‘We had two under surveillance at Salisbury, but they’ve since eluded us. The Five who fought at the fall were Jack Churchill, an archaeologist; Ruth Gallagher, a lawyer; Ryan Veitch, a career criminal; and Laura DuSantiago and someone who went by the name of Shavi, two aimless drifters, no more than that as far as we can tell. Not exactly hero material, is it? They were empowered in some way by that blue energy we saw down in the lab.’

Kirkham nodded in agreement. ‘Can’t explain that at all. It seems to have come with the Fall.’

‘After the Battle of London,’ Reid continued, ‘the ones who survived disbanded, drifted off. The information I have is that a new Five is now in the process of being formed — the two we were observing in Salisbury were the first of the new group.’ He paused, choosing his words carefully. ‘Apparently that blue energy is supposed to… choose these… champions. Seems to have a thing about the number five, too.’

Manning snorted at the implication in Reid’s words.

‘What about the original Five?’ the General said.

‘Two of them are believed dead,’ Reid replied. ‘The two women are missing. The fifth is located at some college for mystical loons in Glastonbury.’

‘So why haven’t you picked him up if you know where he is?’ Manning asked. Hal noted her barely restrained pleasure at Reid’s discomfort.

Reid set his jaw. ‘We’ve sent out several operatives to contact the individual, but none has returned.’

The General sat back in his chair, smoking thoughtfully. ‘This new group… there’re just two of them so far?’

‘There’s been no sign of any others as yet,’ Reid confirmed. ‘We’ve got people stationed at all the liminal zones — the standing stones, the henges, the ancient sacred sites — just in case anyone attempts to cross over. I’ve heard nothing.’

‘What is all this nonsense?’ Manning asked. ‘Five champions? Somehow I can deal with the notion of an invasion of extraterrestrial biological entities, but this… it’s like living in a bloody fairy tale.’