The voice came again, its elements seemingly drawn from the people who were gathering round to watch, to gawp. One brave soul reached out to touch, then snatched his hand back before it was burnt, or before he touched something ineffable.

'Scar is an advantage,' said the Maker.

Staring into light, Cormac suddenly felt even more tired. He looked round at Blegg, but the Japanese seemed preoccupied, his expression opaque.

Through Samarkand II and through Hubris, Earth Central watched the culmination of events with small facets of itself. Eventually it opened a communication channel that it still did not wholly understand.

CONCLUSION: SATISFACTORY?

Within certain limitations, Hal.

Explain.

Dragon died here, but Dragon still lives.

-Dragon dialogues-

DELAY.

DELAY.

DELAY.

Satisfactory conclusion deferred - projection.

The AI closed off that odd channel and once again focused all its attention through Hubris. The ship AI continued to watch the spreading cloud, fascinated by the pattern of its dispersal, and analysing it continuously. The remains of Dragon stretched out and out, and still following the creature's original course, they drew a glittering ring around the planet. Some of this debris fell into atmosphere. Hubris detected strange proteins and exotic metals. Some of these substances had been made to withstand extremes of heat and force, so certain fragments were not burning up on re-entry.

On Samarkand it was raining Dragon scales.