“Look, Strasser, so far I’ve kept my side of the bargain, and you yours. And every time you have asked me to do something more, something else, you’ve given me that little extra. And this time, because you’re asking me to do a big thing, I’d like to ask you for a big thing.”

“What?”

“I’d like to see my wife.”

Strasser sat up.

“That’s out of the question!” he shouted.

“Really?”

“Absolutely!”

“Why?”

“Because it would be impossible!”

“Why? She is alive, isn’t she?”

“Of course she is!”

“Then why can’t I see her?”

“Because you would never get permission.”

“It’s not up to you then? So who do I get permission from?”

“It is up to me, but you can’t have it!”

“So you really want to go back to Russia, do you, Strasser? You really want to go and get your fucking feet frozen off, that’s if you don’t die first, butchered by some Commie in the snow?”

“Whether you’re part of this unit or not makes no difference to me!”

“I don’t believe you! You need me, Strasser, of course you bloody do, so why don’t you just allow me this one little request? Christ! How much is it to ask? And you have so much to gain. Just think about it, man! I see my wife—I’ll get you your remaining men. You’re still here, I’m still here, my wife’s still here—none of us dead, none of us on our way to Russia. Doesn’t that make sense? Kill me, kill my wife, and you’ll end up getting yourself killed.”

Strasser glowered back at Lockhart, who was sitting back triumphantly. “You will not fail” echoed in his head. Lockhart was right—damn him! Damn his English arrogance.

“Come on, Strasser. Yes or no?”

“Be quiet!”

Strasser was tapping his pen once more, but this time far more quickly. He was rattled, his eyes searching around the room as though the answer was hidden somewhere in a cold corner. One day, he would kill Lockhart—it would be a pleasure, a joy to kill this…this know-it-all. He had been cornered by him—this was not part of the plan, not at all what he had wanted to happen. He let himself slump slightly. Screw it. Why did it matter anyway? So long as he stopped himself going back to the Front, that was all that mattered. And if Lockhart became more enthusiastic because he thought he was going to see his wife, then great—excellent, in fact. There was no earthly reason why he, Strasser, would need to keep his side of the deal. So Lockhart thought he had the better of him. Well, let him think that.

“All right,” he began. “All right. You will be able to see your wife….”

Lockhart’s eyes widened.

“…but on one condition.”

“Yes?”

“You succeed in recruiting the required number of men. This is not open for discussion.”

“Fine.”

“You have asked for a lot from me, Lockhart. This will be your final request.”