Without making so much as a ripple on the water, Ishmael moved his boat closer to one of the raider ships. He saw his cousin Taina crumple from a stun-blast and then be grabbed by dirty-looking men who loaded her motionless body onto a wide metal raft.  
Aliid frowned, scorning her words. I'm taller than she is!
 
As if hearing him, Norma turned to look directly at Aliid. With a single stroke of your stylus, you can complete a calculation that may gain victory against Omnius. Keep that in mind.
 
When she turned away again, Aliid said out of the corner of his mouth, And even if we win the war for them, will they free us?
 
* * *
 
AT NIGHT IN their communal quarters at the blufftop estate, the slaves were left alone. Here, the Buddislamic captives kept their culture alive?