Seven minutes later we set off, two of Hugo’s men leading the way through the jungle, clearing a path with their machetes. In forty-five more minutes, we were at the jungle’s edge, looking at the high-rise buildings that identified Sol City. We bade farewell to our two-man escort and started to cross the kilometre wide open space between us and the beginning of the urban area. Sestra pointed at a narrow gap between the silhouetted buildings.
“How fit do you feel, Ooze? Reckon you can run the kilometre to that gap over there?”
I knew that her response would be the same whether I said yes or no. But I think my body must have got used to the recent exertions, and I did feel confident in my physical abilities.
“I think so, yes.”
“Good, because we’re going to be out in the open. That means
