Max plucked the pleat in Jeremy’s trouser and beckoned him to lean forward. Unlike the grave faces worn by everyone else, his demeanour was distinctly smug. He said, ‘Listen, I spoke to Frank for you, and now that Lauren’s wimped out and you’re the big hero, you can have your old pod-leader job back. While we’re here, though, I’m going to have a specialist Burqa Bombing pod and you should be on it. So you’re with me till we get back, then you’re pod leader again.’

It was no more than he deserved. And even if Max was being facetious, the ‘big hero’ couldn’t think about departure while still in the thick of the action. The Press would not be intimidated by one little firebomb, or one man’s departure. No surrender. He gratefully put his thoughts aside and said, ‘OK. That’s good.’

‘We’ll have to take Will and Rosie as well for now, but we’ll keep them on the straight and narrow, won’t we, eh Jezza?’ Max twitched his trouser leg again, as if expecting more of a reaction.

‘Listen, Max,’ he murmured, so that the others in the room wouldn’t hear. ‘I’ve got to tell you something. I spoke to Frank on the bus and he’s leaving. He’s—’

‘He’s going to the Fun. Back-bench production job. I already know. Will told me.’

‘Oh right.’ That was why Max was so pleased.

‘He’s not a bad kid, that one. We’ll make a sub of him yet. Shame he’s such a suck up.’

Jeremy grimaced. ‘He is a bit.’

‘Now come on, the shift doesn’t start for a couple of hours. Some of the others are a bit shaken up so we’re—’

‘I’m not surprised. “Burn the Beast” – it’s not a great reaction to a story, is it?’

‘No,’ said Max. ‘Not what we would have wanted.’

‘What kind of person does that?’

Max tilted his head to one side. ‘Well, it’s not clear that they realized he wouldn’t be able to get out.’

‘If you chuck a firebomb through someone’s window, what do you expect?’

‘You’re right. And I suppose that’s why we don’t have any windows here. But listen, some of the others are a bit rattled as well, so we’re going to go to the pub in Upper Bucklebury and settle their nerves.’

‘Is that a good idea? I thought the whole point of this place was to stay inside it.’

‘You’ll be alright. You’re not so famous yet that you’ll be recognized. And anyway, we’re not in London any more; we’re in England. There are no jihadis here.’

18