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“Ganymede’s dead,” Prax said “The tunnels will probably survive, but the environmental and social structures are already broken Even if we could soet the environmental systems back in place—and really, we can’t without a lot of work—how oing to jail? So to fill the niche, but it won’t be as here before”

“Because of the cascade,” Holden said

“Yes,” Prax said “That’s what I was trying to say before To A to raceful, maybe But it’s too late It’s too late, and since Mei’s out there, and we don’t knohat’s going to break, I have to go with you”

“Prax,” Cassandra said No Naomi Maybe his brain wasn’t really up to full power even now

“Strickland and that woman, even if they think they can keep her safe, they can’t You see? Even if they’re not hurting her, even if they’re not, everything around the to fall apart What if they run out of air? What if they don’t understand what’s happening?”

“I know this is hard,” Holden said “But shouting about it won’t help”

“I’ you that they took et her I need to be there when you open that door Even if she’s not there Even if she’s dead, I need to be the one who finds her”

The sound was crisp and professional and oddly beautiful: ainto a pistol Prax hadn’t seen Amos take it back out of its box, but the dark ers While he watched, Aun by its barrel, careful to keep it pointing at the wall, and held it out

“But I thought …” Prax said “You said I wasn’t …”

Aesture was unmistakable Take it Prax took it It was heavier than it looked

“Uun?”

“Doc needs to go, Cap’n,” Ao”

Prax saw the look that passed between Holden and Nao process, A the words carefully