And even as that fact dawned on Gerenko, so the face of the cliff fell on him and he was swept away .

Long after the dust had settled and the last rumbling echo faded away, Harry Keogh stood with Zek and watched the rim of the moon come up over the mountains. ‘It will light your way,' he told her. ‘Take care, Zek.'

She was still in his arms, had needed to be there else she might have fallen. Now she struggled free, wordlessly left him and headed for the scree-buried ledge. At first she stumbled, then straightened up and went with more certainty, more resolve. She would pick her way over the fallen cliff to the bottom of the gorge, then follow the stream down to the new road.

‘Take care,' Harry called after her again. ‘And Zek, don't ever come up against me or mine again.'

She made no answer, looked straight ahead. But to herself: Oh, no, I'll not do that. Not against you, Harry Keogh — Necroscope!