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Avasarala turned the lights back on The s becaain; the storm was pressed back outside

“Tell me we didn’t enforce it,” Avasarala said

“We didn’t enforce it,” Soren said “We have a surveillance detail on him and his team, but the situation on the station isn’t conducive to a close watch Plus which, it doesn’t look like Mars knows he’s there yet, so we’re trying to keep that to ourselves”

“Good that soence operation Any idea what he’s doing?”

“So far, it looks a lot like a relief effort,” Soren said with a shrug “We haven’t seen hi questions Alht with so down relief ships, but the other guys backed down It’s early, though”

Avasarala took another sip of tea She had to give it to the boy; he could brew a fine pot of tea Or he knew soood If Holden was there, that meant the OPA was interested in the situation on Ganyround to report to theence didn’t in itself round-pounders getting trigger-happy, Ganymede was a critical station for the Jovian system and the Belt The OPA would want their own eyes on the scene But to send Holden, the only survivor of Eros Station, seemed more than coincidental

“They don’t knohat it is,” she said aloud

“Ma’am?”

“They sled in someone with experience in the protoure out what the hell’s going on Which hed “Which ot the only live sample we know about”

“What would you like the surveillance team to do?”

“Surveillance,” she snapped “Watch him, see who he talks to and what he does Daily reports back if it’s boring, real-time updates if it runs hot”

“Yes, ht in?”

“Pull him and his people in when they try to leave Ganyet noticed Holden’s an idiot, but he’s not stupid If he realizes he’s being watched, he’ll start broadcasting pictures of all our Gany Do not underesti else?”

Another flash of lightning Another roll of thunder Another stor trillions of stor, when so had first tried to end all life on the planet So

“Find a way for uyen or the Martians finding out,” she said “We otiation”

Chapter Ten: Prax