The parachutes disappeared behind trees. Sandra broke through her indecision and took Macy’s hand, hurrying with her through the scrub. The Land Cruiser came into view—

As did the parachutists.

The black-clad figures had discarded their chutes and were heading towards them. Sandra froze when she saw they were armed. ‘Oh my God! They’ve got guns – get back!’

But it was too late. They had been spotted. One of the new arrivals – a woman – shouted as they ducked back into the bushes.

‘Go into the cave!’ Macy cried. ‘It’s the only place we can hide from them!’

‘We don’t know what’s down there,’ warned Sandra.

‘We know what’s not down there – those guys!’

‘Not a bad point for a sprog,’ the Australian admitted. ‘Okay, get over there, quick – but keep your head down!’

They scurried through the undergrowth. ‘We can make it!’ Macy said. ‘We just have to get across here.’ The cave was not far ahead – but open ground lay before it.

‘You go first,’ Sandra said, pushing Macy ahead as they came to the end of the scrub. ‘I’ll be right with you. Run!’

Heart pounding, Macy raced out into the open, Sandra behind her. Thirty feet to safety—

A man shouted. She glanced sideways, seeing a black-clad figure pointing at her.

Fear drove her to run faster. Almost there—

Red dust exploded from the sandstone. She shrieked, jumping back and shielding her face from spitting shrapnel. Sandra stumbled to a stop behind her. Macy recovered – but before she could run again, another bullet blasted a chunk from the cave mouth. ‘Don’t move!’ the black-clad woman shouted.

Macy felt another surge of terror as she saw a familiar face. Wu Shun marched towards her, gun raised, expression cold and hard.

A last desperate look at the opening, but Macy knew she wouldn’t reach it in time. ‘No, don’t shoot!’ she cried, holding up her hands.

‘She’s just a kid!’ Sandra shouted, moving to protect her. ‘Leave her alone!’

Wu reached the pair, her men forming up alongside her. ‘Hello, Miss Wilde,’ she said, the greeting devoid of friendliness. ‘If you are here, your parents must be here as well.’ She looked towards the cave. ‘In there?’ Macy said nothing, glowering. ‘I will take that as a yes. What about the Nephilim?’

‘They killed one of my rangers,’ Sandra told her. ‘We’re not your enemies. Let Macy go, and I’ll contact the authorities in Canberra. We can work together to deal with these things.’

Wu shook her head. ‘They declared war on us – so we will end it ourselves.’ She spoke to two of her men, handing one a phone-sized device. They ran to the Land Cruiser.

‘What are you doing?’ Macy asked as the 4x4 set off, heading west. It was Wu’s turn not to answer. Telling her team to watch the prisoners, she investigated the opening, shining a flashlight down the tunnel.