Ralph swallowed hard, his stomach knotted as tightly as the ropes holding Gerhard. ‘Yes, we will.’

  Roland nodded. ‘And if we don’t, Gerhard, neither will you.’

  Robyn raised the syringe. ‘Especially if Niko’s got her formula wrong.’

  Gerhard glared at her. ‘What’s in there?’

  ‘You tested the blood cure on me,’ said Niko coldly. ‘I’ve made one or two adjustments, and now we’re testing it on you.’

  ‘No.’ Gerhard struggled in the chair. Roland gripped him by the back of the neck, and Niko held his shoulders. ‘No, I won’t have Ballantyne blood in me!’

  ‘You will,’ said Robyn. ‘And I hope each drop of it burns every vein in your body. Starting right here.’

  And she jabbed the needle into his arm.

  2

  Robyn walked side by side with Ralph as they followed their dad and Niko through the corridors of the underground complex. She’d thought that giving Gerhard the vaccine against his will would feel empowering, but instead she felt ill. It still sickened her that Gerhard had played so callously with their lives in his experiments to test the immunity factors in her blood. And low in her belly was a stabbing fear: how on earth were they going to survive – let alone defeat the two most powerful men in South Africa?

  Her nose twitched at the whiff of chlorine bleach, and she glanced at Ralph. ‘It’s weird to feel clean again after so long stewing in our own sweat.’

  ‘I’m not sure that animal disinfectant is much improvement,’ Ralph said.

  ‘Makes me homesick for the pens back home,’ said Robyn, thinking back to all the days she had spent caring for injured wildlife at Crocodile Lodge. She’d bonded with so many animals over the years – the pens allowed her to get close enough to share a special connection with them. Eerie, her brother called it. Sometimes she felt she could actually touch their souls.

  She’d tried to do the same with Gerhard’s predasaurs – his cave lions, his Ice Age hyenas, his sabretooths – but it was as if he’d had their souls surgically removed, replaced by pain and anger. What else would you expect from someone who would bend nature to create a caricature of an exotic beast just to enhance the realism of Predasaur – his bestselling video game?

  Gerhard’s operations were as sick as they were fantastic. He unleashed his unnatural beasts to dispose of his allies’ enemies, and used real videos of their attacks and deaths to make Predasaur more realistic and exciting. Robyn was certain that Gerhard got a thrill from hearing gamers rave about how realistic the violence was, unaware that they were watching real animals attack real people. Grant’s mentor Dane Mellanby had been the victim of an animal attack, and Robyn herself had almost been slaughtered by a pack of cave hyenas alongside Grant and Ralph.

  She shivered. So much violence. The last time she’d been in the pens at Crocodile Lodge was to tend Jari the lion, maimed for life by one of Gerhard’s creations. Her search for proof and vengeance had started this whole ordeal for all of them and led them here, and she felt a familiar stab of guilt and anger.

  Ralph put a gentle hand on her shoulder. ‘What’s done is done,’ he said, as if reading her thoughts. ‘This council of war that Dad’s called is going to decide what we do next – together.’

  ‘And we have to move fast,’ Roland added, listening in. ‘Gerhard was right. Mbato will know something’s up by now. We don’t know what he’s planning.’

  ‘We don’t even know what we’re planning,’ Ralph added.

  Niko opened the door to the main lab. Robyn saw Grant Khumalo sitting in an office chair. He met her gaze, then looked shyly away as usual. Behind him stood their family friend Luke van Rok, still thin and haunted after the tortures he’d endured at Gerhard’s hands. And sitting on the floor, looking calm and collected, was Xai, Roland Ballantyne’s best friend and oldest comrade from their days in the armed forces. Xai had managed the Crocodile Lodge Game Reserve alongside Roland for more years than Robyn had been alive. She knew that the two men shared a bond that nothing could destroy; each would willingly follow the other anywhere on Earth.

  Xai nodded with a smile as Robyn, Ralph, Niko and Roland trooped inside. ‘Gerhard’s been inoculated?’

  ‘He has,’ said Roland, ‘with the last of the cure we can spare for now.’

  ‘We’re going to need every drop when we get back to civilisation,’ Niko added. ‘It’s our best hope for developing a proper vaccine.’

  Luke snorted softly. ‘If you ask me, you should have put something lethal in Gerhard’s shot instead.’

