The tyrant swatted away his concerns. ‘A few miserable exiles and dissidents. They don’t scare me.’

Bowman didn’t reply.

‘They are nothing but rats, you understand. A great man such as myself does not fear rats. There are rats back home, too, in my country. You’ve seen the news?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘There will be outrage, of course. The media will turn me into a hate figure. But they don’t understand what I’m up against.’

‘No, sir?’

‘These people, you cannot negotiate with them. General Kakuba and his mob talk of a new dawn, but they are only interested in themselves. That is why I call them rats, do you see? You do not take a rat, sit down and discuss policy details with it over a bottle of Beaujolais. You exterminate it. Crush it.’

The president made a clenched fist, strangling imaginary foes.

‘And that is what must be done in my country,’ he went on. ‘I must wipe out the rats, before they spread their disease.’

He spoke matter-of-factly, as if he was talking about the weather, or the cricket score. There was something weird about this cartoonish figure with the voice of an English toff, blandly discussing the slaughter of his own people. Something comical, almost. Bowman found it hard to take him seriously. He was less intimidating in real life than the tyrannical despot he’d seen on the news reports, working himself up into an apoplectic rage.

Lungu’s phone vibrated, breaking the awkward silence. She wandered off to take the call. Seguma watched her, a hungry look in his eyes.

‘Miss Karatandu, two years in a row.’ He grinned at Bowman, revealing a set of pearly white teeth.

‘Yes, sir,’ Bowman said. Because he didn’t really know what else to say.

‘Beautiful women are attracted to me,’ Seguma said. ‘They cannot help it. They are attracted to greatness, I suppose. It is a kind of spell.’

Bowman nodded politely.

Seguma said, ‘Are your brother soldiers guarding anyone else today?’

‘Not as far as we know, sir.’

His grin widened. ‘That is good news. Very good news indeed. It means that my British friends must know that I am very important, do you see? That is why they have sent their best men to protect me, and no one else. I am their top priority.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Bowman said.

‘You agree, then? That I’m an important man?’

‘Of course, sir.’

The president searched their faces. ‘And you would sacrifice yourselves to save me?’

‘If it comes down to it, sir. That’s why we’re here.’

‘Good, very good.’ Seguma took a hit on his cigar and said, ‘It is a great day for our two countries. Our burgeoning friendship, and the marriage of a princess. We should celebrate.’