At the arrivals gate there was a line of drivers holding up name cards. As he scanned them, a tall young woman with a 1000-watt smile came towards him, as if out of a dream. She was blonde, gorgeous and, even allowing for the heels, close on six feet, most of which was legs. Her silky hair was in a ponytail, her lips heavily glossed, as if with varnish. Her red skirt was tight but not so short as to attract the wrong kind of attention, and the crisp white shirt was open to show enough cleavage to stimulate interest without looking what his mother would doubtless have called ‘inappropriate’.

‘Hey there, Tom! Beth Adams. Welcome to the Lone Star State!’

How had she recognized him? Everyone in the Regiment closely guarded their image.

‘Delighted to be here.’

‘We’re very honoured to have you visit us this day.’

As they stepped out of the arrivals hall Tom was mugged by the summer heat and, for a moment, he tensed. But it wasn’t the same as Afghanistan’s debilitating, angry heat, and accompanied by the big Texas sky, it invited him to relax and pretend he really was on holiday. Beth lowered the sunglasses that had been perched on her head and clicked across the parking lot in her vertiginous heels. Oppressive, troubled London already felt a long way away.

She gave him a big grin as if they were about to embark on a ride at Disneyworld. ‘We’re all really excited about your visit. So here’s what we’re gonna do. I’m gonna run you up to Skip’s compound right away. He’s dying to meet you. You can freshen up there. Then we’ll take you back downtown and get you checked into your room. The reception’s in the same hotel. Oh, and Mr Stutz will be there to greet you.’

‘And he’s dying to meet me as well?’

There was a beat as the irony failed to penetrate, then she giggled to fill the vacuum. He had limited appetite for this level of enthusiasm, however long the legs that went with it. Maybe after a few bourbons she would mellow.

She marched him towards a gleaming metallic black Chevy pick-up, sporting a Don’t Mess With Texas bumper sticker. She remotely popped the tailgate, which lowered in time for him to drop his bag on the deck.

‘That all your stuff? I do hope you won’t be leaving us too soon.’

He shrugged. ‘I guess I’ve been trained to travel light. So, tell me, what’s your role at Oryxis?’

‘Oh, I just help out.’ She giggled childishly. ‘Look after Skip and stuff. He’s a really fun guy. You’re gonna love him.’ She laughed again.