We're delighted to release this sneak preview of MELTWATER, the third title in Michael Ridpath's bestselling FIRE & ICE series. Here's chapter 1, enjoy!

MELTWATER
by Michael Ridpath

THEY PASSED THROUGH the newly built suburbs of Reykjavík into the city centre, a warren of small, brightly coloured houses with corrugated iron roofs. Ásta drove up a hill towards the tall smooth swooping church spire that Erika remembered from her previous visit to the city. From the summit by the church she could see over the roofs towards a broad mountain ridge dusted with snow to the north and sea to the west. 

‘That’s Mount Esja over there,’ Ásta said. ‘It looks different every time you see it.’ 

As they descended a narrow residential road with cars parked on either side, she caught sight of the street sign: Thórsgata. Ásta parked outside a white concrete house with a green metal roof. Lights glimmered behind drawn curtains. ‘Here we are.’ 

Inside, the house was buzzing. The ground floor was open-plan, essentially a large living area full of computer equipment, wires, folding tables and chairs, and people. 

‘Hey, Erika, great to see you!’ Nico, tall, with shaven cranium and unshaven jaw, kissed her on both cheeks. Dieter looked up from a laptop and waved absent-mindedly. 

Dúddi, a young Icelandic computer science student, came over holding out his hand. Erika ignored it and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Hey, Dúddi. Great to see you again. How’s it been?’ 

Dúddi grinned. ‘It’s been good. It’s great to have Freeflow here.’ 

‘Let me introduce you to the other two,’ said Nico. He was wearing black designer T-shirt and jeans, and the familiar diamond earring in his left ear. 

The two volunteers in question were Zivah, an Israeli student who would act as translator, and Franz, a Swiss video and sound guy. They were both in their early twenties and, like Ásta and Dúddi, full of enthusiasm. 

Freeflow claimed that it had an army of volunteers all around the world. This wasn’t strictly true. People certainly put themselves forward to help, but most of them soon faded away when given the simplest tasks. Erika hoped that these two would prove more reliable.