"We have the right anatomy, if that's what you're asking," Re-l said, shifting her weight with a grunt. She let him take what he wanted from that, concentrating on the task at hand.

Then he looked at her; not the jittery half glances of the day after the sandstorm but a deep old look that sank into her bones, that laid her open on a table and vivisected her. She felt as though all her secrets, all of the shame and guilt that lay buried in the bottom of her heart were pulled out into the open. She couldn't bear that look. Her eyes dropped to the ground, and for a moment her grip slackened.

Then she remembered herself and pulled again, and with a final heave Gabriel was on wide and solid ground beside her.

"There we go," she said. "The meat and bones are quite good for some things, you'll find."