The Power of Five Oblivion

sign of wildlife – even a single bird – but nothing appeared.
    “There it is,” Greyson muttered. “Straight ahead of us now…”
    The young lieutenant was pointing at a small cove, an indentation on the edge of the water with solid black rock behind. The cliff face loomed high above them and Richard guessed that it was in some way connected to the mountains that surrounded the Old Ones’ fortress at the far end of Oblivion. As the Zodiac headed towards land, he looked out for Scott but there was no sign of him. It occurred to him that Scott might have been telling the truth all along. He could have been captured as he tried to leave the fortress. In a way that would be for the best. They could turn round and leave.
    He looked back. There was no sign of the back-up that Cain had promised either, but Richard was confident that there were men with binoculars watching them as they made their progress towards the shore. Cain had said it would take just two minutes for the skimmers to reach the cove if they needed help.
    The Zodiac hit the beach, the rubber grinding against the shingle. Greyson cut the engine and lifted the propeller clear. They sat there for a few seconds in complete silence. This was a bad idea. Richard was quite certain of it. There was a sick feeling in his stomach. But it was already too late. They had arrived.
    The two of them climbed out and stood once again on land. Richard hadn’t told Matt but in the end he had brought a gun with him. It was concealed in his jacket pocket. He reached down and felt the weight of it through the material. He knew that it was ridiculous, small and insignificant compared with the danger that was immense and all around them. But it still gave him a certain comfort.
    And it wasn’t the only weapon he had brought.
    Greyson was crouching at the back of the Zodiac, watching them. “Are you OK?” he asked.
    “Yeah. Sure,” Richard muttered.
    “There’s no one around. The beach is empty. Your friend doesn’t seem to be here either.”
    “He’ll come,” Matt said.
    “OK. Well, good luck to you.” He threw the engine into reverse and the Zodiac backed out into the ocean, then spun round and drove away.
    They were alone.
    “I know it’s a bit late, but are you sure you want to go through with this?” Richard asked.
    “Much too late,” Matt said. He took a step forward and his foot came down on a piece of loose shingle. He lost his balance and put a hand out to steady himself, holding onto Richard’s arm. It was a moment Richard would never forget. “It’s all going to work out in the end, Richard. Remember that. But I’m glad you’re with me. I wouldn’t have wanted to be here with anyone else. I know I can trust you. When the time comes, you’ll do what’s right.”
    What did he mean by that? But there was no time.
    Scott had appeared.
    He had been standing well back in the shadows, a solitary figure wearing a black padded jacket with a fur collar. It was impossible to say how he had got here but he was already walking towards them, his feet crunching on the shingle. Richard felt a mixture of emotions seeing him. How long had it been since they had all been together? He remembered the garden at Nazca after the death of Professor Chambers. Scott had stormed off angrily, believing they were all against him. He had always been the outsider, identical to his brother in appearance but different in every other way. Matt had had his doubts about him even then. But none of them could have guessed that he would change sides and join the Old Ones.
    So what had changed his mind and brought him here tonight? Richard glanced over his shoulder and saw that the Zodiac was already far away, heading back towards the boats. As Scott drew nearer, Richard became increasingly uneasy. This was a grim, lonely place. Everything about it – the beach, the cliff face, the sea – seemed harsh and inhospitable. If Scott really had been able to escape from the fortress, why hadn’t he simply walked into the camp?
    Scott had come about halfway across the beach but now he stopped, waiting for them to climb up to him. Matt and Richard moved away from the water’s edge, every step taking them further away from safety. At last they were face-to-face.
    “Hello, Scott,” Matt said.
    “Hi, Matt.” Scott nodded in the direction of Richard. “I thought I told you to come alone.”
    “You know Richard. I didn’t think you’d mind if he came along.”
    “Of course I