"Sometimes you're better out in the woods," she says, still picking idly at the hem of a uniform, "if it means you're free."

You can be kept someplace with food and a roof over your head and still be trapped. Then, shelter is just an easy cover for something worse. Torture, this time. Who knows what it'll be in the future?

One thing is sure: Rani can't be captured by them again, now that she's escaped. If they start with drugs to force the truth out of people, things are only going to get worse.

"Then we'd better stay outsiders." The look she gives Rani isn't quite a smile, but there's a sort of warmth in her voice. At least we're treated like people here.