Amanda took the pin from Jabril’s pocket, twisted it back into the grenade and set it down. She looked around.

‘Where’s Toon?’ she asked.

‘Toon and Raphael are dead. Both choppers are fucked. Gaunt is out there, in the ruins.’

‘Holy fucking Christ.’

‘Never trust a Christian,’ said Voss. ‘That’s what my dad used to say. If you meet a guy with a cross round his neck, keep a firm hand on your wallet. Team Jesus. Think they are better than anyone else. Think they are a breed apart.’

‘He wanted the gold?’ asked Amanda.

‘I guess. I’m not sure. I’m beginning to think the gold is a side-show. We’re caught up in some nasty shit and I think it’s about time we extricated ourselves.’

Voss dragged the metal case from the truck.

‘What’s in here?’

‘Jabril’s prize,’ said Amanda. ‘A Hellfire missile. It’s loaded with some kind of bio-weapon.’

Voss opened the case. He examined the missile. He thumbed through documents and photographs.

‘CIA black ops. You got serious friends, Jabril.’

Lucy lifted the glass cylinder from its foam bed. She held it up. It lit her face ethereal blue.

‘It has to be destroyed,’ croaked Jabril. ‘The virus. The documents. The entire project has to be erased.’

Lucy lay the cylinder back in its foam bed.

‘You’ve dropped us in some deep shit.’

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you into this mess.’

Voss threw the documents aside. He stood over the injured man.

‘I think I’ve been fucked quite enough for one night, bokkie. About time we regained the initiative.’ He pressed the gun barrel to Jabril’s forehead. ‘I say we snuff the fucker right now. Save a little water.’

Jabril struggled to his feet.

‘Wait,’ he said. ‘Please. Wait.’

‘Fuck it,’ said Lucy. ‘Waste him.’

Voss racked the slide of his shotgun and took aim.

‘Hold on,’ said Amanda, pressing a tissue to her broken nose. ‘Listen to what the guy has to say.’

‘Why?’ asked Lucy. ‘Everything he told us so far has been lies. The man is a liability.’

‘He can tell us about the virus.’

‘It’s fucked-up shit. That’s all I need to know.’

‘We need him. Both choppers are screwed. Odds are, we will be walking home. He managed it once before. He crossed the desert and survived. He could be our guide.’

Voss reluctantly lowered his shotgun.

‘All right,’ said Lucy. ‘Tie him up.’

Voss lashed Jabril’s left arm behind his back, tied his wrist to his belt. He put a rope round Jabril’s neck like a dog-leash. He tethered him to a pillar near the campfire.

Lucy sat beside Jabril. He ran his tongue round his mouth and checked for missing teeth.

Lucy uncapped her canteen and held it to his mouth. He sipped. He sluiced and spat.

‘It’s going to be a long, cold night. So let’s start over. Let’s start from the beginning. Who are you, Jabril? What in God’s name happened out here?’

Directorate of Operations, Near East Division

FLASH CABLE — READ AND DESTROY

TO: Project Lead, D.Ops

FROM: R. Koell

08/23/05

21:18 AST

Colonel,

You requested I keep you apprised of significant developments in our attempts to retrieve the battle-strain from the contamination zone. Our man at the SPEKTR site reports the incursion team have encountered difficulties which have rendered their transport, two Bell UH-1 helicopters, non-operational. He has also been unable to locate and acquire the virus package.

11th Recon will not be able to resume Predator over-watch until first light, so we are unable to make an independent assessment of the situation. However I feel it prudent to put our assets in Sharjah on standby. The use of an expendable contract security team gives us the distance and deniability. Our man continues his survey of the site and I remain hopeful that the virus package can be recovered. However I also feel we need to be prepared to take significant steps should it become necessary to cleanse the site.

Next scheduled update: 05:30 AST.

Starfall

‘How about a cigarette?’