‘Apple’s in place, as you know. We’ve got a site for Orange, and we’re just waiting for a chance to do the insertion.’

‘Sooner the better,’ said the CO sharply. ‘If the situation gets much worse we may have to pull you out.’

‘Roger. But – Boss?’

‘Yes?’

‘There’s no chance the Yanks are going to start playing funny buggers and press the button on Apple?’

‘Don’t be silly, Geordie. Things aren’t that bad.’ Then suddenly he switched mode and made what seemed to me a lousy joke. ‘But if they were, you’d be the last people to know anything about it.’

‘Ha ha,’ I said.

‘Sorry, Geordie.’ He realised he’d pissed me off. ‘Seriously, things look OK from this end.’

‘They don’t from here, I can tell you. People are pouring out of Moscow like fucking lemmings.’

‘Is that right?’

I told him about the airlines, then said, ‘What I’m saying is this. Isn’t that exactly what these bloody devices are for – to use as blackmail if things get tense, to bring the buggers to their senses in an emergency?’

‘Precisely. But we’re nowhere near the stage of using them yet.’

‘I hope to hell you’re right. Once Orange is underground we’re going to be in the killing zone ourselves, never mind any radiation that might drift this way from Apple.’

‘Take it easy, Geordie. Your imagination’s running away with you.’

‘I hope you’re bloody well right.’

The lads reassembled, looking rather surprised. Having sent Rick away to his own room, I got everyone sat down and went straight into it.

‘I’m sorry to say that there’s a high probability Operation Nimrod’s been compromised.’

Everyone sat very still. Several seconds passed before Whinger said, ‘For Christ’s sake, what’s happened? Have they found the bomb?’

‘I hope not. But next worst: Rick’s sent the Mafia a message saying the SAS is in town.’

‘Don’t be stupid!’ went Whinger.

‘I’m not,’ I told him. ‘I exaggerated slightly, but only a little.’

I explained what had happened. Mal – careful, steady Mal – surprised me by starting to stand up for Rick. ‘If he stuck to the cover story about the film, we don’t need to worry.’

‘We bloody do! That woman’s obviously in the hands of some pimp or other. It’ll take the guy about ten seconds to recognise the number Rick gave her. I bet you the Mafia have got us pinpointed already.’

‘Eh!’ said Johnny. ‘Let’s fuck off out of here while the going’s good.’

‘That’s what Rick’s going to do,’ I said. ‘I’m sending him home right away. The lucky bastard’s flying first class because there are no other seats. And Toad – I want you to take him to the airport. OK?’