‘Mia could use a ride upriver.’

At once Sura replied coolly, ‘Totally impossible. This is a private expedition. When your friends from the mission return, you must go with them.’

Douglas shook his head. ‘Half that bloody village will be on the warpath by now.’ He turned to Mia. ‘Look, where exactly do you need to go?’

‘Just across the border. The Ford Hospital Mission – I’m a doctor.’

At this, Sura turned strangely pale. ‘Why didn’t you fly direct from Jayapura?’

The light in Mia’s blue eyes dimmed. ‘The airspace up there is closed until further notice. I have a current visa, but the Indonesian authorities won’t tell me what’s going on. I’m very worried about my friends.’

Sura had heard enough.

‘Doctor Carter, this vessel is owned by an Indonesian company, and if my government has closed the area, surely you understand we cannot take you there?’

Nash decided he had heard enough, too.

‘Look, Sura, I don’t know what the problem is, but leaving Mia here is clearly not an option. So, either we give her a ride, or I’m getting off, too.’

‘Fuck off, Nash,’ interjected Boerman indignantly. ‘You can’t bleddy –’

‘Mr Boerman!’ snapped Kaboro. ‘Watch your language on my bridge.’

Immediately Singkepe came to attention with a stamp of his right boot.

In the silence that followed, Mia stared thoughtfully at the lieutenant.

‘This vessel is flying a PNG flag. Are you in command, sir?’

Kaboro’s body language suggested he wished otherwise.

‘So long as we remain in PNG waters, yes.’

‘Then consider this a formal request from an American citizen. Will you please take me away from this village? I think my life is in danger.’ Mia looked pointedly over at Sura. ‘Hopefully, that should have no impact on Indonesian foreign affairs.’

At that moment, Nash happened to be looking at Goki. Almost imperceptibly, the man shook his head at Sura, who looked fit to implode. Who was really in charge here?

Kaboro gathered himself and stood a little straighter.

‘With respect, Ms Suyanto, although this vessel belongs to your organisation, under powers invested in me by the government of Papua New Guinea, and in accordance with the rules of maritime law, it is my decision as commanding officer that we will take Dr Carter as far as the Indonesian border, but no further.’

‘Thank you so much.’ Mia smiled in relief. ‘I’m incredibly grateful. If I could ask just one more favour, Lieutenant, can you please get a message to Kevin? Otherwise they might worry at the mission.’

‘Very well.’

Sura’s oval face was a mask of disapproval.

‘You will hear more about this, Lieutenant.’

‘Of that I have no doubt,’ Kaboro replied wearily. Turning to Nash and Douglas, he said, ‘Will you please escort Doctor Carter to your cabin? You gentlemen will have to bunk with the crew for a while.’