‘I’m not planning to, no. Research and teaching is a full-time job.’

Elizabeth turned to Macy. ‘And I’ve heard you want to follow in your mum’s footsteps and become an archaeologist too?’

The young redhead nodded. ‘Yeah. Mom thinks she’s found everything there is, but I know there’s more out there. So I’m going to find it.’

‘She wants to prove me wrong,’ Nina sighed. ‘Ten years old, and already she’s out to torpedo my professional reputation!’

Macy narrowed her eyes. ‘You are wrong, Mom. I know what happened with the trikan, even if you don’t believe me.’

‘The trikan?’ asked Elizabeth.

‘An Atlantean artefact,’ Nina explained. ‘Similar to a yo-yo. It’s a weapon, although nobody’s been able to figure out how it works. At least,’ she added, ‘until Macy claimed she got it to do all kinds of physics-defying tricks.’

‘I did do it,’ Macy said, glowering at her. ‘I made it change direction in mid-air just by wanting it to.’

‘That’s what it does in the movies. Not real life.’

Her glare deepened. ‘You always say that! But I can tell the difference between a movie and real life. I’m not stupid.’

‘I don’t think you’ll have to wait until she’s fifteen, love,’ said Eddie, amused, before addressing his friends. ‘Now I know what Nina must have been like as a kid. Macy’s always reading about some ancient thing or other, or watching documentaries.’

‘I wouldn’t call them documentaries,’ Nina said snippily. ‘Anything involving UFOs or ancient astronauts or demons is junk science, nothing more.’

‘Didn’t people used to think that about Atlantis?’ Nina gave him a stony look, which brought a broad grin in return. ‘Anyway! Let’s talk about something else before my wife and daughter get into a fight.’

‘So, are you going to change your life now you are fifty?’ asked the Congolese Fortune Bemba. ‘Somehow I cannot imagine Eddie Chase spending the rest of his days relaxing in a hammock.’

‘If we had a garden, I’d have a hammock in it already!’ Eddie told him. ‘Nah, as far as running around the world dodging bullets goes, I’m done. Don’t want to tempt fate by looking for trouble again.’

Fortune nodded. ‘Good luck with your quiet life, my friend!’

That was enough excuse for another toast. ‘Good luck!’ chorused Brazilian ex-cop Ana Rijo and her boyfriend, the hulking Russian mercenary Oleg Maximov. Everyone else followed suit.

Eddie and Nina clinked their own glasses. ‘Sounds good to me,’ he said. ‘You?’

‘Staying out of trouble?’ she said. ‘Absolutely. Here’s to a quiet life!’

They both drank, then Nina eyed her husband’s faintly pensive expression. ‘What is it?’

‘Can’t help thinking I’m going to hear Ron Howard’s voice saying, “They didn’t get one.”’