my superior officer.” He stood up and went to the door, spoke into a band at his wrist in a low voice that she could not hear.
    â€œLily.” Finch left his chair to kneel beside her, putting a hand on hers where they rested in her lap, reassuring, needing reassurance. “What happened to Master Heredes?”
    She shut her eyes and turned her face away, felt her throat constrict. Still, found it possible to speak, fueled by anger. “He’s dead. He’s the one Central murdered, calling him Pero. Why do you think I’m joining Jehane? For revenge.”
    His hand tightened on hers, and she knew at that moment that he shared her sentiments completely.
    â€œWho is Master Heredes?”
    Lily released Finch’s hand abruptly. Her gaze jumped to Yehoshua, who still stood by the door but now watched her intently, having recovered his composure completely.
    â€œMy father,” she said bitterly.
    This time, having both Lily and Finch equally in his sight, Yehoshua saw Finch’s expression of surprise before Finch could disguise it. For a moment he merely examined the two. Finch stood up, twisting his hands nervously in front of himself. Lily stared back impassively. Then Yehoshua turned and left the room, sealing the door shut behind himself.
    Lily stood up and began to pace out the dimensions of the room while Finch turned, stationary, to follow her progress around the four blank, encircling walls.
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘your father’?”
    â€œFinch.” Her pace did not slacken. “They are undoubtedly listening in.”
    He continued to stare as she walked. “You’re different, Lily. You’ve changed.”
    Now she stopped. “You’re the second person who’s said that to me. Here.” She shoved a chair against the wall. “Let’s do kata. Do you remember first