TWENTY-THREE
NORTH HILL, SOMERSET, 2023 AD
Sergeant Dawson was in the gymnasium, putting his platoon of thirty-five men through their paces when the ambulance arrived. It was a civilian vehicle; hence the siren alerting him. Setting his men at ease, Matt hurried out to see what was happening. When he saw the paramedics carrying a stretcher, he was just in time to follow them downstairs to the research laboratories.
With a thrill of expectation, he realised that they were heading for the same lab where he had escorted Jake six weeks before. His curiosity was soon sated. The sight that met his eyes was devastating. The body of Captain Lorimer lay supine in a pool of blood, while two yards away was spread-eagled a black panther, its body riddled with bullets.
“Quickly! He’s barely alive.
