Lang’s lips twisted up at the corners in an ugly sneer. ‘He’s being played. The Russians are manipulating him. Kakuba thinks they’re partners, but they’re the ones calling the shots. He’s just another lefty idealist taking whatever help he can get.’

‘What if Seguma puts up a fight?’ Mallet asked.

‘He won’t,’ Lang replied. ‘They’ve given Ken an ultimatum. Either he agrees to stand down peacefully, or there’s gonna be a bloodbath.’

‘It’ll never work,’ the Voice said. ‘The army is loyal to Seguma. He’s been very generous to the generals over the years.’

‘That’s why the Russians need the announcement from Ken. Once his men find out he’s thrown in the towel, they won’t stand by him. Not this time. Why fight for a leader who’s given up?’

‘What about the rest of his inner circle?’

‘Some of them will come over. The ones we’ve paid off. The rest will get the old head-chopping treatment.’

Mallet glowered at him. ‘That’s why the Kremlin reached out to you. You’re well connected in Karatandu, you know all the key figures to bribe. You and that dipshit brother of yours.’

‘Don’t talk about Freddie that way. I’m warning you.’

‘See this?’ Mallet pointed to his face. ‘This is me shitting myself, Davey.’

Lang stared daggers at the Scot.

‘The plan makes sense,’ the Voice said. ‘If Moscow can convince Seguma to step down, they can take over the country without a shot being fired.’

‘They’d want to avoid getting sucked into a violent rebellion,’ Bowman said. ‘It could get ugly. People would be outraged.’

‘Hasn’t stopped the Russians before,’ Mallet said.

‘What’s in this for Seguma?’ asked Bowman.

‘He gets to retire peacefully. Which is more than the bloke before him got to enjoy. Ken knows he’s made plenty of enemies over the years. He also knows that you people take him for granted.’

‘Britain is a loyal ally,’ the Voice insisted. ‘And we have been for many years.’

‘That’s not how Ken sees it. Far as he’s concerned, the support he’s had from Westminster is piss-poor. Yeah, you throw him the odd bone, but when it comes to hard investment, supplying arms and whatnot, you’re not interested. All you care about is bleeding the country dry.’

‘I still don’t understand why Seguma would go along with the plan,’ said Bowman. ‘He’s crushed uprisings before. He might think he stands a chance this time.’

‘You fucking thick or something? Look at the news, son. Ken’s losing his magic touch. He ain’t as popular as he used to be with his people. Some of those ungrateful scrotes would like to see him hang. Ken knows that the moment he loses power, he’s vulnerable. The Russians are offering him a way out. A chance to retire in peace.’

‘And if he refuses?’