24
DR CHEE, WIDE-EYED, went to wake up Rosalie, Louise continued to the dorm with the boys, but Melati called Desi and Jao—she had something else to do, and she didn’t want to do it alone. Desi had an hour of guard duty left, but she managed to find a replacement.
“Can you wear something other than uniform?” Melati asked.
She expected protest, but both guards left without comment. When they returned a little while later, Melati had to make an effort not to burst out laughing.
Jao wore a red istel uniform. It fitted him well and he looked at least halfway genuine, although his face was too much like that of a construct, for those who knew such things. Desi was dressed in purple overalls that were too short so that her regulation boots stood out like a Buddha at a rave party. Melati had
