‘Fuck you, soldier boy. I got a harvest to get in. Some of us got to work for a living,’ came the reply.

Stanton fixed Cormac with a look. ‘It’s Svent,’ he said.

‘Oh God,’ said the sergeant. ‘Needles.’

‘Take them down! Take them down now!’ Cormac yelled.

Overhead the guns started up like an engine. Actinic light flashed through the windows.

‘Mika, get out,’ he said.

Mika immediately obeyed. The sergeant stood up from his console and looked round.

‘You too,’ said Cormac. As the sergeant passed him, Cormac ducked forwards and looked up at the gunner. The man’s face was hidden behind a targeting mask as he operated the gun’s controls. Hydraulics whined as the guns tracked across. Cormac moved to the control console and looked at the screen. Four traces, one moving slowly and erratically. The other three coming in fast. One of them disappeared while he watched. He gripped the edge of the console, his palms suddenly slick with sweat.

‘Incoming,’ he said. ‘Anyone found not wearing a helmet will be on a charge.’ He looked around and noted his own helmet on the bunk opposite Stanton.

‘We’re the target,’ said Stanton.

‘I know,’ Cormac replied.

Only one of the fast traces remained. The slow and erratic trace had descended into the trees.

‘Come on. Come on.’

It took Cormac a moment to realize when the last trace had disappeared. He looked around. Stanton met his look then sagged against his bonds.

‘Right.’ Cormac slapped the console, then headed quickly back. ‘Good shooting,’ he said to the soldier operating the gun. The man swung his mask away and gave him a sickly grin. Cormac grabbed up his helmet and exited the AGC. Even as he stepped out, there was a blinding flash above, and the turret guns on the carrier began to flash again like arc-welders. Cormac’s visor took its time depolarizing.

‘I can’t see!’ came someone’s voice over his com.

Cormac heard the familiar vicious whir of a seeker bullet. Then a scream and a thump. He ran for the nearest foxhole and jumped in. Tarm glanced at him, then returned to the sight of his pulse-rifle.

‘Where the hell did that come from? Aiden?’

There was firing in the trees. More smoke gusted. At the perimeter, one blue oak spurted flame. Then there was a concussion and a cloud of burning twigs and leaves flew into the air.

Aiden said, ‘Someone got through. We missed him. He was moving very fast. I suspect it must have been the android.’ Cormac was sure the Golem was as close as it could get to anger.

‘Are either of you hit?’

‘No. It just came in for the one shot.’

‘Who was hit here?’ Cormac asked, sticking his head above ground and looking around.

‘Goff—took his head off . . . sir.’

Just then an amplified voice spoke from the trees. ‘You next Cormac!’

‘Find that!’