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caught a fleeting glimpse of Wolfe looking out of the cell door at him. Long seconds later, the vehicle crashed down, the impact buckled the roof, twisting the chassis out of shape. Doors, bursting their locks, exploded open.
    What’s that smell? Something alight? He clutched at his arm. Useless. Wincing, ribs on fire and crippled by pain, he dragged himself outside, clear of the van. He passed out.
     
    Copse Hall.
     
    Kotlas shielded his eyes at the sudden glare. ‘What the hell was that?’
    Rubenstein squinted, stood and approached the window. ‘I don’t know. Can you feel that heat?’ He stopped short of the glass. ‘I’m no expert, but the only thing I can think of that would do that is some kind of detonation or a solar flare. Either way, wouldn’t we have had a warning?
    ‘It wasn’t a bomb. If it were, we’d have heard an explosion or felt an aftershock. I don’t think you’d see a solar flare with the naked eye. I read something a while ago about sunspots being a precursor. As for predictability, I happen to know that the utility companies were supposed to redesign the power grids and so on to withstand a surge.’
    ‘Okay, so we agree.’ Rubenstein jerked a thumb in the direction of the sun. ‘And if we’re right, that has to be a solar flare like we’ve never seen before. Imagine what it would be like if the glass wasn’t tinted?’ He pressed the blackout blind control. It failed to work. ‘What’s wrong with this thing?’ He pushed the switch again. ‘Kotlas, do me a favour and turn the lights on.’
    The younger man rose and flipped the switch. ‘They’re not working either,’ he said. ‘And I hate to say this, but your computer is off as well.’
    Rubenstein sat down heavily. ‘Oh, God. I hope auto-save kicked in.’
    ‘If you’re connected to the server, you’ll be fine.’
    The look on Rubenstein’s face told him he wasn’t. ‘I was working offline; we’ve had an IT problem. Contractors are coming in to fix it later.’
    ‘Had you done much since your last backup?’ Kotlas asked.
    ‘Some theory I wanted to test before going live, that’s all, and no, I haven’t backed up since last night. So much for you saying the grid’s been redesigned.’ He glared at Kotlas and flushed with anger as if he held him responsible.
    ‘I once lost a whole day’s work like that—’
    ‘Fucking hell.’ Rubenstein slammed the desktop with the flat of his hand.
    Kotlas stared, uncomfortable with his senior’s display of anger.
    ‘Okay, so if it’s gone, I’ll just have to do it again. Shit.’ Rubenstein cocked his head. ‘Can you hear that?’
    Kotlas opened the soundproofed door. Cacophonous noise poured through the gap. People running, shouting. Screaming. He grabbed at and caught the shirtsleeve of a maintenance worker as he ran past, stopping him. ‘What’s happening?
    ‘It’s chaos,’ the man yelled to make himself heard. ‘Power’s out. Auxiliary has failed. There’s been a surge. The generators are working, but the juice isn’t getting through.’ He looked at Kotlas’ hand still holding onto his sleeve. ‘Doctor, I have to go.’
    ‘Hang on. Are the patients secure?’
    ‘I think so, but with the cameras down there’s no co-ordination. Head of security is downstairs now, but I did hear one had escaped,’ the worker said, and pulling free, he made for the stairs.
    ‘Get that door shut, Kotlas, and lock it. I can’t believe we spent millions on a place like this and failed to protect the delicate circuit boards. And now someone’s escaped? That’s fucking unbelievable.’
    ‘I wonder if anyone’s called the police?’
    ‘No one could get out beyond the footprint of the building. Impossible. But call them just in case.’
    Kotlas picked up the phone, transferred hands, and lifting it to his ear, listened. ‘Dead,’ he said.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
    Avon Gorge. 8:47 p.m.
     
    Chisolm floated in an unfamiliar realm of consciousness. Searing heat