AN EXPLOSION OF SOUND AS I smacked into wet earth rang in my ears. Coughing, head and stomach spinning in a distinctly unpleasant manner, I retched, wincing as that added to the pain. All around me were groans and the sound of vomiting. I could feel Sian's anxiety and pushed up to crouching, struggling just to hold myself in the crouch, my head spinning so much it felt like the ground moved.

A bizarre sight greeted me, making my body feel weightless as my brain tried to make ...