‘If you like.’ He untied the rope and nudged his captive. ‘Get in the Toyota. Not the front,’ he said as the man hopped, teeth bared with effort as he hauled himself along the vehicle’s body. ‘Am I stupid? Round the back. Sit with your back to the passenger seat.’ Mercer obeyed meekly enough, saying nothing even when Connor lashed his tied hands to the headrest.

The fight seemed to have gone out of him, or perhaps the pain was too great, Tilly thought. Still, his easy compliance made her narrow her eyes, and when Connor slammed the rear door, she beckoned him to one side. ‘I don’t trust him – he’s up to something.’

‘It’ll be fine,’ Connor said. ‘Besides, he’s crippled. You really did a number on his knee. And I’m a seaman of sorts, love. I know how to tie a decent knot.’

‘Just promise me you’ll be careful,’ she begged.

‘It’s sweet of you to worry.’ He kissed her. ‘Follow as close as you can. I’ll see what speed I can make, and we’ll head for the caves. Sophie might even be there now, you know. She knew where you were going?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then ten to one she got worried when you didn’t return and headed out after you.’

It was a reasonable hypothesis that Tilly was glad to adopt. ‘Yes, she could well have done so. It would explain why the phone rang out. And if the professor turned up, she might’ve taken him along, so there’d be two of them to carry Luke. Let’s hope you’re right – it would be such a relief.’

‘Only one way to find out.’ He got in the vehicle and turned the key. ‘Stick close,’ he called and drove off.

Chapter Thirty-five

The journey back seemed to take forever. The track, plain enough in daylight, was harder to follow by headlights, but at least there was little dust, due to its uncleared nature. Tilly bumped and crashed along, frequently changing gears as she tried to anticipate the gutters and half-glimpsed potholes, hearing the crates sliding and banging behind her, worrying equally for Luke and the wellbeing of her cargo. The land looked alien by night, the scrub like tattered skeletons, and the Lost City, when she reached it, looming under the starry sky like a cemetery of vast headstones.

It was a relief to finally recognise the stretch of gravel leading to the saddle on the far side of the range that held the caves. Tilly breathed out thankfully and let her stiffly held shoulders relax as she braked behind Connor’s Toyota and switched off her lights. His were still shining, aimed at the cave mouth, and she slipped from her seat to jog to his side so that they entered the narrow entrance together.