‘Do nothing and we’re dead anyway.’ Douglas delivered this gently. ‘Look, kid, I know you’re about saving lives, but this is kill or be killed. Personally, I’d rather be around to feel bad about it afterwards. How about you?’

‘OK.’

‘Robbie?’

‘I’m in.’

Douglas placed his hands on their shoulders.

‘Chin up. Our advantage is total surprise, because they don’t see us as a threat. No second thoughts in the morning. When we go, we go.’

Nash lay there, trying to still his racing mind. It felt like madness to even think of taking on such highly trained troops, but he knew it was the fear talking. The Nazis had managed to kill a million innocent people at Treblinka with a tiny detachment of thugs, using fear and confusion to string people along who were desperately clinging to the belief that salvation might be just round the next corner. In contrast, they knew salvation wasn’t coming, but knowing that didn’t change the fact that killing people – even those who meant to kill you – was fundamentally abhorrent.

Mia reached out and took his hand.

‘I’m too scared to sleep, Rob. Will you please hold me?’

She nestled in with her back against his stomach, and he placed his arm around her waist. They listened to the rain steadily drumming down, and then Douglas began to snore. The sensation of Mia’s slim body in his arms was bittersweet. She was utterly delightful, a beautiful woman with brains and guts in equal measure. But he couldn’t let himself dwell on hopes for a future.

‘Have you ever anyone killed anyone?’ she whispered. ‘Sorry, I keep thinking there must be a way to just talk our way out of this.’

Jonathan’s accusing stare came to his mind.

‘That depends on who you talk to.’

She was silent for several moments, and then rolled over to face him.

‘Rob, Frank told me Natalie’s death was an accident. So why are you still blaming yourself? I’ve felt this . . . torment . . . in you since the day we met.’

Had they been anywhere else, he might have – no, would have – opened up to her, because after last night in the cave, the doubt eroding him from within had returned with a vengeance. But he couldn’t dwell on Natalie, not now . . .

Suddenly, Mia kissed him hard on the lips. Then she placed his hand on her right breast. The shock of its firm weight, and especially her desire, ignited something primal in him. Devouring her succulent mouth, and running his hand down her flat stomach, Nash wanted to spread her wide and drive into her – for it was probably their last night on earth – but then Douglas began making that awful choking sound which heralded a new cycle of snoring.

‘Do you ever feel like you can’t catch a break?’ she whispered.

Grudgingly glad of a circuit breaker, Nash chuckled softly.