We made preparation to break orbit the following night. Ravenor explained to me that the eldar had requested to be taken to a secret location en route, where he could access something called a warp tunnel. Ravenor was beholden to him.
We agreed to rendezvous at Jeganda, three weeks short of 5213X, prior to the final leg of our chase.
'Do we inform the ordos?' Ravenor asked.
'No. What strength they could lend us would be outweighed by problems they'd cause. I will prepare a full documented account of everything we know to be transmitted back in the event that we…'
'We?'
'Fail/1 finished.
Before we departed, I dared to visit Ravenor's ship, the Hinterlight. I took Crezia and Harlon Nayl with me. Medicae Antribus showed us to the low-lit chamber off the starship's infirmary where Alizebeth lay inside a softly glowing stasis field.
Crezia and Harlon hung back by the hatchway.
Alizebeth looked like she was asleep. Her skin was as pale as the snows of the high Atenates.
'Is she alive?' I asked Antribus.
'Yes, sir/
'I mean… without these vital supports, the stasis field-?'
'If we shut them down, she may remain the way she is. But she might also fade. It is never easy to tell in cases of such significant injury/
'Will she recover?' I asked.
'No/ he said, caring enough to look me in the eyes. 'Except for some miracle. She will never regain consciousness or mobility/
'So she's dead to us? Has she any quality of life?'
4Vho can say, sir? She's not in any pain. I believe she is dreaming an endless, tranquil dream. If you consider that to be cruel, we can disconnect the machines and let nature take its course/
He withdrew. Crezia appeared at my side.
'What are you going to do, Gregor?' she asked.
'I won't turn the machines off. Not yet. My mind's too full of that bastard Glaw. I'll make a decision afterwards.' If there is afterwards, I thought. 'I'd like you and Nayl to stay with her. Look after her. Will you do that?'
'Of course/ she said. I realised this was the first time she'd ever set eyes on Alizebeth Bequin.
'Really? It's a big thing to ask of you.'
'I'm a doctor, and your friend, Gregor. It's not a big thing.'
I turned to go.
'She can probably hear you,' she said suddenly.
'Do you think so?'
Crezia shrugged and smiled. 'I don't know. There's every chance she can. And if she can't, does it matter?'
'Does what matter?'
'Tell her, Gregor. Now, before you go. Tell her, for goodness sake. Do the right thing by one of us at least.'
She left me alone and I sat down beside Alizebeth's cot.
And then, though I don't know to this day if she ever heard or understood, I told her all the things I should have told her years before.