‘There’s an armoury in the basement of Government House,’ said Howes. ‘It’s got an electronic lock. You’ll need the entry key, or you won’t get inside.’ He rattled off a short sequence of numbers. Yuichi went behind the bar and found a pen, quickly writing the key out on the back of his hand.

‘That’s it, then,’ said Yuichi. ‘We’ll grab some guns and go find Casey, wherever he’s headed.’

‘Wait a minute,’ said Howes, raising a hand. ‘Someone’s going to have to try and find Kip Mayer and spring him, if he’s still here.’

‘Why?’ I asked.

‘Rozalia told me you had proof that the Patriots recruited Casey, right?’ I nodded. ‘Well,’ Howes continued, ‘you’re going to need Mayer to get that evidence to the right people. And since my own men aren’t around, that means you’re going to have to take Mayer, as well as that evidence, back to the Authority yourselves.’

TWENTY-ONE

‘Where is everybody?’ asked Yuichi, looking around the reception area of Government House when we walked in some twenty minutes later.

There was no sign of the half-dozen men and women who normally staffed the building where Bramnik and Mayer usually kept their offices. Doors stood open around us, and I saw signs of disarray that suggested a scuffle. The Patriots had undoubtedly been here.

‘I’m guessing they’re holed up in their rooms in the Hotel Miranda,’ I said. ‘Or they were ordered to stay there.’ The Miranda had been appropriated by the Authority to house their staff.

‘Yeah. I guess.’ Yuichi looked around. ‘Which way from here?’

‘Down there,’ said Rozalia, pointing towards a door. ‘Howes said the armoury was in the basement.’

We had split into two teams. Four of us – myself, Yuichi, Oskar and Rozalia – were going after Casey. The others – Winifred, Randall, Chloe and Selwyn – were going to return to the base with Howes to try and release Mayer. Then, if all went well, they’d either cross over to the Authority’s alternate via the main stage or, if they couldn’t get to it, hightail it to the wrecked trawler and make use of Casey’s stage.

First, our team was going to grab whatever weapons we could, so we’d at least be able to defend ourselves.

I tried to ignore the churning in my belly every time I thought of Chloe walking into danger. She was smart and capable, and her presence here on the island told me everything I needed to know about just how much shit she could take and still walk out smiling. Even so, I had to work hard not to show my dismay when she decided to take part in Mayer’s rescue operation.

‘I know what you’re thinking,’ she had said, leaning in close to me. ‘And I know you’re not that guy.’

‘What guy?’ I had asked, the smell of her hair intoxicating me.