Kroen then took the limp body of Baruk and twisted the head so it was back in the right position. The sickening crunch and crackle of vertebrae made Matt wince. When the huge man had finished, he held the Israeli’s body up in front of himself, one hand on the collar and the other holding the head straight.

Matt went and stood against the wall. Hartogg came through first, and looked briefly at Baruk, and then at Matt. He sensed the danger a second too late, and before he could spin, Kroen had hammered the side of his head with the gun butt. The SEAL dropped to the ground. Abrams came next, followed by Andy and Tania together. Kroen and the Egyptians grabbed one each and flung them to the center of the room.

Kroen threw Baruk’s body aside like a sack of rubbish, and rolled his shoulders. Slabs of muscle, on top of a deep chest and huge arms ending in sledge hammer fists. The man was a born killer of men.

Drummond stepped out slightly, a small pistol now in his hand. “Weapons on the floor, and up against the wall.” He leaned forward, looking out into the hallway. “Oh please, come in, Captain Senesh, no need to be bashful.” He waited two seconds. “I’ll shoot one of them.” He smiled his megawatt smile and pointed his gun at Andy’s face.

Adira came in, arms straight down and slightly out at her sides. Her eyes flicked to Baruk’s body. Matt had never seen a look of such pure hatred on her face before; this had just gotten personal.

She stood in the doorway, her eyes flicking from Matt and the team, to Kroen, sizing him up, and then to Drummond before looking down again at her fallen comrade. She looked back to Drummond, her face impassive, but her eyes burning with a molten fury.

“Now, now.” He grinned at her. “I know what you’re thinking – can you take out Kroen, and my two men, and then get to me before I can fire?” He shook his head. “The answer is no. I’m a crack shot, and I will hit you at this range. Kroen will also snap the American woman’s neck as punishment. All your exertions will achieve is two more bodies, one of them being your own.”

Drummond turned to Matt. “Time to finish up. Professor, the Necronomicon if you please.”

“Don’t give it to him,” Adira said.

Matt froze.

Drummond turned and fired at Adira. The bullet whizzed past her face, grazing her cheek, and leaving a line of red. She didn’t flinch.

“That will be all, Captain. Or the next will be between your very angry eyes.” He turned back to Matt. “The Book, now.”

Matt looked to Adira, and then to Abrams, trying to elicit some sort of word, plan or even the indication of a plan – there was nothing from them. He felt helpless. Hartogg was still unconscious, and Abrams, Tania and Andy were bailed up against the wall, with Adira just inside, but up on her toes, her arms still straight down at her sides, fingers beginning to flex.