Miss Ryu drove Doctor Bae Hyong through the lanes of Imperial Outpost One. Their small electric cart passed many prisoners laboring, soldiers drilling and peasants farming. She navigated via signs installed by the Imperial Transport Office. The pathways of those beings that had built the place could not be trusted otherwise.

“General Namgung believes this cache is the most valuable yet,” she said.

Hyong sniffed. “The General thought that of the last one, too.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hyong’s irritation was partly feigned. In truth the General’s desires were his own: to understand this world and those that had built the Ring.

Chapter 31

Chapter 33