Skulduggery overtook a slow-moving tractor and guided the Bentley round a hairpin bend. “We don’t know,” he said. “There are dozens of hidden entrances to those caves. She could be anywhere.”

There was an edge to China’s words that had not been there before. “How long before she’s at full strength?”

“Days, if we’re lucky. China, we need to get Ravel ready to shunt. We’re out of time.”

“Agreed,” said China. “Get back here now.”

The call disconnected, and Skulduggery looked at Valkyrie.

She kept staring out of the window. She was fully aware of how hyper she’d been, and now how quiet she’d become. But the mood had settled over her like she was in the shade of some great monolith, and there had been nothing she could do to stop it.

She’d returned the Echo Stone to its cradle. She had hoped a simple recharge would bring Gordon back. It hadn’t. The stone was empty. There was no coming back from that.

Her eyes were tired. They stung, and wanted to close. She longed to go to bed, to curl up under the covers and never come out.

“She’s going to win,” she muttered.

“Nonsense,” Skulduggery said.

“We can’t stop her. You know we can’t.”

“She said it herself, it’s going to take some time for her new body to acclimatise to her power. She’s in a weakened state. What’s the first thing I taught you about getting into a fight?”

“Never fight on their terms.”

“And this is exactly what I meant. In a few days, she’ll be back to full strength and ready for us. So we don’t give her those few days. We fight her when she’s not ready. Are you with me?”

“I suppose.”

“That doesn’t sound very enthusiastic.”

“I’m really not in the mood.”

He jammed his foot on the brake.

“Jesus!” Valkyrie said, bracing herself as the Bentley screeched to a halt. She stared at him. “What the hell did you do that for?”

He tilted his head. “I lost my hat,” he said. “You haven’t once asked what happened to it. I’ll tell you what happened to it. I lost it. As we speak, it’s probably making its way down the digestive tract of a particularly fashion-conscious Phalanx Tiger. I await your condolences.”

“Uh … I’m sorry about your hat.”

He leaned closer. “Why? It’s only a hat. It’s a garment, made specifically for the head. True, my dear friend Ghastly Bespoke made it just for me, but it’s still only a hat, and I have many more that he made for me.”

Valkyrie frowned. “Right. What’s your point?”