  ‘Someone got real dark, real quickly,’ said Ralph.

  ‘Why give him another chance to kill us?’

  Robyn closed her eyes. She didn’t blame Luke for wanting Gerhard dead. Poor Luke had come closer to death than any of them: hunted and maimed by Gerhard’s cave hyenas, blackmailed into delivering Robyn to Gerhard so he could harvest her blood, with its unique viral antibodies . . .

  Indeed, in Robyn’s bleakest moments she had imagined ending Gerhard a hundred times for all he’d done to them. There was no question he deserved it, but to murder him in cold blood . . . Could she . . . ?

  ‘We’re not killing anyone.’ Roland’s stern words brought her back to the room.

  ‘We’re trying to clear our names,’ Ralph added. ‘We want the world to know that we’re the good guys.’

  ‘Oh, I know,’ Luke said bitterly. ‘So, you’ve locked up the rest of Gerhard’s team in the rec room, made them comfortable. Never mind that they’ll be talking, plotting against us, waiting to strike back . . .’

  ‘Luke, please,’ said Xai, quietly but with enough authority to silence the young man. ‘I don’t blame you for being wary. But we need evidence that incriminates Mbato too. Since there’s no real proof here that he and Gerhard are working together, we need to persuade some of Gerhard’s staff to turn whistleblower and testify against him . . .’

  ‘They’ll never do that,’ said Robyn. ‘They’re too scared of him.’

  ‘If only there was something on the computer systems here,’ said Ralph. ‘If we could get emails from Mbato that prove he’s known about the predasaurs and has been using them to kill his political enemies . . .’

  ‘The few emails on Gerhard’s tablet only dealt with his legit businesses,’ said Roland. ‘And his call history automatically wipes. Makes sense he’d leave nothing in writing.’

  ‘Not here, anyway,’ Ralph said. ‘This is just Gerhard’s satellite research station. Real evidence must be stored back in his reserve.’

  The Josef Gerhard Game Reserve was on land adjoining the Ballantynes’ own. This nightmare had begun when Robyn, Ralph and Luke had sneaked onto his land to find out what had killed an elephant on their own reserve.

  Robyn heard her brother sigh. She knew that he and Luke had been through every file on the server here at least twice. Once they’d taken the billionaire captive, they’d hoped to gather enough evidence to hold him to account for his crimes, but all they’d found so far was incomprehensible research into controlling animals with computer chips inserted into their brain – disgusting, but none of it criminal in itself. The most successful test subjects had been the titanoboa, giant prehistoric snakes, but Gerhard had also experimented on arthropods and mammals resurrected from extinction too, such as sabretooths and woolly rhinoceroses.

  ‘I still need to open that last folder on the server here,’ Luke said sullenly. ‘Kelenken Scorpio.’

  Robyn snorted softly. ‘Maybe Mbato’s birthday falls late October to mid‑November.’

  ‘Is that a star sign joke?’ Grant winced. ‘Scorpi‑ouch.’

  ‘I swear I know that word from somewhere – Kelenken,’ Ralph murmured.

  ‘Save a copy of the folder, Luke,’ Roland suggested. ‘If we can get to Gerhard’s main complex, we might find passwords or something.’

  ‘Why risk the journey? There’s more at stake than proving guilt and innocence,’ said Niko pointedly. ‘We’ve got the basics of a vaccine that works. Surely getting the formula to my colleagues at SangoMed should be our priority?’

  ‘How?’ said Roland. ‘We’re so deep in the bush. If we strike out for Pretoria by road, we’re too vulnerable. Mbato’s bound to have troops waiting for us.’

  ‘And until we can shut down Gerhard’s comms‑blocking satellite,’ Xai added, ‘there’s no way to reach out to anyone.’

  ‘We have to find a way to get through to the outside world,’ Niko insisted. ‘Gerhard’s hotline to Mbato worked fine.’

  ‘It must connect over a private network relay,’ Luke reasoned.

  Roland nodded gloomily. Robyn saw him look at the blank screen of the satellite phone on the desk beside him. His former comrade in the Recces, Yonker, had given it to him before he’d had to leave for Mozambique. When all this is over, Yonker had said to them, call me. You, me and Xai, we’ll make it a proper reunion. Robyn hadn’t known the big man well, but the place was certainly quieter without him. She couldn’t help feeling that he’d bailed on them, but then she supposed the poor guy had already lost his home and livelihood trying to help them. Plus he was giving his time and connections to help the injured Abi – Gerhard’s traitorous security guard – start a new life there. Although, from the way he and Abi had been flirting before they left, Robyn doubted that was purely from the kindness of his heart.

