Updark scratched his cheek. ‘I don’t know, Roly,’ he said. ‘But then again, you’ve talked to these people. Do you honestly think it likely?’

‘It has to be a possibility. To most scientists, ten million dollars is less important than the Nobel. But if I look at this from over an Iranian desk, there’s one other factor we oughtn’t to rule out. We haven’t mentioned martyrdom.’

‘Ah, yes, martyrdom,’ said Updark, without obvious energy. ‘Explain to Mr Dyer.’

Hissop turned to him. ‘Some of us are prepared to die for things we want to go on being alive for. Marvar might be such a one. Nuclear fusion could be a sacred idea in which he believes, but also for which he is willing to negate his whole existence if the core idea becomes polluted. Maybe he consciously welcomes death, and, rather than entrust his discovery to the wrong hands, he has decided to take his secret with him into the next world, like the famous Shia martyr Imam Hussein in the seventh century.’

‘Did he strike you as devout, John?’

Dyer thought of Marvar in his old-fashioned suit, pausing to draw on a last cigarette, before he pressed on to St Barnabas to pray to his dead mother’s God for guidance.

‘Possibly.’

‘Then what about his son?’ said Updark. ‘Where does he fit into this posthumous scenario?’ He looked at Dyer. ‘John, I’m asking you. Do you think he could do that to Samir?’

Dyer thought of Marvar speaking on the telephone to Samir after learning of his injured shin. He thought of what Marvar had said to Dyer. ‘We will still be able to go walking … as long as I live – and Samir lives – then she is not gone …’

‘No, to be honest, I don’t.’

‘So let’s rule out martyrdom, Roly, shall we, for the moment? Right now, the facts – what few we have – are pointing in one direction.’ Updark picked up the napkin. ‘Aside from finding Marvar, our immediate priority, it strikes me, is to find out where he might have put the rest of his magic formula.’

The meeting was over. A car was arranged to drive Dyer back to Oxford. Updark escorted Dyer downstairs and waited for him to retrieve his shoulder bag.

‘And John?’

‘Yes?’

‘No need to tell anyone about this. That, I think, would be a great mistake. Name of the game is discretion and secrecy. Oh, and nanny rules.’

‘Nanny rules?’

‘Tennis. Keep the score, and supply your serving partner with balls. If Marvar does get in touch, please fucking tell us.’

Chapter Twenty

DYER ASKS THE DRIVER TO take him back to Jericho. He knows that he needs to go home before collecting Leandro from the Phoenix. Why, he can’t recall. He is recovering from being interrogated by Updark.