‘What do they want it for? They stole a coffin – but what’re they going to do with a prehistoric frozen corpse?’

‘Nothing good,’ Nina said. ‘But we know where they’re taking it.’ She pointed at the map. ‘If we contact the New Zealand coastguard or the authorities in Auckland, they should hold the ship and everyone aboard it until we get there. Then we can ask them ourselves.’

Eddie was not enthused. ‘You want to go chasing after them?’

‘Anything connected to earth energy always ends up with some lunatic trying to take over the world or start a war. Whoever’s behind this and whatever they want it for, we can’t let them go through with it.’

‘She’s right,’ said Cheng. ‘If there’s a danger to world peace, you have to stop it. It’s what you do. Both of you,’ he added pointedly.

Eddie gave him an irritated glare, but said nothing.

Nina straightened. ‘Once we’re rescued, we’ll go to New Zealand. I want to find out who’s behind what just happened.’ Her voice became as cold as her surroundings. ‘And make them pay for it.’

Chapter 14

14

Auckland, New Zealand

‘There it is,’ said Eddie, staring across the water. The Tahatu was moored on a long wharf west of Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. ‘Let’s find out what those arseholes have to say.’

‘If they’re still there,’ Nina said. She, Eddie and Cheng had taken the first available flight from Melbourne, but the sea journey to Australia had taken four days, the Chinese bulk freighter that rescued them far from speedy. Even with considerably further to travel, the Tahatu reached its home port before them. She had already been informed that the Royal New Zealand Navy patrol vessel which intercepted the mercenaries’ ship had let it sail on. There had been no evidence of their murderous activities, so no cause to detain them.

‘Somebody’s there, look.’ There was a figure on the cluttered foredeck. ‘Even if the mercs have buggered off, the crew must know something.’

They headed along the harbourfront, passing a ferry terminal and a sightseeing seaplane dock, an elderly de Havilland Beaver growling from its jetty. ‘Shame the Destiny Sunset didn’t have one of those aboard,’ said Eddie. ‘We’d have got to Melbourne a lot quicker.’

‘Do you think Imka has found a flight to South Africa yet?’ Cheng asked.

‘I’m sure she has by now,’ Nina replied. ‘My God, though. That poor woman. Not only is her fiancé dead, but she found his body. Nobody should have to go through that.’

‘She found what was left of his body,’ Eddie noted grimly. ‘What the hell did that to him?’

‘Maybe it was whatever the mercenaries were trying to find,’ Cheng suggested.

Nina grimaced. ‘That’s a cheery thought.’