Behind them, Holt broke away from the group by the vehicles and came over to join Ben and Wolf. Wolf gave the American an unsmiling glance as if to warn him, ‘Leave the guy alone.’ Holt ignored it. Ben ignored him too, sitting very still on his rock with his eyes fixed on the spot where the sun had now vanished, leaving just a pale golden streak along the horizon. Holt stood there for a moment, then cleared his throat and said, ‘Well, looks like your friend ain’t here, buddy.’

‘You noticed that, did you?’ Wolf said defensively.

‘I’m real sorry that’s the case, though I can’t say I’m surprised. So, as for our agreement—’

‘I know what I said,’ Ben replied, snapping back to life and turning around to glare coldly up at him. ‘And I’m true to my word. You can count on that, Holt.’

Holt nodded. ‘All right, then. Reckon it’s maybe another eight or ten hours’ journey to the orphanage. We might as well camp here tonight, get some rest and set out again at first light. Hoping we’re not too late to save those poor kids.’

‘We’ll save them,’ Ben said. ‘If we can save anyone.’

‘And then what?’ Wolf asked quietly when Holt had gone back to rejoin the others.

‘And then I’m going back to Kabul alone,’ Ben said. ‘Retrace my steps. Start again. And I will find her, Jaden. Even if it takes me forever. Even if I don’t find her alive in the end. I will not stop.’

‘And you might get yourself killed doing it,’ Wolf said. ‘One guy on his own, up against those kinds of crazy odds.’

‘I never minded crazy odds before.’

‘And lived to tell the tale. This time it could be different.’

‘Maybe,’ Ben replied.

‘Or maybe not,’ Wolf said. ‘Because maybe you don’t need to go it alone. You looked out for me plenty of times in the past. I’ll stick with you for as long as it takes. And if things go bad, then to hell with it. I don’t have anything better to do.’

Ben looked at him, knew he was being completely sincere and was deeply touched by the warmth of his friendship. ‘Thanks, Jaden. It means a lot. But I can’t let you do that. When this is over, you go back to Spain and get on with your life.’

‘It’s never over,’ Wolf said. ‘I spent most of my life looking out for Number One. Now it’s different. Something’s changed, you know? I can’t go back. This is my life now.’