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I recognised the door – or what was left of it – that led into the chamber which concealed the entrance to the tunnels under Kiev. It was hanging in shattered pieces, and we pushed our way through with ease.

I was surprised to find that the storeroom was not in darkness. The opposite door, leading out to the square, had been left open – or perhaps it had buckled in the heat and would not close. The room, though blackened by the spreading fire, seemed otherwise undamaged.

There was but one change to the room: an enormous bundle of rags lying near the door. Intrigued, I went over to the mound, and was about to examine it further when Nahum noticed my intent. ‘No!’ he snapped. ‘Don’t touch it.’

I watched, puzzled, as he edged closer to the mound. His wary movements resembled those of a man approaching an unexploded bomb. It was only when I looked back at the rags that I realised that I was looking at a human body, wrapped in torn clothes and the remains of some sort of shroud. It was lying face down on the floor; I could just about make out strands of dirty-looking hair trailing over the shoulders.

Dodo seemed to realise what it was at about the same time; I heard her stifle a scream, but I didn’t turn. I was intrigued by Nahum’s behaviour; he removed his outer jerkin, wrapped his hands in it as best he could, and then turned the body over.

‘Did the creature do this?’ asked Dodo.

Nahum shook his head. ‘Disease,’ he said simply.

I looked down and saw a boyish face made grey and weather-beaten by death. ‘Did he die here?’

‘No. This fellow died somewhere in the city and was dragged here. With the Tartars so close, our people do not have time to bury their dead.’

‘Why bring him here?’ asked Dodo, quite clearly shocked.

‘All the city folk saw the fire. They will have guessed that this part of the building is not in use.Why not make it a temporary morgue?’ Nahum pointed towards the outer door. I saw that there were further bodies there, half-hidden beneath a large woollen shroud.

I didn’t know how to identify the disease, or what precautions to advise to minimise the outbreak. Nahum seemed to have assumed that it spread by direct contact, but I suspected the insanitary conditions were to blame. Whatever the illness was, the governor needed to be informed that bodies carrying the infection were being left in the building.

I turned to Dodo. ‘Go to Dmitri,’ I said. ‘Tell him what we’ve seen.’

‘But I want to stay with you!’

‘He needs to know,’ I reasoned. ‘And we also need to keep an eye on Dmitri and Yevhen. Please.’

‘Oh, all right,’ said Dodo. With a shrug of resignation, she made for the door.

Nahum watched her go. ‘Where is the entrance to the tunnels?’ he asked, carefully removing the jerkin from his hands.

He dropped the garment to the floor then kicked it away into the shadows, clearly not wanting to risk any contamination.

‘Over here.’ I led him past some barrels thick with dust, to the door. Even though I knew it was there, I was surprised again by how well hidden it was. Its wooden slats seemed to have taken on the same dark grey hue as the stonework.

‘Torches,’ I said suddenly. ‘I don’t suppose you thought to bring a torch or something?’

Nahum shrugged his shoulders.

‘We’ll have to go back,’ I said. ‘There’s no way –’

The door to the tunnels creaked suddenly. I turned in alarm.

Someone or something was coming through.

We ducked for cover without a word. I found myself behind some broken pieces of furniture and a split mattress with straw that had started to rot spilling out of it. I glanced back towards the secret door, and saw it open further.

I could just make out a dark head and pale shoulders emerging into the room; I could not tell who it was. Nahum, from his position, obviously could.

Before I could do or say anything, I saw him leap to his feet and run towards the figure. ‘Lesia!’ he cried.

I jumped up and followed Nahum. The figure was turned slightly away from us, but I recognised her as Yevhen’s daughter, with her distinctive long, dark hair tumbling down her back.