Basia Merton's abducted, immune-disordered son — found dead on a table in Strickland's hidden lab.
Katoa Merton, Basia's missing immune-disordered son, is found dead by Holden's raid team, laid under a sheet on a table in Strickland's abandoned lab. Prax identifies the small body — dark-skinned, black-haired, in bright yellow pants and a green crocodile shirt — and is devastated: it confirms his worst fear that the abductors, even Strickland, let the children die, and casts terrible doubt on whether Mei survives. His father's grim belief that he was dead proves true.
A skinny boy of four or five with a mop of unruly black hair and dark skin, dressed in bright yellow pants and a green shirt with a cartoon crocodile and daisies; his cause of death not immediately apparent.
The first confirmed dead of the abducted children, shattering the raiders' hopes.