‘He was injured in the grounding, and I’m afraid he died of his wounds en route to hospital.’

There was a sharp intake of breath.

‘Why wasn’t I informed of this? Goddamn it, Sura. I know you’re up to something.’

‘Father, please stay calm and listen to me. Everything is now under control and we are back on track, proceeding with the plan.’

Seeing Jaap looking at his feet, Sura was bitterly reminded that she was another person whenever she dealt with her father. His blunt force was impossible to resist, and her voice took on a wheedling register that she truly despised.

‘Father, can you hear me? You really need to trust me on this.’

‘Trust you?’ He spat the words with venom. ‘How dare you lecture me. I should have put Tommy in charge. In fact, I think I will now.’

‘Oh, really? By the time you get him sober, we will have already crossed the border.’ Sura tried to stop herself there, but the rage bubbling up would not be contained. ‘Fuck you and your empty threats, Father. There’s nothing you can do, so why don’t you just shut up for once in your life and put your faith in me?’

Sura’s heart was pounding. She had only ever once raised her voice to him, and the beating he had administered with a crop had been so savage that she couldn’t sit down for a week.

Abruptly General Suyanto hung up.

‘Not good,’ said Boerman grimly.

His pessimism seemed like a betrayal, but there was no time for second thoughts.

‘My father is a pragmatist. For now, he will have no choice but to accept the fait accompli and seek retribution later. By then, of course, we’ll be long gone.’

Boerman’s slow nod suggested he knew that she was putting a brave face on it. From now on, they were on borrowed time.

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

The ship was travelling upriver at near flank speed, despite the unpleasant vibration from the damaged stabiliser, which was creating drag. Mia Carter peered anxiously out of the porthole at the green jungle passing by. There was no sign of life on deck, and Rob Nash had been gone for too long. Something was wrong.

‘Frank, I need to leave you for a while.’

She paused to check the damp towel on his forehead and was puzzled to find it bone-dry. Douglas’s skin felt like a paving stone in the hot sun. Mia frowned. It was much too early for infection to have set in. Rewetting the towel, she patted the still-unconscious man gently on the arm.

‘Hang in there. I won’t be long.’

When she opened the mess door, two spectres stared back at her. Mia cried out in alarm before she realised it was Singkepe’s troopers, their uniforms covered in soot, reeking of petrol and crematorial smoke. The taller one’s face was hatchet-grim.

‘Go back inside.’