They flew across south-western Paris, the city going about its business as if nothing were wrong. Over the radio net, Jenssins told Colonel Francisci that his GIGN unit would land first and establish themselves. ‘There’re civilians in there and the terrorists have a biological agent right on our water supply. Give us two minutes.’

‘Got it,’ said Francisci, whose COS special forces operators were assault specialists, not bioweapons experts.

Briffaut asked his pilot to hold back and land in the car park of the plant, which was an industrial facility in the middle of a green parkland.

‘Okay,’ said Briffaut, muting his mic, ‘remember to stay back when we land. We’re observers here—spare me the paperwork.’

On the GIGN and COS radio net, Colonel Francisci from special forces was talking to Thorens. ‘Can you shut it down?’ he asked.

‘It takes several hours,’ said Thorens. ‘You don’t just shut down the water in Paris.’

‘We’re landing,’ said Jenssins. ‘Where are the consultants?’

‘The Rotterdam engineers are already inside the security perimeter,’ said Thorens, ‘but I believe some of their supplies are still in the trucks.’

‘I doubt they’re engineers,’ said Jenssins, ‘so stay away from them, and stay clear of those canisters. We’re landing now.’

De Payns could see the two GIGN helicopters landing on a field beside the large staff car park. A massive structure—the Saint-Cloud drinking-water plant—rose up out of the greenery like a grey behemoth. The Y Division helicopter lined up behind the two choppers carrying COS soldiers. From his window de Payns could see two Rotterdam trucks parked at the building, one of which had its side curtains raised, showing two-metre-tall blue canisters stacked one on top of another. A forklift approached the canisters.

De Payns and Shrek made to follow the special forces soldiers, who deployed along the side of the building to the loading bays, but Briffaut pulled them back. ‘You’re worth more to me if you’re anonymous and alive,’ he reminded them. ‘We’re not in Islamabad anymore, boys.’

The radio net sprang to life as the lead GIGN operators rounded the corner of the main building, so they were facing the loading bay. The gunfire started, echoing loudly in their earpieces—the gunfight was also clearly visible just sixty metres away. Concrete chips flew as three gunmen fired from the loading bay, partially obscured by a truck. They were good marksmen, for water engineers. One of the gunmen at the truck slumped, shot dead. Two other Rotterdam gunmen retreated back inside the facility. The soldiers gave chase and the DGSE team lost sight of them.

‘Wouldn’t mind a look in there, boss,’ said Templar.