  Yonker and Abi helped us get this far, Robyn reflected. But in the end, this is our fight and ours alone.

  And it seemed that the fighting among themselves was far from over.

  ‘Maybe we could bargain with Mbato,’ Niko argued. ‘Give him the cure in exchange for our safety?’

  Luke snorted. ‘Like he’d ever honour that! Anyway, he’d take all the credit.’

  ‘Who cares,’ said Niko, ‘so long as we’re saving lives?’

  Robyn half‑smiled; Niko could be just as stubborn as she was. ‘Senosi and his team are already researching the vaccine,’ she reminded her, thinking warmly of the Bakho leader who’d found her when she’d contracted the virus; it was his original formula that had formed the base of the cure Gerhard used to treat Niko. Senosi was a remarkable man who’d learned skills and laws from the West to benefit his people, but he still held true to traditional Bakho ways and values, even after Mbato’s government had stolen their land and given it to mining companies. Senosi and the survivors of his tribe stayed hidden on their lands, despite the government and mining companies doing their best to drive them out. ‘Senosi’s medical set‑up is amazing. The Bakho saved me and Luke. I reckon the cure is in good hands with them.’

  ‘SangoMed has greater reach and resources,’ Niko said flatly. ‘The Bakho won’t be able to do tests in vitro using human cell cultures and then trials on human volunteers to confirm efficacy and check for side effects. SangoMed will.’

  ‘SangoMed stand to make a fortune from a vaccine,’ said Robyn pointedly. ‘The Bakho could name a different price for it.’

  ‘Like, being given back the lands that the government took from them,’ Grant agreed. ‘My father’s been campaigning for it for years, but Mbato will never give up the land.’

  Robyn looked at Grant. ‘Your father! If only he could help us. He’s respected, and as leader of the Green Freedom Party he has a big audience.’

  ‘He could get our message out, if only we could contact him,’ Roland agreed.

  ‘Well, the quickest way back to civilisation is to go through Gerhard’s land,’ Ralph said. ‘And if we can kill the comms block and find more evidence, that’s three birds with one stone.’

  Robyn had an idea. ‘Speaking of evidence,’ she began. ‘If it all comes down to getting undeniable proof, why not take one of the predasaurs with us?’

  Ralph frowned. ‘Are you crazy?’

  ‘Nah, she’s totally sane.’ Luke smirked. ‘Nice little cave lion. Better than encrypted files with actual information, right, Rob?’

  ‘I’m serious,’ said Robyn. ‘I’m talking about the woolly rhino calf in the holding pen. If we’re found with an Ice Age animal that’s been recreated from old DNA, then straight away we have the world’s attention, don’t we? And inside all of Gerhard’s animals . . .’

  ‘Are Gerhard Industries data chips!’ Ralph clapped his hands. ‘Of course. Experts will study the hell out of that woolly rhino – and read the information on that chip.’

  ‘Which links back to Gerhard!’ Niko smiled. ‘Everyone will know we’re telling the truth and that the ancient beast – and the virus – came from Gerhard.’

  Ralph shook his head. ‘Rob, I hate to admit it, but you’re a genius.’

  ‘Whatever.’ Robyn found herself blushing and turned away.

  ‘All right. We have a clear mission objective.’ Roland smiled at Robyn, looking happier now that he could do something. ‘We make for Gerhard’s main reserve. We take out the comms block and try to get hold of Max Khumalo. And we look for anything that proves that Mbato is working with Gerhard. Grant, Ralph – help Robyn get that rhino calf prepped for travel.’

  Grant got up eagerly and Robyn turned and made for the door. But she froze in her tracks as a strident chime burst from a speaker in the ceiling.

  Xai jumped to his feet in a moment. ‘Perimeter alarm.’

  Roland crossed to a workstation. ‘The security systems feed to the console here, don’t they, Luke?’

  ‘S’right.’ Luke nodded and joined him. ‘Let’s see.’

  He killed the alarm. The sudden silence rang in Robyn’s ears.

  ‘What could’ve set it off?’ Robyn’s stomach had clenched tight. ‘Mbato’s troops? Poachers? More predasaurs?’

