He jerked violently, then cried out, ‘No, Nat, no!’

Nightmares were unusual in non-REM sleep; was this some kind of fit? Taking his hand, she placed her fingers on his wrist to find his pulse surging in waves. Mia frowned. The edge of terror in Nash’s dreadful screams after the incident with Boerman had appalled her. Such primal fear, at odds with his profession and the incredible courage he had already demonstrated, was probably PTSD.

She kept hold of Nash’s hand while she studied his battered face close up. The strong jaw and sandy brown hair made him seem earnest and trustworthy, while those slightly flared nostrils and sea-green eyes added a sensual, dangerous element to the mix.

Unable to look away, Mia felt slightly guilty. As soon as she’d set eyes on Rob Nash, she’d been surprised by the depth of her attraction to him. It was visceral and instinctive. Stronger than any she’d ever known. She’d been intellectualising it as a response to her rescue – a knight in shining armour fantasy, which was frankly embarrassing – but seeing him now, so broken and vulnerable, she wasn’t so sure. If anything, the attraction was getting stronger.

There was a knock on the door, and Mia relinquished Nash’s hand as Frank Douglas stuck his head inside.

‘How’s he doing, doc?’

‘Hard to know for certain. He didn’t aspirate water or mud. Aside from the lacerations and bruising, I think it’s mostly shock.’

Douglas crouched down stiffly beside the bunk, looking yellow and gaunt.

Probably his liver, she thought. Too much booze and years of malaria.

‘He’s been calling out for Nat,’ she told him. ‘Do you know who he’s talking about?’

‘Natalie was his wife.’

Mia was confused. Rob hadn’t mentioned her last night.

‘She died a year ago.’ Douglas was staring at Nash with concern on his grizzled face. ‘Losing her really messed him up.’

‘How did it happen?’

Douglas glanced briefly at her. ‘An accident.’

Mia understood he wasn’t going to talk about it. He’s protecting him, she thought, and wondered why. But there were more immediate concerns.

‘Frank, what do you know about Shangri-La? Because I believe Boerman just tried to kill Rob – and I know he tried to kill Goki, too, because I caught him in the act.’

He stared at her in alarm. ‘You’re serious?’

She told him about Nash’s altercation with Boerman the night before, and explained what she’d seen on the bridge after the grounding – perhaps thieves falling out.

‘I don’t believe Kaboro recognises the threat he’s facing here. What do you think they’re up to, Frank?’

He looked dazed. ‘The job seemed genuine enough. Sura’s a TV star in Indonesia, Robbie’s the cave-diving legend, and they don’t get any bigger than the Hoosenbeck Cavern.’