‘Don’t sweat it,’ Ben said. ‘A deal’s a deal, Chris. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get in your way.’

Holt nodded. ‘Okay, then we understand each other.’ He looked around to where Madison was still talking to the prince and his men. ‘Your lady friend seems to be getting on well with him, anyhow.’

‘Hmm,’ Ben replied.

Holt turned back to Ben and gave a rare smile. ‘Tell you what, buddy. We ever get out of this shithole alive and you manage to get that sonofabitch home to his family in one piece, they’ll probably give you a freakin’ knighthood.’

Chapter 38

For all of that day, as much of the horizon as could be seen remained clear of any sighting of the enemy. The Humvee and the truck, now carrying the extra eleven passengers in the back, went on hacking north-westwards towards their destination. Neither Ben, nor Wolf, nor Holt and the others, had any clear idea of what might be waiting for them there. They didn’t know whether it was their final destination, or whether there would be others lying beyond. They didn’t know what the future held in store for any of them. All they knew was that the safety and lives of more innocent people were on the line and in danger if they didn’t complete their task.

And in any case, there was nowhere else for them to go.

Wolf and Scraggs took turns driving the truck while Ben and Holt shared wheel duty in the Humvee. Madison spent most of her time gazing out of the dusty window, saying little. In the back, crammed between boxes of kit and Madison’s treasure chest, Father Bugnolio had given up trying to read his Bible with all the lurching and rocking about. Aziz was sleeping, not looking particularly well, and as usual Ramin was in a brown study, consumed by his anxious thoughts.