'And that's why we're destroying our planet,' said Crowe. 'We can't see what we're doing. They must know that – which means they know we don't have genetic memory.'

'Right. It all adds up. No wonder they don't want to negotiate. They could make a deal with you or me, but what if we die tomorrow? Then who would they deal with? Having genetic memory would save us from our own stupidity, but it's not the way we're made. Trying to get along with humans is a pipedream. The yrr have seen that. It's part of their collective knowledge and it's the reason they've decided to mobilise against us.'

'Once they learn something, no one can take it away from them,' said Oliviera. 'In a yrr-collective everyone knows everything. They don't need think tanks, scientists, generals or leaders. You can kill as many yrr as you like – but so long as some survive, their collective knowledge lives on too.'

'Just a minute.' Li turned to her. 'Didn't you say that there might he some queen-yrr?'

'Yes. Even if collective knowledge is part of each yrr, collective action might he initiated centrally. My guess is that queen-yrr exist.'

'As single cells?'

'Well, they'd have to share the same biochemistry as the aggregated jelly, so it's likely that they're single cells. But they're highly organised. The only way we're ever going to get close to them is through communication.'

'But all they send us are cryptic messages!' said Vanderbilt. 'They sent us a picture of prehistoric Earth. Why? What are they trying to tell us?'

'Everything,' said Crowe.

'Could you be a little more specific?'

'They're telling us is that this is their planet – which they've been ruling for a hundred and eighty million years, maybe more. They're telling us they've got genetic memory, the magnetic field is their compass, and they're everywhere where there's water. They want us to know that we're in the here and now, whereas they're everywhere and forever. Those are the facts. It's all in the message, and it says a lot.'

Vanderbilt scratched his belly. 'So what do we tell them?'

'They've decided they want to destroy us. We're not going to defeat that logic by arguing that we want to survive. Our only chance lies in trying to show them that we acknowledge their primacy…'

'The primacy of amoebas?'

'. . . and in persuading them that we no longer pose a threat.'

'But we are a threat,' said Weaver.

'She's right,' said Johanson. 'Empty promises won't help. We need to give them a signal that we're withdrawing from their world. We need to stop contaminating the seas with chemical and noise pollution, and we need to do it fast enough to make them wonder whether they could live with us, after all.'

'It's up to you now, Jude,' said Crowe. 'You know what we think, but it's for you to pass that on. Or to put it into action.'

All eyes were fixed on Li.

She nodded. 'I think you're right,' she said. 'But we shouldn't rush into anything. If we want to pull out of the seas, we need to send them a message to convey that exactly and convincingly.' She looked at the faces turned towards her. 'I want you all working on this together. And I don't want anyone rushing or panicking. We mustn't be too hasty. A few days here or there won't make any difference. What really matters is that you get the tone right. The yrr are more alien to us than anything we'd ever imagined. If there's the smallest chance of coming to a peaceful solution, we have to seize it. So, do your best.'

'Thanks, Jude,' smiled Crowe. 'Wise words from the American military.'

LI LEFT THE ROOM, followed by Peak and Vanderbilt. 'Has Rubin been able to synthesise enough of that stuff?' she muttered.

'Yep,' said Vanderbilt.

'Good. I want him to get one of the Deepflights ready. In two or three hours we can start to get this over with.'

'Why the hurry?' asked Peak.

'Johanson. He looks as though he's about to have a revelation. I'm not in the mood for discussion.'

'And we're one hundred per cent ready to go?'

Li looked at him. 'Sal, I've told the President we're ready. And if the President thinks we're ready, we're ready.'

WELL DECK

'Hey, Jack.'

Anawak headed towards the dolphin tank. Greywolf glanced up, then turned back to the miniature video camera he was disassembling. As the newcomer drew closer, two dolphins stuck their heads out of the water and greeted him with whistles and chatter. They swam over to claim their share of affection. 'I'm not interrupting anything, am I?' asked Anawak, as he patted the dolphins.

'Uh-uh.'

It wasn't the first time that Anawak had been down to the well deck since the attack. On each occasion he'd tried to get Greywolf to talk to him, but to no avail. His friend seemed to have retreated inside himself He hadn't attended any of the meetings and had taken to merely summarising the dolphin footage in handwritten notes. The pictures didn't show much anyway. The images of the jelly approaching the ship were disappointing: a blue glow that faded into the depths, then shadowy glimpses of orcas. After that the dolphins had taken fright and huddled under the keel, filming the expanse of steel. Greywolf had put forward the case for the remainder of the fleet to keep up their role as the vessel's early-warning system and resume their patrol of the boat. Anawak no longer believed that the dolphins could help them, but he was careful not to voice his doubts. Secretly he suspected that all Greywolf wanted was to carry on as usual.

They stood in silence for a while. A group of soldiers and technicians emerged from the bottom of the basin, where they'd finished dismantling the shattered glass hatch. One of the technicians went up to the control desk on the jetty. The pumps kicked into action.

'Time for us to leave,' said Greywolf.

They made their way up the embankment. Anawak watched as the basin filled with water. 'They're flooding it again,' he said.

'Yeah, well, it's easier to release the dolphins when the basin's full.'

'You're letting them out?'

Greywolf nodded.

I'll help,' said Anawak. 'If you like.'

'Sure.' Greywolf opened the back of the camera and inserted a miniature screwdriver.

'Right away?'

'I've got to get this working first.'

'Why don't you take a break? We could get something to drink. We all need a rest from time to time.'

'It's not like I'm busy, Leon. All I do is mess around with the equipment and make sure the dolphins are OK. I'm on one perpetual break already.'

'You should come to the meetings, then.'

Greywolf carried on working in silence. The conversation dried up.

'Jack,' said Anawak, 'you can't hide yourself away forever.'

'Who said anything about forever?'

'What do you call this, then?'

'I'm just doing my job.' Greywolf shrugged. 'I listen to what the dolphins report, monitor the video footage, and if anyone needs me, I'm here.'

'But you're not here, really. You don't know anything about what's happened over the past twenty-four hours.'

'I do.'

'How?'

'Sue's been to see me a few times. Even Peak was down here earlier to check things out. They all tell me stuff I don't even have to ask.'

Anawak stared straight ahead. Suddenly he was furious. 'Well, I guess you don't need me, then,' he snapped.

Greywolf didn't respond.

'You've decided to rot down here by yourself.'

'I prefer the company of animals.'

Licia was killed by one, Anawak felt like saying. He stopped himself just in time.

'I lost Licia too, you know,' he said finally.

Briefly Greywolf froze. Then he carried on poking the screwdriver inside the camera. 'That's not what this is about.'

'Then what is it about?'