With ample time to brood, his thoughts turned homewards. By now Jacquie would be wondering why he hadn’t managed to get in touch. He could almost see her lower lip flapping up and down as she blew her fringe away in exasperation, then the forgiving shrug of her shoulders, because that was how it was with a brother who always turned up in his own sweet time. His parents would patiently accept this as the logical explanation while privately worrying themselves sick all the same.

Nash made himself a promise. If he ever got out of this, he would never put them through this shit again.

When at last the Albany’s forward momentum ceased, Nash knew they must be close to the border. He listened to the loud rattling of chains as the anchors were deployed. A minute later, they were cranked up again. He realised the Albany was dragging her anchors in the current, and Kaboro needed several attempts to get them to bite.

Kaboro. Every time Nash thought of the man, he felt gutted. He had seen the good in him. It had to still be in there.

He heard the helicopter take off, then, soon after, it returned. A short time later heavy footsteps approached, the door was flung open, and Boerman filled the cabin with pent-up menace. Pointing a large automatic pistol at Nash’s stomach, the Afrikaner’s cold blue eyes assessed the likely threat. Nash was glad the big man’s face bore the marks of their confrontation, because his larynx felt as if it would never function the same way again.

‘Turn around, put your hands out.’

A cable tie was slid over his wrists and Boerman reefed it up tight.

‘Where are Mia and Frank?’

Boerman pushed him roughly towards the door.

‘Thought you wanted to dive the Hoosenbeck, Nash? About time you did some bleddy work for a change.’

Mia steadied Douglas as the Jet Ranger banked steeply over the gaggle of grass-thatched huts. Hufi was a place she’d visited a few times, a quiet hamlet, last stop on the river before the Indonesian border. Her heart went out to the terrified villagers below. Regular victims of border raids by poachers and Kopassus, they were taking no chances with the arrival of the Jet Ranger, and were weaving trails in a dense field of taro as they fled. But why had Sura dropped them here? Beyond being an inconvenience, Mia could only guess they were leverage.

Hartono carelessly set down too close to the huts, destroying several thatched roofs in the process. In the front passenger seat, Singkepe shot him a dark look. Opening the door, he helped Mia unload Douglas on the rough stretcher, followed by several boxes of supplies and the medical kit.