The warrior behind Zan was already responding to Gadreel’s command. His baraka came up – and fired.

The bolt of energy hit the bridge’s underside, red stone exploding beneath Eddie and Barney. The ranger staggered, then slipped over the edge as a section of the crossing fell away—

Eddie lunged, catching his wrist. The big man’s weight almost dragged him into the abyss. He strained to haul him back up, but felt his hold slipping. Tossing the rifle aside, he clapped his other hand around the Australian’s arm.

The bridge shuddered. A chunk fell away just beyond Barney, splitting the crossing in half. Eddie finally found his grip and dragged him onto the dusty surface. He felt the bridge shifting under his feet – with the supporting arch broken, the crossing’s separate halves would soon collapse—

Another sizzling bolt of earth energy slammed into the bridge’s far side. Gadreel had fired his own weapon. Pulverised fragments struck Eddie and Barney – and the weakened structure gave way.

Nina and Cheng jumped back into the chamber as the section of bridge before them sheared from the pillar, smashing through part of the spiral walkway lower down before spinning out into the chasm. Gadreel ran for cover as debris fell past him.

Half the bridge had gone – and the other half was about to follow. ‘Run!’ Eddie shouted, pulling the winded Barney to his feet and hurrying for the tunnel. The rifle was balanced precariously on the crossing’s edge. He bent to snatch it up as he passed – but another jolt pitched the gun over just before his hand reached it.

No time even to curse. Still towing the Australian, he dived into the tunnel just as the rest of the bridge broke from the cliff behind them.

The panting ranger said something in what Eddie assumed was a local language. ‘If that means “buggeration and fuckery”, I’m with you,’ he muttered.

He risked a quick look down the shaft. The petrified Zan was being forced to continue downwards by his guard. Gadreel shouted more orders on the lower bridge, Nephilim spilling from the cathedral behind him. The Yorkshireman looked across at Nina in alarm. Her expression matched his. She and Cheng were trapped on the far side of the abyss—

An explosion came from below.

Chapter 43

43

Major Wu and her team returned to the main passage in response to a scout’s radio message. He had located a Nephilim force in a large chamber below, some eighteen men. Considering the size of the craft that had escaped from Xinengyuan, that was probably most if not all of the survivors.

Her unit had the advantage of surprise, and more powerful weapons. Their MP7s fired high-velocity armour-piercing rounds; even shielded, the warriors’ gaudy suits would provide little protection. The team also had explosive and stun grenades, smoke bombs and thermal sights – more than enough to counteract their enemies’ greater numbers.