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‘S-same p-place,’ she gulped.

The ‘esque reached up to the wheel but couldn’t hold his body steady. He collapsed forward, hands on the floor, mouth open wide.

‘Close it.’ She didn’t urge him this time, she demanded. ‘Wind it closed, now!’

He reached up again and began the reverse process. This wheel worked more easily. In a few movements he had closed the screen behind them.

They both fell to the floor either side of the conveyor, shielding their noses and mouths with their clothes.

Mira’s eyes streamed and the ‘esque began to cough violently.

Neither spoke until the fumes lessened and their symptoms began to abate. ‘Climb onto the belt,’ she managed finally. ‘As soon as the pipes retract it will move.’

Her instruction brought them closer together. The ‘esque was shuddering, his chest heaving against the poisoned fumes still. ‘Don’t - you - know me?’

She looked at him, close as he now was. So much of his face seemed familiar, but the fear in his eyes and the haggardness and scarring were not. ‘Who?’ She was still not able to waste breath on unnecessary words.

‘I am Thales,’ he said. ‘Thales Berniere.’

THALES

Thales watched the Baronessa’s face fill with confusion. ‘Th-Thales? Thales Berniere?’

He swallowed, trying to wet his dry, irritated throat. ‘I-I have had much m-misfortune since we p-parted.’

‘You had had much misfortune when we met,’ she whispered, with the ghost of a smile.

Thales could not return it. ‘It follows me.’

Her eyes roamed his face, and he saw her try to connect what she knew of him with what she saw. ‘Our circumstances must be equally dire if we meet again in such surroundings.’

‘Then you first, Baronessa.’ He mustered some gentlemanly manner. Not just his appearance had changed, he knew, but even the patterns of his speech.

Yet he was not alone in change. Mira Fedor was even gaunter than before, and her smooth skin showed the beginnings of lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth. More significant, though, was the change in her expression. The confusion and softness had left her. He saw only determination and. below that, perhaps, a deeply embedded anger.

She nodded. ‘But quickly. The conveyor will start soon and we will need to move with it.’

‘I was told that the Extros had kidnapped you,’ said Thales.

‘That is true. As you can see, I have escaped . . . but with dire news. The Post-Species have amassed a huge scale of weaponry. I must find my way into the OLOSS assemblage and inform them.’

‘But you are sought by OLOSS for questioning. They won’t believe you.’

‘I can make them believe, but not if I’m prevented from presenting what I know by Stationmaster Landhurst.’ Mira shifted position and he suddenly noticed her swelling belly.

She saw Thales staring and waited.

‘Baronessa? Are you .. .’

She placed her hands across the small mound. ‘I was raped on Araldis by my Principe. He saw it as the only way to ensure the survival of his bloodline. I was the only surviving Crown Aristo.’ Her eyes met his without embarrassment or upset.

‘Then all the time that we travelled together, you were .. .’

‘Si.’ She nodded.

A muffled alarm sounded and the shutters lifted. The conveyor began to move. The rocking forced them both to grab the edges of the belt.

‘I know a woman who will be at the meeting, Baronessa. But. . .’ But what? Could he tell this poor, ragged woman that he had just killed a man to avoid his own rape, and that he now had to stay hidden? No. Not yet. But he could do his best to help her. ‘We should find fresh clothes and a safe place for a few hours. The meeting is scheduled for station morning.’ He peered ahead. ‘It’s hard to tell, but I think it’s evening.’

Mira stared at him with a hint of suspicion. ‘A contact?’

As the conveyor trundled them on he gave her an abridged account of events. ‘Samuelle will be at the meeting. She’ll help you.’

‘Who is Samuelle? A safe place? New clothes? But I have no lucre and no credit.’

Thales felt in his pocket. His aspect cube