‘Amy’s out,’ James told Bruce, his seat juddering as the jet touched down.

The landing strip was short, so everyone got thrown as the pilot used wing flaps and reverse thrust to slow down.

‘Pity,’ Bruce said, as he braced hands against a bulkhead. ‘She’d have been perfect.’

‘I’ve put some other calls in,’ James said.

‘What about the twins, Callum and Connor?’ Bruce suggested.

‘Final year of their masters degrees,’ James explained. ‘They can’t take time out. Gabrielle’s busy. Rat damaged his neck in a racing car last year.’

‘Shakeel?’ Bruce suggested.

James shook his head and laughed. ‘He’s in Brisbane, running some Internet start-up with guys he met at uni. Plus, the last time I saw Shak he’d totally let himself go. Must have weighed more than a hundred kilos.’

‘Really?’ Bruce said. ‘Unbelievable!’

The plane U-turned at the end of the landing strip and taxied back towards a dilapidated hut. A ground attendant in Royal Air Force uniform ran out to place blocks in front of the wheels as the exit swung open.

James was out behind the two instructors and stepped on to the tarmac just as his sister came jogging out of the hut, dressed in shorts and her Rathbone Racing team hat.

‘Thanks for coming,’ James said, as he gave her a hug.

Lauren smiled. ‘Thought I’d come and save your ass one last time.’

James’ mate Kyle was behind and shook Bruce’s hand. ‘Your employers were OK?’ Bruce asked.

Kyle laughed. ‘It’s a charity. They’ve never got any money. My boss wasn’t keen to lose me, but when I mentioned six weeks’ unpaid leave, the finance department practically bit my arm off.’

As Bruce kissed Lauren, James turned his attention to an austere, dark-eyed woman. She was petite but muscular, with black hair curling down her back, and clad in combat shorts and a white vest.

‘Tovah?’ James said, offering a handshake. ‘Thank you so much for coming at short notice.’

Thirty years old, Tovah spoke with a deep Israeli accent. ‘Excited to finally meet you, Mr Adams.’

‘Call me James,’ he said, as Ryan led the rest of the youngsters out of the jet. ‘I can’t thank you and your government enough for your help.’

‘No problem,’ Tovah said, as Bruce closed in.

‘My very good friend Bruce,’ James said, as he shook hands. ‘Bruce, this is Tovah, who absolutely isn’t from the Israeli intelligence service.’

Tovah smiled and shrugged innocently. ‘I barely even know where Israel is.’

‘So why are you here?’ Bruce asked.

Tovah cracked a huge smile. ‘I’m here to teach you guys to fly.’