Mika climbed from the foxhole and supported him as he swayed. She looked back once at the headless corpse draining its blood into the stony earth, and then helped Thorn return to the camp.

* * *

Through the shattered window Stanton had been presented with a perfect view of the action, albeit an uncomfortable one. His wrists were still tied by the bunk—only the bunk was now above his head. He looked around inside the carrier for some way of freeing himself. Pelter was getting away! That just must not happen.

The gunner would be no help. The turret had taken full weight as the carrier had come down and the man was now folded in a tangle of metal and seat padding. The sergeant was unconscious. Stanton looked outside again. The most badly damaged of the two Golem had taken something from what remained of Mr. Crane. It held that something up, before tossing it on the ground. Stanton recognized the long lozenge shape of a Golem’s mind. The other drew a pulse-gun and fired. The mind shattered and the two Golem moved off. Now, that had been something Stanton was glad not to miss. He focused his attention on the scattered brassy remains and couldn’t help but wonder where the suitcase was. It then occurred to him that amongst those remains lay the solution to his dilemma.

Stanton flicked the ring on his finger and twisted his right hand round so it was out and open. What was left of Crane’s coat jerked into the air, and the Tenkian dagger through and away. It hit the shattered window and went straight through, turned in midair and slapped its handle into Stanton’s hand. Stanton turned it and began sawing through his bonds.

* * *

‘Cormac.’

Cormac turned and put his back against a tree. His comunit was still on.

‘What is it, Aiden?’

‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m after Pelter.’

‘I will be with you shortly.’

‘No, you won’t. You’ll secure the camp and sort out the mess there. I can handle this.’ There was a moment of silence before Aiden replied.

‘Very well. As you order, Agent. You had best be aware then that the shuttle Viridian informed us about has landed a quarter of a kilometre in on the course you were following. It may be that this is how they intended to escape.’

‘Thank you. I’ll be back with you soon.’