I don't like this at all," Hegazi said. "Believe me," Sylveste said, "you're about to like it a lot less. - Alastair Reynolds

The church-sponsored archaeologists were the only ones who had any kind of overview of the entire haul of relics, and they were under intense pressure to ignore any evidence that conflicted with Quaicheist scripture. That was why Rashmika wrote them so many letters, and why their infrequent replies were always so evasive. She wanted an argument; she wanted to question the entire accepted view of the scuttlers. They wanted her to go away.

Hopefully they’ll accept me for what I am, not what I was. That’s all we can ever hope for, isn’t it?

Still don't trust us?" "First rule of complex systems," I said. "You can't tell friends from enemies.