Anger flashed across the commander’s face at the sight of the American talking to the Nephilim. He shouted a command to the guards, who rushed to take up positions at the window, and gestured firmly for Nina and Zan to follow him to the conference room.

His daughter and Hui had seen his arrival on the monitor, meeting him at the door. A heated exchange followed, the younger Wu taking almost as much flak as the scientist. The exasperated Hui switched to English so Nina could understand the argument – and participate. ‘We were learning what happened to the Nephilim,’ she insisted. ‘He asked to speak to Professor Wilde, alone.’

‘Why her?’ snapped Colonel Wu.

‘She woke him – she is the only person here who could.’

‘And I’m the only person who’s found archaeological sites belonging to the Veteres – the Shangdi,’ Nina added. ‘They were enemies of the Nephilim. Gadreel was telling me how they were hunted by them.’

‘It is true,’ said Wu, sounding almost unwilling to agree with Nina in front of her father. ‘He gave us information. He mentioned their weapons,’ she added, with more enthusiasm.

That caught the colonel’s attention. He looked across at Gadreel, who was observing with interest. ‘What about fortress?’

‘He must know where it is, because he said he’d help us find it – if we agree to wake his people,’ Nina told him.

‘There are more? How many?’

‘I don’t know. But his wife and son are with them.’

‘That is good,’ said the major. ‘It gives us leverage. He will have to cooperate if he wants to see them again.’

‘He is not our prisoner!’ Hui insisted.

By now, Eddie and Cheng had joined the little group. ‘What about your actual prisoners?’ said the Yorkshireman. ‘Got anything from Eleanor and Donny yet?’

‘Not yet,’ said Colonel Wu. ‘But soon.’

‘You got them to talk?’

Wu asked much the same question in Mandarin, the reply drawing a small smile of satisfaction. ‘The man did not know anything about the spy,’ she said, ‘and the old woman would not talk, even when we put pressure on her son.’

‘You tortured him, you mean,’ Nina said in disgust.

‘But he knew other things that were useful,’ Wu went on, without acknowledging her. ‘Passwords to the Miller & Family bank accounts and financial systems.’

Eddie’s eyebrows rose. ‘Torturing Donny didn’t help you – so you’re going to hit Eleanor where it really hurts.’

‘We take her money,’ Colonel Wu said smugly. ‘One million American dollars at a time. If she does not name spy, she soon have nothing. She will talk.’ He looked back at Gadreel. ‘But fortress more important. Professor Wilde, you say he tell us where it is?’

She nodded. ‘If we agree to help wake his people.’

‘Of course we agree.’ He addressed Zan. ‘Tell him.’ The translator hurried back to his station.

‘But does that mean you’ll actually do it?’ Nina demanded.