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'I'm here to see Orli.'

'She's a bit jittery yet from her visit with the breedex, but she'll probably want to talk to you.' Crim sniffed in disapproval at the unkempt and dusty old man. 'For whatever reason.'

Several cots had been set up in what should have been a living room. Orli had her music strips out, just staring at them as if stunned. When she looked up, her eyes were red and haunted. He felt a sudden stab of deep sorrow. What had those insect monsters done to her?

She brightened when she saw him. 'Mr Steinman!'

'Not quite what we expected when we came here, is it, kid? We might have been better off staying in our own house on Corribus.'

She set her chin in her hands. 'Corribus was a Klikiss world, too, and the bugs might already be back there. We'd be eating furry crickets, running away from low-riders - and still being chased by Klikiss.'

After a long and awkward silence, he said, 'I just wanted to… I wanted to say that I'm out of here. Tonight.'

Crim and Maria were both surprised. 'Is another group ready-to go? We just sent one out last night.'

'I'm going alone. This'll be no different from the solitude I intended to find on Corribus.'

'That didn't work out too well,' Orli said. ,y 'Only because of the damned robots.'

'And because you weren't very well prepared.'

'I'll manage, kid. Just you wait. The Klikiss are bone-headed when it comes to security. They only think they've got us corralled.'

'They do,' muttered Crim.

'But once you get away… then what?' Orli looked concerned for Steinman, and his heart felt heavy. 'Are you sure you'll be all right?'

'I'll find a place out in the wilderness, set up camp, and live off the land.' He shook his head. 'I was meant to be independent. It's about time I put that to the test and took my chances out there.'

Orli hugged him. He remembered how much they had depended on each other until they were rescued from Corribus. He heaved a sigh and pulled away from her. 'I don't like fences, and I don't like walls. The whole flavour of this place makes me lose sleep at night.'

Part of him wanted her to ask to come along with him, and he could see the girl was tempted. But she had resigned herself to staying here with the other colonists, no matter what happened. He tousled her hair because he couldn't think of anything else to do. Just remember that I'm out there, and I'm thinking of you, Orli. You're a good kid.'

'I know that. Take care of yourself, Mr Steinman. I'll miss you.'

He felt a lump in his throat and wondered if maybe he should stick it out here in town just a little bit longer. But it was already almost sunset. The gathering shadows made the darkness of the solid walls extend forward, swallowing up the camp.

Some of the Klikiss began a distant evening song, and Stein-man listened to where they were located. The chirping was hypnotic, a celebration of the night. At dusk he doubted many Klikiss workers or builders would be moving about. Carrying the food, water, and supplies he thought he could use, he took advantage of a makeshift ladder and rough bumps to scale the stockade wall. It was the least obtrusive way for him to slip out.

After scanning the shadows for unseen dangers, he dropped over the wall, landed on his feet, and caught his breath. He could not enjoy the exhilarating rush of supposed freedom. That was an illusion. His friends and fellow colonists remained within the stockade, for whatever purpose the Klikiss had in mind.

Steinman gathered his courage and walked away, heading out of camp.

Fifty-seven

King Peter

When the expected EDF ships arrived at Theroc, the Confederation was ready for them. The ten Mantas were stopped cold in space, and now Peter waited to see what the grid admiral would do next.

Inside the white-walled throne room, newly installed screens displayed images from the orbital surveillance satellites Roamer captains had placed around Theroc. In the frantic days after Nahton's warning, King Peter had asked the Roamers to install