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One group of green priests, including Yarrod, sat high in the canopy apart from the others, not quite aloof, but absorbed in another part of their minds. She wondered if they were communing through telink, until she recognized that these must be Kolker's converts, here on Theroc.

Celli led her to a cluster of acolytes who looked at Nira with awe. Some of the green priests stepped across the tangled branches to greet her. ‘We were terrified for you and angry at what you suffered, Nira, then uplifted by how you had survived. We must know all of the details. The worldforest must hear everything. The tale should be told well, and never forgotten.'

Nira's throat was dry. ‘I know. I must tell it all, the bad parts and the good. Every detail. And you have to hear it and share it amongst yourselves.' She stared out at the trees and let a faint smile curl her lips. ‘I know an accomplished storyteller who can help me.'

* * * * *

Late that evening, after the first banquet in the fungus-reef city, Anton Colicos sat dazed and enthralled, with Vao'sh beside him in the same mentally saturated state. While Jora'h attended intense, and practical, discussions with the King and Queen, Nira joined the two rememberers.

‘I'll need a year to process everything,' Anton said. ‘I'm overloaded.'

The historians had spent the day with Jora'h and his entourage, touring some of the most impressive sights of Theroc, after which they enjoyed extravagant welcoming celebrations, not only from the royal couple but from Roamer traders and representatives of former Hansa colonies that had joined the Confederation. Insect songs and perfumed breezes drifted through the open decks of the high city, mingling with the loud conversation and laughter of Roamers and the singing and stringed instruments of Theron performers.

Nira said, ‘I can explain whatever you don't understand, show you things that you never dreamed of. But I need you to do something for me, something important to the worldforest, and to history.'

Anton looked surprised. ‘What's that?'

‘I need someone who understands both humans and Ildirans -someone who was there. The two of you can work together. And I promise this won't be as difficult as correcting the Saga of Seven Suns.' Anton and Rememberer Vao'sh looked at each other. ‘Anton Colicos… will you tell my story?'

She could see that the question startled him, then choked him up. The manner in which this story was told would influence how future generations viewed what had happened to her in the breeding camps on Dobro. It would have consequences for human and Ildiran relations for many years to come.

‘I would be honoured. Absolutely honoured.'

One hundred and fifteen

Tasia Tamblyn

Their timing had to be precise or none of them would ever escape from Llaro. Absolute coordination was crucial. Perfect timing. No margin for error.

Right.

Under the late afternoon sun, Tasia monitored her chronometer, checked their location, and picked up the pace. She and Nikko had to be in position before deep twilight fell, and it would take both of them to do the digging and heavy lifting - after they actually found the buried fuel barrels. Davlin, meanwhile, had his own task. Then Robb would retrieve them… if all the timing worked.

Meanwhile, several Roamer engineers from among the Llaro survivors had returned to the wreck of the Osquivel and set about completing the major repairs that would make the ship flightworthy again. Forget the manuals, this was all strictly seat-of-the-pants work. And Davlin Lotze claimed he could do the rest. His words were not mere bravado, either. Tasia believed him.

So she, Davlin, and Nikko had crossed the grasslands in broad daylight, screened by clumps of tan rocks or spiky pampas grass, and approached the ever-expanding perimeter of the insect colony.

‘I doubt the bugs are looking for us anymore,' Davlin said in a hushed voice. ‘By devouring the captive colonists, the breedex probably got what it needed, and the Klikiss