‘Leaving behind a neat rifle that I was happy to bring along,’ Madison said, waving at the AK-47 propped up against the rocks behind her. ‘Came in handy for keeping us in bush meat on the way here. I kind of forgot to swing by the grocery store as we were getting the hell out of Kabul.’

‘Guns make me feel uncomfortable,’ Ramin said glumly. ‘I’ve never been around them before. Now they seem to be everywhere.’

‘Better get used to it, sonny,’ Wolf told him. ‘And you might have to learn to use one before this is over.’

Ramin pulled an unhappy face, peering at Madison’s rifle, then at Wolf’s. ‘It looks complicated.’

‘Don’t worry,’ Wolf said, patting his as though it were a dog. ‘I’ll teach you. A child can operate one of these things.’

‘And so many do, God help us,’ said Father Bugnolio.

‘May I?’ Wolf stepped over to Madison’s AK, picked it up, unloaded it and worked the action. He looked surprised, as though he hadn’t expected it to function properly.

‘Bolt carrier assembly was full of grit and the piston was all gunky,’ Madison said nonchalantly. ‘I pulled it apart, cleaned everything up and she’s running like a sewing machine now.’

‘Impressive,’ Wolf said, putting the gun down.

‘For a woman, you mean?’ She laughed. ‘Back where I grew up, all the kids could field strip and reassemble any rifle, shotgun or handgun you care to name in one minute flat by the time they were twelve.’

‘Land of the free, home of the brave,’ Baldacci said dreamily.

‘I’ll take a look at that M4 of yours, if you like,’ she added, pointing at the carbine dangling from its sling over Wolf’s shoulder.

‘The SAS did teach us the basics of weapons care, but what do they know? Here, be my guest.’

Holt and the rest of the team exchanged approving looks as Madison expertly gave Wolf’s carbine the once-over and returned it. ‘Not bad. Though personally I never much liked the AR-15 platform, even though I do own two of them back home. They’re not a rifle, they’re a contraption.’

‘Whoa, that’s the sacred cow you’re kicking there, girl,’ said Baldacci.

‘Can’t fault them in the accuracy department, though. I can generally put ten shots on a playing card at five hundred yards. Don’t know what the SAS would think about that.’

‘I know what I think,’ Wolf said.

‘Yeah?’

‘I think I’m deeply in love for the first time in my life and that you’re that special one I’ve been waiting for. How’d you like to get married?’

Madison laughed again. ‘Your friend’s a charmer, isn’t he?’ she said to Ben.

‘He has his moments.’

‘Well, Mr Wolf, flattered that you asked, but I’m sorry to say that my heart already belongs to another.’