‘That’ll do.’ Mallet addressed the two Karatandan officers. ‘Major, Colonel, your guys will be posted around the perimeter of the building, covering individual sectors of fire. My guys will take up positions on the rooftop. Mike, you’ll direct one of the GPMG teams on the ground.’

Gregory grinned. ‘It’ll be just like the good old days in the Regiment, John. Lobbing mortars and whacking the enemy with Gimpys.’

‘Aye. Except this time, we’ve got no air support to dig us out of the shit.’ The two veterans shared a smile, and then Mallet said to Mavinda, ‘We’ll need shovels to dig the mortar and fire pits. Petrol, too. Whatever you can spare from the Unimog.’

‘What for?’ Mavinda asked.

Mallet waved a hand in the general direction of the front entrance. ‘We’ll need to burn any trees or shrubs around the stronghold. The rebels might use any of it as cover when they attack.’

‘There’s a storeroom next to the garage,’ Gregory explained. ‘That’s where the gardening tools are kept. You should find everything you need in there.’

Casey said, ‘What about the family? We can’t just leave them here.’

‘Alex has got a point,’ Loader said. ‘It ain’t safe for them in this room. Not when the rounds start flying.’

Mallet thought for a moment. Then he turned to Gregory. ‘Is there a strong room anywhere in this place?’

‘Afraid not,’ Gregory said.

Mallet nodded at Loader and Bowman.

‘Tiny. Search the house. Find a secure location. The safest room in the building. Somewhere with thick walls, preferably no windows. Stick the family in there.’ He swung back round to Gregory. ‘Is anyone else inside the building? Grounds staff?’

‘There’s a housekeeper,’ said Gregory. ‘A couple of maids and a gardener. They’re in the staff kitchen for now.’

‘We’ll put them in the same room as the family. They can keep Seguma’s rellies company until this thing is over.’ Mallet’s cold blue eyes rested on Bowman. ‘Stay here until Tiny has found a safe place for the family. The rest of you, follow me outside. We’ll start organising the defences. Questions?’

He looked round the bar. No one raised a hand. The other four members of the team stared back at Mallet with looks of grim determination.

‘Get to work,’ he said. ‘There’s not a moment to lose.’

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Six

The soldiers sprang into action. Bowman and Loader stayed behind while Mallet hurried out of the room with Casey and Webb. Gregory, Lubowa and Mavinda followed in their wake as they raced towards the front of the stronghold to begin organising the defences. The president’s brother and his wife watched the departing soldiers, their faces taut with fear and confusion. Seguma’s wife soothed her infant son, shushing in his ear. The twin girls gazed at Bowman and Loader with shy, curious expressions as they approached the table.