Nina was stunned enough by the revelation to be lost for words. Miller excitedly filled the silence. ‘I’ve seen pictures of the bodies. They look like aliens, but the Chinese did DNA tests – they’re related to humans.’

‘Very closely related,’ added Eleanor. ‘But at the same time, different. Meaning there’s something about their DNA that lets them use their technology, while we can’t.’ Her gaze focused laser-like upon Nina. ‘At least . . . most of us can’t.’

Nina realised where she was leading. ‘And you think I can?’

‘I know you can. You brought the ship trapped in the iceberg to life when you touched the key. You’re one of the few people in the world with the right DNA profile to manipulate earth energy – or as the Chinese call it, qi.’ She pronounced it tchee. ‘In Chinese mythology, it’s a life force that runs through the whole planet. Seems there’s more than a little truth to the legend. But you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?’

‘Would I?’ Nina shot back, challenging – and wanting to find out how much the Millers knew.

‘Yes, you would. You found King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur – a conductor for earth energy that could cut through almost anything. Then there were the levitating statues that led you to the lost cities of Paititi and El Dorado in South America, the Atlantean spearhead that almost blew up a big chunk of the Middle East, and I suspect some other things you didn’t mention to the International Heritage Agency.’ Eleanor smiled again, but the only humour behind it was gloating. ‘Oh yes, missy. You know.’

‘And how do you know?’ Nina demanded. ‘A lot of what I discovered with the IHA is still classified.’

‘And which country is one of the IHA’s biggest funders through the United Nations?’

She let out a soft moan at missing the obvious answer. ‘China. Of course.’

‘They know everything the IHA knows – and thanks to my man on the inside, I know everything they know. When it comes to earth energy, at least. But the Chinese know a lot more than the IHA. They know that to activate the technology they found, they need a key. They found one – but then they couldn’t find anyone who could use it. Which brings us to you.’

‘You want me to use the key to open the coffin,’ said Nina. ‘But why? What use is a hundred-millennia-old dead body?’

Eleanor laughed again. ‘You haven’t realised yet? It’s not a coffin. The body inside it isn’t dead – it’s in suspended animation!’

Chapter 18

18

Nina stared at the old woman, thinking she had misheard. ‘You’re kidding.’