Without hesitating, they leapt across a rapidly closing pocket of water to another log, a scant moment before the great lengths of timber came together with a jarring shudder, driving the first under and rolling theirs. Nash’s bare feet skidded, and for a heart-stopping moment it seemed as if they would fall into the giant mangle, until Mia’s counterweight brought them back from the brink.

The men above were rapidly lowering the cargo net, and it was almost down.

‘We’re out of options!’ Nash yelled as they approached the end of the log.

Before them lay an open patch of water, not much larger than a suburban swimming pool.

In one motion he used their momentum to propel Mia forwards, one hand in the small of her back, and then dived in after her.

By the time they’d swum half a dozen strokes, the net was down, and they swam inside.

‘Go, go, go!’ yelled Nash, as two great logs began swinging back like oversized clappers.

The net had just cleared the surface when the behemoths came together. Nash felt the enormous mass of the impact miss his dangling right foot by inches. Mia cried out and he thought the worst, but it was just the net pinching the flesh of her thighs.

They rose swiftly, swaying from side to side, and Nash prayed they wouldn’t drop back into the blender below. Then strong arms swung the net over the lip, and they were pulled to their feet and given hearty handshakes and back-slaps by the mob of excited men.

Their leader was the bearded man they had seen from below. With intense bulging eyes, and an impressive pink scar down the side of his face, he introduced himself as Donte Babo, an independent OPM commander operating in the areas around the mission. He explained that Indonesian air activity and the need for payback had drawn them up the Hoosenbeck Gorge, a place they usually avoided.

‘Why is that?’ Nash asked.

‘Nogut magik hia. Dewel bilong men I dai.’

Mia translated. ‘He’s says it’s bad magic, that the ghosts of dead men live here.’

And now Douglas had joined them. But there was no time to bury him, even if they were able to identify his corpse among the many.

‘Tell Babo we need to get out of here before more soldiers come,’ said Nash. ‘By now they will know something is wrong.’

Babo was distracted by an excited jabber of raised voices. It seemed the OPM men had just discovered the golden Hind. Nash and Mia stood by watching while they celebrated. About a third of the bullion had pooled in the fury of the immolation, but many bars were available to pick up, and the men were beside themselves. A delighted Babo explained that now they would be able to buy powerful weapons to fight the Indonesians.

Mia clasped her hands together. ‘Plis helpim sik tu. Ol needim.’