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Chapters (52)
  1. Title
  2. Copyright
  3. About the Book
  4. About the Author
  5. Also By
  6. Contents
  7. Dedication
  8. Roll Call
  9. A Brief History of the Time Wars
  10. Jane
  11. Luke
  12. Matthew
  13. 1
  14. 2
  15. 3
  16. 4
  17. 5
  18. 6
  19. 7
  20. 8
  21. 9
  22. 10
  23. 11
  24. 12
  25. 13
  26. 14
  27. 15
  28. 16
  29. 17
  30. 18
  31. 19
  32. 20
  33. 21
  34. 22
  35. 23
  36. 24
  37. 25
  38. 26
  39. 27
  40. 28
  41. 29
  42. 30
  43. 31
  44. 32
  45. 33
  46. 34
  47. 35
  48. 36
  49. 37
  50. Epilogue
  51. Author’s Note
  52. A Note on Recruitment

‘They’re safer there than here.’

Ellis said nothing.

Matthew turned his head suddenly and looked over towards the east. ‘We need to get back to the tomb. Now.’

‘Why?’

He blinked. ‘Why what?’

‘Why did you say that?’

‘Say what?’

Grint stirred impatiently. ‘Stop arsing around, Farrell.’

‘No,’ said North slowly. ‘With respect, Major, Parrish and Lockland are alone there. We should send someone.’

‘Yes,’ said Ellis, still wincing in pain. ‘We don’t need you, Lt Grint. Thank you for your assistance. Get yourselves back to the tomb, pick up your people and then head back to TPHQ. No need for you to hang around. We’ll finish things off here.’

‘Yes, sir. Anders, get the team together.’ He looked around. ‘The sun will be up soon.’

‘And so will the Medjay,’ said North. ‘You’d have to be dead to have missed our little sound and light show. We all need to get a move on.’

‘And we will,’ said Grint. ‘Come on, Farrell.’

11

11

Back at the tomb, Luke was crouching in the shadows, his back against the rock face, staring up at the stars, when Jane’s voice sounded in his ear.

‘Luke?’

‘Still here,’ he said, cheerily. ‘Were you worried I’d gone for a burger?’

‘Luke?’ Her voice trembled.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Do lightsticks flicker? At all? Ever?’

He stood up slowly and took a few steps towards the tomb entrance.

‘No, they don’t. Or they shouldn’t. Are you sure it’s not just running out? You know . . . fading away.’

‘No. It’s quite strong. They all are. They’re fine. I left one in the burial chamber and it’s as if . . . something passed in front of it. Just for a moment the light went out. And then came back again.’

‘OK. Jane, you need to check the tomb again. You need to be sure you didn’t miss anything.’

‘I’ve done that already. There’s no one here but me.’

Her voice was beginning to rise in panic.

‘All right. Try to stay calm. You’ve probably just got a faulty stick. Look, there’s no need for you to stay in there if it’s empty. Climb back up the tunnel and we’ll wait here together.’

She sounded doubtful. ‘Grint said to wait in the tomb.’

‘If it’s empty, it doesn’t matter whether you’re down there or up here.’

‘But he said I was to stay here until someone told me otherwise.’

‘I’m telling you otherwise.’

‘I’m sorry, Luke, I don’t think you count. It has to be someone more important.’

‘Well, thank you.’

‘I know, but I tried to say it nicely.’

‘I can’t get down to you. I’m probably too big to get through the tunnel. Even if I take my vest off.’