Kina had watched the stranger's arrival from the ridge, her eyes following the small, grey craft as it slowly brought itself to rest a few miles away. She had tracked its progress for over an hour. At first, she had thought it was the old fire that Mama had told her about. As it had slowed and cooled, she had changed her mind: this was no unthinking meteor. She needed a closer look.

Michael deployed the shuttle's sensors and waited for their verdict. He'd been woken less than an hour ago, and he was still feeling the effects of the hibernation. His head felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool, his arms and legs seemed to be lined with lead, and he really, really needed a drink. Still, first things first: he needed to know if he could breathe out there. If not, this could be a very short trip.

It was further than she had thought. She'd had to stop and rest twice before she arrived at the crest of the valley. She needed to eat, but there was nothing - not so much as a Terma plant - in sight. She really hadn't thought this through: it would have made sense to go back to the village, but that would have meant telling Mama. Mama would tell Heli, and he'd set up a proper scouting team to check out the little craft. Kim would go, and Leo, but not Kina: far too dangerous for her. Well, this was hers: she'd seen it, and she was going to find out what it was. Not today, though. The light was fading, and she was tired and hungry. She'd rest, and go down into the valley tomorrow.

The air was breathable. Reassured, Michael set the sensors to work checking for anything that might suggest life: Tyra had looked perfect from a few thousand light-years away, but right now Michael just hoped that his little trip hadn't been in vain. Two-and-a-half years in hypersleep would be a hell of a long trip if he came up empty at the other end. Still, he could see about that tomorrow. Tyra's sun was setting, and he wasn't about to go out exploring in the dark. Besides, he needed some real sleep.

Kina woke as the sun rose. Sleep had not dulled her hunger, and she was grateful when she found a couple of Rishi bushes on her way down: the berries weren't very tasty, but they would do for now. The small craft had not moved since the previous night, but something was different about it. Two small spikes had extended out of its roof, though for what purpose she couldn't think: they didn't move, didn't make any noise, and didn't seem to be particularly decorative.

The hull had seemed to be featureless grey metal from a distance, but Kina could now see small, detailed markings along its sides. Across the front, there was a single line of the same markings: writing, perhaps, but nothing she could read. There was a door in one side: a door, but no way Kina could see of opening it. If there were anything in there, she'd have to wait for it to come out.

There was something outside. The sensors had picked it up just after sunrise, the alarm waking Michael from a fitful sleep. He watched the small radar blip slowly make its way down into the valley. As he watched, he began to wish that the shuttle had windows. Parrish had explained why it didn't back on Earth - the expense, the stresses involved, the vulnerability to micrometeorite strikes - but he would have given anything to actually be able to see whatever was approaching. He didn't like the idea of getting his first glimpse up close and personal. It took ten minutes for the blip to reach the valley floor. It stopped a few metres away and began to circle the shuttle, keeping its distance. Checking me out, Michael thought, suppose I'd better introduce myself. Clipping a small pistol to his belt, he stepped over to the shuttle door and cycled the lock.

Movement. Kina scuttled quickly behind a small bush and watched the stranger cautiously make its way out of the craft. It was an odd-looking creature: tall - easily as big as Kim - and with short blond hair and skin as pale as Koncha hide. Heli would be so impressed when she brought it back. This was a good one, she was sure of it.

There was nothing there: no sign of movement, nothing so big as a mouse on the valley floor, and yet the sensors had said it was at least the size of a child. It wasn't as if there was anywhere to hide: the valley was peppered with small bushes, but they provided virtually no cover for something to hide behind. It made no sense. Michael began to make his way around the shuttle: perhaps whatever it was had moved again, started another slow circle of the craft. Still nothing. Not a damn thing. Looking up, he couldn't even make out any birds in Tyra's azure sky. There weren't even any clouds, for heaven's sake.

It didn't look happy. Twice it had looked directly at Kina, but appeared not to have seen her. It had done a complete circle of the craft, and now appeared to be examining the sky. What did it expect to see up there? Then the realisation dawned on her. It must be waiting for more of its kind to land. That would explain the two spikes on the craft's roof: transmitters to signal for...what? Reinforcements? Kina didn't like that thought. She'd have to deal with this quickly. Maybe the creature hadn't managed to send a signal yet. Maybe there was still time. She'd have to see if she could break those spikes, but first things first. She drew her knife and crept slowly up behind the creature. Heli was going to be so pleased with her...