'No, that's fine, Corrie-Lyn stammered. She remembered her manners and dipped her head awkwardly.

'I have not met humans in the flesh for some time, said Qatux in its sad-sounding whisper. 'I was curious. I didn't realize my name was still known to you.

'I'm afraid I only know your name, nothing more, said Aaron. 'But I thank you for agreeing to see us.

'My part in your history was brief. I took part in a human expedition during the Starflyer War. I had friends. Human friends, which is unusual for a Raiel, then as now. Tell me, do you know of Paula Myo?

Aaron was surprised when his heart did a little jump at the name. Must be the medical treatment. 'I've heard of her.

'I liked Paula Myo, Qatux said.

'She is an ANA: Governance representative these days.

'And you are not?

'Not at her level. Aaron prayed Corrie-Lyn wouldn't start mouthing off.

'Why are you here? Qatux asked.

'I have a request. He held up the kube. 'This is the memorycell of a human. I would like you to receive the memories. There are questions about his personality I need answering.

Qatux did not respond. Its eyes swivelled from Aaron to Corrie-Lyn, then back again.

'Can you do that? Aaron asked. He was aware that something was wrong, but didn't know what. His mind kept telling him that Qatux was the Raiel who was most likely to help in this fashion. So far on this mission all that intuitive knowledge loaded into his subconscious had been correct.

'I used to do that, Qatux whispered. 'At one time I was captivated by human emotional states. I married a human.

'Married? Corrie-Lyn blurted.

'A most nice lady by the name of Tiger Pansy. I had never known someone so emotionally reactive. We spent many happy years together on the planet you named Far Away. I shared her every thought, every feeling.

'What happened? Aaron asked, knowing this wasn't going to be good.

'She died.

'I'm sorry.

'She died most horribly. A woman called the Cat prolonged her death for many days. Deliberately. I shared that time with my wife. I experienced human death.

'Shit, Aaron mumbled.

'I have not known human thought or emotion since. At the end, my wife cured me of this strange weakness. It was her last gift, however unwillingly given. I am Raiel again. I now hold high rank among my own kind.

'We shouldn't have asked you to do this, Corrie-Lyn said humbly. 'We didn't know. I'm so sorry.

Aaron wanted to use a stunshot on her. 'It's Inigo, he said, holding the kube up again. 'The human who dreams the lives of humans inside the Void.

Once again Qatux was perfectly still. This time its eyes remained focused on Aaron alone.

'Aaron! Corrie-Lyn hissed through clenched teeth.

He could feel the anger powering out of her through the gaiafield, and completely ignored it. 'I'm looking for him, he told the huge silent alien, staring straight into its multiple eyes. 'He needs to be found before his Living Dream believers spark off another devourment phase with their Pilgrimage. Will you help.

'Inigo? Qatux asked, the whisper had softened to near inaudibility.

'Yes. The kube holds his personality right up until he left for his Centurion Station mission. His formative years. Everyone knows his life since he founded Living Dream, even the Raiel. Or perhaps especially the Raiel. If you combine that knowledge with his formative years, I thought you might be able to understand his motivations, that you could work out where he has gone for me.

'The Raiel have wanted to know the inside of the Void for so long. It is all we exist for now. We are its nemesis as much as it is ours. For over a million years we were content with the role fate had given us. And then a human comes along, and simply dreams what is in there. None of us are. The strongest of our race fell into that evil place, and no trace remains. Nothing.

'It's not evil, Corrie-Lyn said sullenly.

'I would like to believe that. I cannot. We have known the Void from a time before your species achieved sentience. It is the destroyer of life, of hope. Nothing escapes it.

'Millions of humans live inside the Void. They live lives full of hope and love and laughter, they live lives better than any of us out here.

'To do so, to achieve their greater life you envy so much, they are killing you. They are killing this galaxy. And now you wish to join them, to increase the damage to a level you cannot imagine.

'Will you stop the Pilgrimage? Aaron asked.

'Not I. Not this arkship. That is not the purpose of this Raiel; we are custodians alone. However, there are other Raiel who serve a different purpose. They are the defenders of this galaxy. I do not know what they will do to your Pilgrimage.

Aaron glanced at Corrie-Lyn. Her mouth was set into a purposeful line.

'Can you help us with Inigo's memories? If I can find him, talk to him, there may be a chance he'll stop the Pilgrimage.

Qatux moved towards him. Eight stumpy legs on either side of its underbelly tilting forward to move it in a smooth undulation. Aaron held his ground, though he was aware of Corrie-Lyn taking a small shuffle backwards; her emotions seeping into the gaiafield turning from pride to concern.

'I will do what I can, Qatux said. It extended a medium-sized tentacle.

Aaron exhaled in relief, and handed the memorycell over. The tentacle tip coiled round it and withdrew, curling backwards. Just behind the collar of tentacles, hanging off the equivalent of a Raiel neck, innumerable small protuberances of flesh dangled down, each one crowned by a small heavy bulb that was technological in origin. The kube sank through the dark surface of a bulb like a pebble falling into water.

A long shudder ran along Qatux's bulk, and the giant alien let out a sigh that seemed close to pain. 'I will tell you when I have finished, Qatux said.

Aaron and Corrie-Lyn were unceremoniously teleported back into the Artful Dodger.

The Mars Twins were an unusual turgid red as their upper-atmosphere hurricanes swirled and battled along thousand kilometre fronts, obliterating the dark shadows which occasionally hinted at surface features. Their dour ambiance matched Cleric Conservator Ethan's mood as he strode through the Liliala Hall. Above him the storms rampaging across the visionary ceiling flashed purple lightning and pummelled away at each other like waves assaulting a beach. They swirled together, veiling the two small planets. The silent, vivid battle made for an impressive entrance as he swept through the arching door into the Mayor's suite.

Rincenso and Falven, two of his staunchest supporters on the Council, were waiting for him in the first anteroom; cautious expressions made more sinister by the amber lighting. All they allowed of themselves into the gaiafield was a polite radiance of expectation. Not even Ethan's easily sensed mood could make them waver.

He beckoned them to follow as he pushed through into the oval sanctum. Strong sunlight shone in through the high Rayon-nant-style windows, illuminating the grand wooden desk identical to the one which the Waterwalker had sat behind when he was Mayor of Makkathran. Five simple chairs were arranged before it. Councillor Phelim stood at the side of one, waiting for Ethan to sit himself behind his desk. He wore the simple everyday blue and green robe of a Councillor. It was meant to testify to an open and approachable person who would take time to solve someone's problem. On Phelim it was off-putting, emphasizing his height and severe facial features.

'So the Skylord would seem to be on its way to Querencia, Ethan said as he sat down.

Falven cleared his throat. 'It is heading for some kind of planet. We have to assume it is Querencia. The prospect of another planet housing humans in the Void would open many complications for us.