  ‘All at the same time?’ Ralph muttered. ‘That would be just our luck.’

  ‘Thought Gerhard was using his titanoboas to guard the place?’ said Grant. ‘We took care of those.’

  ‘There were others in the bush,’ Ralph reminded him. ‘Maybe one of them . . .’

  ‘There’s no breach in the fence,’ Luke reported, peering at the screen. ‘Looks like a pressure sensor went off.’

  ‘Where?’ Roland demanded.

  Luke flicked through the systems on the screen. ‘One in the roof of the canteen building. Right over the hidden entrance.’

  ‘The roof?’ Robyn queried. ‘Why would there be a pressure sensor up there?’

  ‘Placed to detect the downdraught from a helicopter,’ Xai suggested, ‘if it was flying low enough.’

  ‘Early warning,’ Roland agreed. ‘Luke, can you get eyes on the helipad?’

  ‘On it,’ Luke muttered. ‘Helipad clear.’

  Robyn stared at the screen. ‘Perhaps it was just a scouting run?’

  ‘Or maybe a bird set off the alarm,’ said Grant hopefully. ‘Something heavy like a kori bustard?’

  ‘No doubt,’ said Ralph sarcastically.

  ‘A helicopter wouldn’t need to land to deploy troops,’ said Xai. ‘Whoever’s on board could rappel down right into the compound.’

  Luke swore. ‘You mean we’ve already been invaded?’

  ‘There’s nothing showing on the cameras,’ said Roland calmly.

  ‘If Mbato’s sent troops,’ said Ralph, ‘they could know the layout of the compound. All the blind spots in the CCTV. Where best to group. How to get down here.’

  ‘And if they do get down here,’ said Luke quietly, ‘it’s game over.’

  3

  Robyn was hurrying through the brightly lit corridors of the base, making for the holding pens. Grant was jogging to keep up with her while Niko strode purposefully behind.

  ‘Here we go again, huh?’ Grant said. ‘Lives on the line.’

  ‘It might be a false alarm,’ Robyn said. One look at Grant told her that neither of them believed it.

  Dad will handle it, she told herself. Roland and Xai had gone above ground to recce the land for any signs of intruders. Ralph and Luke had gone with them to move one of Gerhard’s trucks from the garage to the freight lift and shift a forklift into position, ready to collect the woolly rhino calf in its wheeled transport pen when Robyn, Grant and Niko brought it up from the bowels of the base.

  By then, they ought to know if the alarm really had been tripped by local wildlife or if they were under attack again. And though she was afraid for herself and for her friends and family, Robyn’s biggest concern was keeping the calf protected. Not because it could help her family prove Gerhard’s guilt, but because it was more innocent than any of them – a helpless animal brought into this world to be experimented on and discarded.

  Not while I’m here, thought Robyn. She’d always found it easier to relate to animals than humans, cherishing the special connection she shared with them. Although, as she looked at Grant beside her, she felt a very different connection to him: one forged in danger and adrenaline. She couldn’t help wondering if he felt it too.

  There’s time for all that if we make it out alive, she told herself. No. When we make it out.

  The corridor led to a familiar steel door. Robyn hesitated briefly; before you could reach the holding pens, you had to brave Gerhard’s examination room. It was here that Gerhard’s team had drawn blood from her, first for research, then to give Niko the transfusion that had saved her life.

  Niko squeezed her shoulder, a gesture of reassurance and gratitude. We’ve come a long way, Robyn thought. I used to hate you for getting close to my dad, for making me think he might forget Mum. But her mother was long dead, and in recent weeks, after all she and her family had been through, Robyn had come to appreciate three things: first, that life was short and time precious – you had to live and love to your fullest while you could. Second, that Niko cared fiercely not just for Roland Ballantyne but also for the people he cared for; together they were a good team. The third thing was in some ways the strangest but the most satisfying: Robyn felt that she had learned to live up to her family’s name. Her dad had a special book, penned by various generations of Ballantynes going all the way back to the eighteenth century. The book was called The Adventurists, and it showed that the Ballantyne ancestors had never lived dull, safe lives. They had struck out as pioneers and explorers in search of gold and glory and raised all kinds of hell across the decades. And now Ralph and me, we’re doing the same, thought Robyn. We have to make it back home alive and damn well tell our story too.