‘They wouldn’t need many,’ Bowman commented. ‘A handful of Russian Special Forces to coordinate the rebel forces, capture the main targets and infrastructure. One troop might do it. Ten or twelve guys.’

‘Where are they now?’ Mallet said.

‘How the fuck should I know? Look, you’re asking the wrong bloke. I’m just the broker.’

‘You’re a traitor. You’ve been playing both sides, double-dipping with the Russians. Betraying your country.’

‘My loyalty is to Ken,’ Lang replied curtly. ‘No one else. I’m acting in his best interests.’

‘Convincing him to hand his country to the Kremlin on a plate? That’s hardly sound advice, Davey.’

‘It’s not as simple as that. Ken is backed into a corner. The new regime is taking over, whether he likes it or not. I’m trying to fix a deal that works for all parties.’

‘Rubbish. Your man Seguma has had his nose in the trough for twenty-four years. Now he wants out, and you’re going to make a percentage at both ends. Isn’t that right?’

‘I’m a businessman. I’ve got to have my taste.’

‘You’re a fucking crook,’ said Mallet. ‘And a crap one at that. An Essex boy with a shite haircut playing spy games. You thought you were being clever, but now you made one mistake, see.’

‘Yeah? What’s that?’

‘You trusted the Russians. Big no-no, that. Now they’re double-crossing you. That twat brother of yours is on life support, and you’ve got a big red target painted on your back.’

A spark of hatred flashed in Lang’s eyes, his lips twitched. He turned to Bowman. ‘Do you know something, son? I don’t think I like your mate. He’s got a terrible mouth on him.’

Bowman said, ‘Why are the Russians so keen to get involved in Karatandu?’

‘Cobalt.’ Lang sniffed.

‘Isn’t that the stuff they use in batteries to power electric cars, laptops, phones and so on?’

Lang nodded and said, ‘That shit is the new oil. There’s a massive rush on it. Everyone wants a piece of the action: the Yanks, the Chinese. Karatandu is sitting on huge reserves of the stuff.’

‘I thought most of that comes from the Congo.’

‘It does,’ the Voice cut in. ‘That’s where most of the high-grade cobalt is found. But the mining companies discovered large deposits in Karatandu last year.’

‘Clean technology,’ Lang said. ‘It’s the future. Oil and gas are history. Electric car batteries use several kilograms of cobalt. And the mineral is in short supply. Whoever gets their hands on the deposits in Karatandu will control the electric vehicle market. Which will be worth billions.’

‘That’s not the only reason the Russians are interested in Karatandu, though,’ Mallet put in. ‘Is it?’

Bowman looked towards the Scot as the latter went on.