‘I don’t know,’ said Nina. ‘But that’s another reason why I have to help find it. There’s . . . what we were talking about just now,’ she nodded towards their room, not wanting to mention the Veteres in front of Cheng again, ‘and the connection to Atlantis – what if it’s another vault like the one from Turkey? We know that would be incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands. And there’s the fact that anyone other than us won’t have a clue what they’re facing. We do – at least a little. But that might be the difference between coming out alive and ending up like Stapper’s shipmates.’

‘They could still be alive,’ Cheng pointed out. ‘If they are, then we have to rescue them.’

Eddie’s expression made it clear he thought the odds of that were zero, but Nina nodded in agreement with her student. ‘We do. And the sooner we start, the better the chances of finding them. And whatever they discovered in the ice.’

‘I’ll make preparations,’ said Cheng, indicating his laptop, before hurriedly adding: ‘If that’s all right with you, Professor.’

‘Go ahead,’ she replied. ‘Consider it another opportunity to impress me.’

He smiled.

The couple returned to their room. Eddie closed the door, then stood regarding his wife, arms crossed. ‘So we’re going, then.’

‘Well, I’m going,’ said Nina. ‘You don’t have to. I certainly know you don’t want to – and it’d be better for Macy if you went back to New York.’

‘I know,’ he said, with a heartfelt nod, ‘but if I don’t go, and something happens to you that I could have stopped . . .’ A long sigh. ‘Not going to let that happen.’

‘Thanks,’ she said with a smile.

He didn’t return it. ‘Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. And I know Macy won’t be. And nor will Holly or Olivia! So I’ll let you break the news to them.’

It was her turn to sigh. ‘I asked for that, didn’t I?’

‘Yeah. You did.’

‘Okay. I’ll call them. And,’ she went on, ‘I’d better do some shopping. We’ll need to wrap up warm!’

Chapter 6

6

The Southern Ocean

‘Oiceberg, roight ahead!’

Nina smiled at her husband. ‘I’m glad you’ve recovered your sense of humour.’

‘Oh, I’m still pissed off, don’t worry,’ he replied. ‘But how often would I get to make that Titanic joke for real?’