Loader gave him a look and stabbed a finger at the southern edge of the principality.

‘A local UKN will RV with us at the heliport here,’ he said. ‘He’ll drive us to the car park beneath the football stadium. We’ll collect our kit, then drive straight to the target location.’

‘Are we packing heat?’ asked Bowman.

‘Pistols. One for you, one for Patrick. But you shouldn’t need them.’

Mallet said, ‘We need to discuss rules of engagement.’

He leaned forward and looked Bowman hard in the eye.

‘Let me be very clear. Your weapons are to be used as a last resort only,’ he said. ‘If you’re danger close, if rounds are coming in, you may engage. But don’t go plugging anyone if you can help it. The clean-up would be a nightmare, it’s the last thing we need. And do not engage the cops under any circumstances.’

‘I know the drill,’ Bowman said. ‘I’ve gone through all this stuff before in the Wing.’

‘It’ll stand a repeat,’ Mallet growled. ‘We’re not in the business of making trouble with the cops. If you’re arrested, don’t kick up a fuss. Keep your mouth buttoned and sit tight. Don’t make up some cock-and-bull story. It’ll only encourage the police to get curious, and we don’t want that. Six won’t like it, either. As soon as you’re captured, the balloon will go up and someone from the Embassy in Paris will come down. You’ll receive full legal representation. The Whitehall folk will do their usual string-pulling behind the scenes. You’ll be back on a flight to London before you know it.’

‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.’

‘It’s a routine hard arrest,’ Loader said. ‘We do this kind of stuff all the time in the Cell.’

‘There’s no such thing as routine, Tiny. Not in the Regiment.’

‘It’s hardly Rorke’s Drift, is it? We’ll be back home and on the beers a few hours from now.’ He gave Bowman a cheeky nudge and a wink. ‘Me and you can hit the town together. Check out the talent.’

‘You won’t see much,’ Mallet said. ‘Tiny clears out the bars faster than a bomb threat.’

‘That’s not true,’ Loader protested. ‘I ain’t the tallest, but I’ve got a way with the ladies.’

‘Aye, I suppose you have. It’s called scaring them shitless.’

Bowman shared a laugh with Mallet. Even Webb permitted his lips to form a smile. Casey stared at them with a look of dismay.

‘Let’s crack on,’ Mallet said. ‘There’s still plenty of ground to cover.’