Max stared at him. He felt himself blush. Hector stormed back to the open door but Woody stayed where he was. His face, usually so open and friendly, was severe and urgent. It was that, more than anything, that made Max swing his legs over the side of the bed and start pulling on his camouflage gear. A minute later, he, Sami and Lukas were hurrying out of the Nissen hut. Abby was waiting for them. She was more dishevelled than usual and was nervously fiddling with the cartilage piercings in her left ear. Jack and Ash, bleary-eyed, were hurrying from another Nissen hut. Woody and Angel were carrying a large black flight case between them out of a third hut.

Hector was marshalling the helicopter on to the ground between the house and the huts. It was a Chinook, with the distinctive double rotors. Max wondered if it was the same aircraft that had brought him here from the Lake District. He certainly couldn’t discern any difference. The downdraught from the rotors was strong. Sami shouted something at Max, but Max couldn’t hear him. The noise was too great.

The Chinook touched down. Almost immediately, the tailgate lowered. Without hesitation, Woody and Angel ran their flight case up into the dark belly of the helicopter. Hector turned to the recruits and pointed after them. His lips mouthed the words, ‘Get in!’

They looked at each other, nervous and confused. Lukas was the first to move. He sprinted up into the Chinook. Abby went next, then Sami and Jack. Max and Ash exchanged a long look. Max wondered if they were both thinking the same thing. What did this have to do with them? They were supposed to be going home …

Angel appeared at the top of the tailgate. She made an urgent ‘get in’ gesture to them. And then Hector was behind them, screaming. Max and Ash moved in unison, running up the tailgate and into the aircraft with Hector on their heel.

The others were sitting on low benches along the sides of the Chinook. There were two men in military gear that Max didn’t recognise, both wearing chunky headsets. Max took a seat next to Woody as the tailgate started to close. He strapped himself in. There were headsets on the side of the chopper, each with a boom microphone. As the daylight diminished, Woody indicated to everyone that they should put them on. As Max did so, he felt the chopper leave the ground.

The headset was heavily cushioned so it softened some of the noise of the Chinook as it rose into the air. Max immediately heard voices.

– This is Special Forces flight Green Thunder. We have our payload. Repeat, we have our payload.

– Receiving you, Green Thunder, you are cleared for flight.

A pause, then the first voice came again.