The ex-OC of B Squadron ended the call and stepped inside. He marched straight over to the team and looked them over before his eyes settled on Bowman. A grin cracked his leathery ex-soldier’s face.

‘Josh. My God. It’s really you.’

‘Mike.’

They shook hands. Mike Gregory looked leaner than Bowman remembered. As if he had aged backwards. He had the sinewy, supple build of someone twenty years younger. The kind of physique earned by a lifetime of hard work in the field. Only his face seemed to have got older. His skin had the texture of petrified wood. His beard was more grey than brown.

Gregory turned to greet the rest of the team. ‘John, Tiny. Good to see a couple of old Hereford faces.’

‘Likewise,’ said Mallet. He introduced Webb and Casey, the major. Gregory smiled at them with evident relief.

‘I was starting to think you guys wouldn’t make it,’ he said. ‘How the devil did you know where to find us, anyway?’

Bowman told him about the dying guard at the palace. The dismembered bodies. Gregory listened impassively.

‘That’s General Kakuba for you. His men are a bunch of cold-blooded killers. They’re not interested in politics or ideology, whatever he might say on the radio. Those scum just want to murder people.’

‘Looks like you made it out just in time,’ Mallet said, tipping his head at the family.

‘We very nearly didn’t,’ Gregory replied with a grimace. ‘The rebels took us by complete surprise. Another two or three minutes and we would have been trapped inside with the rest of those poor buggers.’

‘They were directed by the Russians,’ said Bowman. ‘Their guys were calling the shots on the assault.’

Gregory nodded. ‘I’d figured as much.’

‘Have you spoken with Vauxhall?’ Mallet said.

‘Not since before the rebels attacked the palace. I tried raising them on the way over, but coverage is patchy in the jungle.’

‘We noticed.’

‘Signal is better here, at least.’ Gregory scratched his beard. ‘There’s a cell tower in the local village. Installed on Mr Seguma’s orders a couple of years ago. I left a message for Six shortly after we got here. But I haven’t heard back.’

‘Same for us. They’re not answering.’

‘Any idea why?’

‘Not a fucking clue. Trying to second-guess that lot is a pointless exercise. May as well gaze into a crystal ball.’

Gregory pursed his lips. ‘Perhaps they’re working out how to respond to the latest developments.’

Loader’s face worked itself into a heavy frown.

‘What developments?’ he asked.

‘Haven’t you heard? The KUF have seized control of Marafeni airport.’

Mavinda’s eyes went so wide they looked as if they might tumble out of their sockets. ‘That can’t be. We were there a few hours ago. I’ve got two platoons guarding it.’

‘You did, Major. Not now.’

‘Are you sure about this?’ asked Mallet.