They resumed their trek through the underground complex, reaching another room. One half was a laboratory, computers ready for a new round of scientific analysis, and a large high-definition screen on one wall; the other was a glass-fronted isolation compartment containing the canted sarcophagus. Numerous cameras and sensors overlooked the crystal coffin from a lighting rig resembling that of an operating theatre.

The colonel spoke to Zan, the translator nodding obsequiously. He collected a laptop, which he plugged in on a bench at the armoured glass wall. ‘He is going to test our translation program,’ Hui told Nina.

‘I thought you said it worked?’

‘It does – based on the records we found. But we need to know if it will work with a real Nephilim subject.’

Nina stared at the shadowy giant behind the crystalline cover. ‘You want to wake him up? Rather – you want me to wake him up?’

‘You can do it, Professor,’ said Cheng. ‘You powered up the fortress in the iceberg, so you must be able to do this as well.’

‘It’s not whether I can do it that matters, it’s whether I want to do it!’ she objected. ‘For one thing, this guy’s been frozen for over a hundred thousand years – his body might be preserved, but for all we know, his brain’s turned to mush. For another thing, I really don’t like being used. Sorry to be blunt, but for all your talk about changing the world for the good of humanity, I still don’t trust you.’

Her hosts’ expressions darkened, none more so than Colonel Wu’s; his understanding of English was apparently better than his ability to speak it. The only exceptions were Cheng, who seemed mortified at the criticism, and his mother, now pensive. The colonel was the first to respond. ‘Professor Wilde,’ he said, voice stern and utterly cold. ‘You will use key to wake the creature.’

‘I will not,’ she replied firmly.

The commander scowled, unused to direct disobedience. His daughter spoke for him. ‘If you do not do it voluntarily, we will make you.’

‘What’re you going to do, drag me in there and force my hand onto the key?’ said Nina. ‘That might start the process, but it won’t finish it. If it’s anything like the vault from Turkey, getting it to do anything more than power up takes an active effort of will – I have to control it, guide it with my mind. And y’know, I need to be in a good mood to do that.’

‘Like emptying the dishwasher,’ Eddie noted from beside her.

‘So not helping.’

Wu was unimpressed. ‘Then we will force you to cooperate.’

Eddie sighed. ‘Let me guess. Torture? Been, seen, done. Won’t be the first time – and I’ve got the drill scars to prove it.’

‘We do not need to torture you. We have something more effective.’