When the plans for the military base were unveiled, there had been promises of year-round investment, but although a few of the younger men worked there as cleaners and guards, the base was self-sufficient. Hermetically sealed. Efa walked across the tasteful wooden floor and stepped into the hall. She listened to the house a moment. It was silent. She turned and opened the door, making sure to lock it behind her.

It was the birds that she noticed first. They were flying inland. Dozens of them, and although the sea was fairly calm, the winds seemed to be criss-crossing its surface in an agitated way. She looked upwards before checking her watch. She would need to get back to Emrys soon. She only had one chore left for this morning.

The two guards sat outside the Lieutenant Colonel’s office. There were murmurings inside as he and the Captain discussed the case. When the door opened, they snapped to their feet and saluted. The Captain nodded them through.

The office was more like a civilian one than many others on the base. Owens had only been summoned there previously to be informed of successes and promotions. There was a picture of the Lieutenant Colonel’s wife and family on the desk. Books. He looked up at Owens, his fingers intertwined on the desk. He observed the guards for a moment.

‘So?’ he said. ‘Which one of you two is going to tell me what happened?’

He waited. Studied their respective faces.

‘The exercise yard is overseen by cameras, but it seems that the CCTV …’ he chose his words carefully, ‘was misaligned.’

The Lieutenant Colonel was sure he saw a suggestion of a smirk on Owens’s face. He regarded him. Let a moment pass.

‘Anyone?’ he asked. He looked at some notes on his desk, leant back on his chair, looked away. ‘You see, gentlemen, I’m particularly irritated because this prisoner was sent here into our care by General Reeves and he’s going to want to know what happened to him.’

The Captain had retreated to the far end of the room, looking out of the window, keeping a respectful distance.

‘Adley?’

The older man tried not to flinch at the sudden mention of his name. The words he and Owens had exchanged as they dragged Hamza back to his cell. Hamza had had it coming.

‘What have you got to say for yourself?’

‘Nothing, sir.’

The Lieutenant Colonel considered this.

‘He’s badly injured. Three broken ribs. And since we haven’t got the facilities for him here, we’re duty-bound to move him to a larger base with a hospital wing.’ He looked back at Owens. Measured him with his eyes. ‘You have a clean record. Exemplary.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ Owens shifted his weight slightly. Cleared his throat.