‘Yeah, I know what to do,’ Nina replied. ‘I woke him, remember?’

‘Of course. Sorry.’ Zan nodded apologetically, then resumed his sentry duty. ‘I’ll translate if you need me.’

‘You might have to shout.’ Like everything about the new fortress, the crystalline chamber below was larger than its frozen counterpart. The glow from the translucent walls revealed at least fifty sarcophagi, four rings of ancient coffins standing like golden tombstones around a trio of more ornate examples at the room’s centre.

The most elaborate was empty. Gadreel went to one of its neighbours, gazing at the shadowy figure inside before moving on to the third. He indicated the recess at its foot, speaking loudly so Zan could hear. ‘My wife,’ the translator called back to Nina. ‘Wake her first.’

‘What about the poison gas?’ she asked. ‘I don’t see any gas masks in here!’

Zan passed on her concerns. ‘He says the gas will be . . . taken away when the sarcophagus opens. I didn’t understand all the words, but he’s not worried.’

‘I wish I had his confidence in something that hasn’t been used in a hundred and thirty thousand years.’ A sigh, then she held out a hand. ‘Okay. Let’s get this party started.’

Gadreel didn’t need to understand English to recognise her mockery. He scowled, slapping the key down with more force than necessary. She set it in the recess, readied herself – then placed her palm upon it.

Even prepared for contact with the planet’s hidden energies, the sensation still came as a shock. A moment to recover and gather her thoughts, then she focused her temporary sixth sense upon what she felt around her.

Both Gadreel and Colonel Wu were right: the fortress was at a confluence point for earth energy. An almost overwhelming power flowed through it, irresistible as a tsunami. She fought to ride the current to the far smaller conjunction controlling the sarcophagus. There; her mind felt the flow of force around it, sensed the hint of consciousness within. There were many more nearby, waiting – pleading – to be awoken, but she kept her attention on the closest. Guide the lines, shape them the way she needed—

Done. She withdrew her hand, blinking in momentary confusion as reality inverted. Gadreel spoke as she retreated from the sarcophagus. ‘Did you wake her?’ Zan asked from the stairs.

‘Yeah, I did – and this thing’s about to open, so I’m standing well clear!’

The Nephilim, though, did not move. The crystal lid began to rise. Wisps of gas rolled out – but then a hollow moan came from beneath the coffin. The few vaporous coils that had escaped rolled slowly down to floor level, but the yellow miasma still inside the sarcophagus was drawn into its base. The tubes the mercenaries had broken in the iceberg were not to keep it filled with the gas, Nina realised; rather, to extract it safely before the sleeper awoke.