The young Chinese’s discomfort increased. ‘Ah . . . yes. We paid Krämer to cooperate and gave the key back to him, then I did everything I could to convince you to meet him in Hamburg. We were sure that if you got the key, you’d be intrigued enough to talk to Stapper in Holland, and then, if he gave you any useful information, follow it to the iceberg.’

‘You knew about the iceberg?’ Nina asked. ‘Why didn’t you just find the fortress yourselves?’

‘Krämer didn’t know which iceberg it was. We sent someone to talk to Stapper,’ he glanced down the cabin at the rescue team’s female leader, now named as Major Wu Shun, ‘but all he did was babble about demons. We already knew what they really were, of course.’

‘The Nephilim.’

‘Good band,’ said Eddie. ‘Preferred the Sisters of Mercy, though.’

Cheng gave him a puzzled look, then nodded to Nina. ‘The sleeping giants. We found one of their buried fortresses during our nuclear tests.’

‘Yeah, Eleanor told us.’ It was Nina’s turn to glance down the cabin. She and Eddie had stayed in luxury up front; the Millers were in considerably less comfortable compartments at the rear. While the jet was supposedly a commercial charter aircraft, it seemed its only client was the Chinese government – whose operatives might occasionally require an onboard cell.

Wu Shun had apparently been eavesdropping; now she joined them. She had changed from her black special-ops gear into civilian clothing, but even that seemed stiff and formal on her. ‘We are very interested to learn how Eleanor Miller knew about it,’ she said. ‘The discovery of the Nephilim is one of China’s most closely guarded secrets.’

‘She said somebody who knew she was researching suspended animation sold her the information,’ said Nina. Too late, she registered Eddie’s subtle warning look: don’t tell them anything. She cursed inwardly. While the couple were not literal captives like the Millers, right now they might as well be.

Luckily, she had not revealed anything the Chinese did not already know. ‘Yes. We are investigating,’ Wu told her. ‘She did not tell you a name?’

‘No, sorry.’

Wu regarded her impassively. Nina looked back, sizing her up. To have become the leader of a special forces unit at a relatively young age – she doubted Wu had yet reached thirty – meant she was dedicated both to her career and to the Chinese state. She couldn’t tell if the major’s cold, hard exterior was a necessary defence in a male-dominated environment, or her natural personality all the way through.

‘We will find out soon,’ Wu eventually said. She returned to her seat without a further word.

‘She’s got a lovely smile,’ Eddie said quietly. Nina gave him a quizzical glance; Wu’s mouth had been resolutely downturned. ‘Problem is, she keeps it in a jar under her desk.’