It had been Claude who broke the news to the Masters. When they reached the town, Claude ambled over, his face wearing a worried frown.Top of Form

St Just was on the alert at once. Claude had a very expressive face. he could never hide his feelings.

“What is it?” cried O’Grady, who had also picked up Claude’s hesitation.

“You two are leaving right away,” rumbled Claude, avoiding their eyes. St Just grabbed his friend’s arm.

“The f*ck are you hiding?”

Neither of the Masters had been able to get any kind of phone reception; the network had been particularly weak. But Piers Delano had a satellite phone. The message...