The sight of numerous tower cranes amongst the city’s sprawl gave her an idea. Construction sites were full of deep pits – and newly poured concrete. If she could reach one, she could render the key inaccessible, if not permanently then at least long enough for the Chinese military to blast the vimana from the sky.

Only one catch: she was two hundred feet above the ground . . .

Noises behind her. The Nephilim were coming. She dropped low against the wind and ran clear of the hatch.

It felt as if something was pushing back against her feet, the oily shimmer of colours roiling over the metal reacting to each step with a pulse that spread outwards like pond ripples. The entire hull was charged with some kind of earth energy field. An experimental stamp with one boot; the flash and the feeling of resistance both intensified. A shield, a counter-force to impacts? All she knew for sure was that it made traversing the exterior more difficult.

Aft of the exit, large strakes swept backwards to the hull’s edge. She had no idea of their purpose, but they stood tall enough to provide some cover. She clambered over the nearest, ducking and scurrying along for several metres before clearing the second. She readied the spear and peered back over the metal ridge.

Both pursuing Nephilim were outside, robes flapping violently. The wind affected the giants more strongly than Nina, forcing them to hunch down. That would even the odds somewhat – as long as she stayed clear of their trikans.

The fortress banked, sweeping around an unfinished apartment block. A second turn to avoid another tower, and it resumed its original course. Either it couldn’t fly any higher, or Gadreel had some reason for holding this altitude. Neither option helped her, though; she was still high enough for any fall to be fatal—

If she landed on the ground. But on a building . . .

Staying low, she scurried to the hull’s edge. More of the city came into view. There were plenty of smaller buildings between the large towers, some at least ten storeys high. If the fortress passed close enough above one, she might be able to jump down without breaking both legs—

A shout as the first Nephilim saw her.

‘Shit!’ she gasped, bringing the baraka to bear and firing. The warrior threw himself sidelong. The energy blast passed through the shield as if it didn’t exist, one form of earth energy unaffected by the other. It hit the hull just beyond him, spraying sparks.

The second Nephilim ducked low and scurried towards her, trikan ready. The first jumped back up and hurdled several strakes before closing in. They were trying to catch her in a pincer – and she could only attack one threat at once.