The only thing in this whole bare landscape, apart from the tree in the distance, was a single rock about fifty yards away. He’d sit on the rock, have some water and an energy ball and then make a decision about what to do next. Generals can’t think on an empty stomach, after all. Hadn’t Sun Tzu’s written that in The Art of War? He wasn’t sure. Still, he pondered some more of its wisdom now:

The Wise Warrior,

When he moves,

Is never confused;

When he acts,

Is never at a loss.

He needed a definite plan.

Wolf eased his knapsack off his shoulders and put it down by the rock. There was something a little odd about the rock, but Wolf wasn’t quite sure what it was. There were lines scratched into it that looked a bit like letters or something. MMXIV. Wolf ran his hands over the numbers. It was a good thing he hadn’t just sat down. As soon as his hand made contact with the rock, it made a low, sinister creaking sound and then started to move.

Wolf sprang back and watched as the rock rose into the air to form a tall gray pillar. Another one steadily rose out of the ground just opposite, and then another one, and another. The pillars now formed the corners of a large rectangle. There was a sort of metallic heaving noise as the last part of this happened, as if a hundred school radiators were coming on at the same time.

“What the . . . ?!” said Wolf, jumping backward again.

More pillars appeared from the ground. And then a whole building began rising up in the area that they had marked out. It was also gray, but while the rocks seemed ancient, the building was metallic and military looking. Wolf checked his map again. The building was coming out of the ground in exactly the place at which he had been told to arrive before midday. He gulped. It was eleven forty-five. Perhaps, after all, he had arrived on time. He’d surely found where he was supposed to go. Which meant that he hadn’t failed in his mission. Not just yet. Was Natasha in there somewhere?

Once the building had finished emerging from the ground everything became still and quiet again. It was as if nothing had ever happened. Except now there was this vast gray structure standing there in the middle of nowhere. It must be top secret. But why? And what connected Natasha with people who would have a top secret underground facility in the remote Borders? Wolf gulped again, took a last sip of his water and slipped his knapsack back on. He made sure he could reach his sword if he needed it—even though it only worked on magical people it still looked very impressive. And anyway, who knew what was in that building?