Back at Tumultus, it became clear I had been wrong about no one taking the rebels' advice. Hundreds of people had swarmed into the settlement, flocking around the rebellion's makeshift buildings for food and shelter and medicine. Some of them had begun to form their own buildings and family units, too.

"Wow," I said.

"The people?" Tai asked. "Yeah, not much to go on for a future civilization, is it?"

"It's a lot more than I expected," I said. "When I went into the ...