Gadreel, whose head reached almost to the helicopter’s stationary rotor blades, seemed distinctly underwhelmed by the aircraft. There was a roar, and he looked around. Across the sprawling airbase, an angular Chinese stealth fighter hurtled along the runway with afterburners blazing before rocketing skyward. Again, while he now appeared more intrigued, there was none of the shock Nina would have expected from a man from the past seeing twenty-first-century technology for the first time.

Colonel Wu waited for the thunder to subside, then gave orders. The larger group of soldiers boarded their helicopter, one of the men with the qi tracker opening the other’s cabin door to let the commander enter. Major Wu stood back, directing the scientists inside.

Nina clambered in. The cabin was outfitted with metal and canvas seats designed for lightness rather than comfort, and while the space was about thirteen feet long, it was not high; even at only five foot five, she had to hunch down to move around. ‘Damn. Gadreel’ll have to fold himself in half.’

Colonel Wu took the seat closest to the cockpit. He gestured towards the cabin’s empty rear, where blankets and bed rolls had been laid out. ‘He sit on those.’

‘If that’s your idea of first-class flying, I’d hate to see your economy section.’ Nina sat as far from the colonel as she could, Hui taking the seat beside her and Zan settling himself opposite. The soldiers then guided Gadreel into the aircraft.

The Nephilim was far from pleased by the interior, glaring at his fellow passengers as he lowered himself onto the bedding.

‘Tell him that at least he won’t have to eat an in-flight meal,’ Nina said to Zan. Hui chuckled, but the translator did not pass on the joke.

The tracker’s case was secured, then finally Major Wu boarded. The helicopter’s engines started, the rotors slowly beginning to turn. Gadreel reacted in alarm to the initial rumble of machinery, but quickly calmed on seeing that the others were not concerned.

Before long, they were airborne. The helicopter wheeled into a wide banking turn, heading east. Even wearing headphones, Nina found the noise almost intolerable. She didn’t want to imagine what Gadreel, whose head was too large for the ear protectors, thought of his first flight. ‘How long before we get there?’ she asked Hui.

The reply came through the internal intercom system. ‘About thirty minutes.’

Wu heard the question through her own headphones. ‘When we arrive, we still have to search for the location.’

‘I hope Gadreel’s got a good memory for topography,’ Nina noted. ‘The landscape will be totally different. The desert’s expanded, rivers have changed course, forests are gone . . .’

‘The mountains have not changed,’ Wu replied, with a snide edge. ‘He will recognise them.’