“But we lost a lot of men.”

“How many?”

“Seven out of a party of twelve, but before you say anything else, that’s small compared to the amount of civilians who were being accidentally killed in the bombing raids.”

Manoli looked grim.

“How did you lose them?” he eventually asked.

“When we were escaping we ran into a German patrol—it was just bad luck, that was all.”

Manoli breathed out.

“And you led this mission?”

“Yes. But I have to tell you, Manoli, that it was considered a great success.”

“Despite your losses?”

“Despite our losses. I hear the power station is still out of action. That means no more steel out of that plant, which means fewer tanks for the Germans, which means fewer lives lost in the long run. In the end it’s just math, just numbers.”

“And now you think you can lead me and my men into a German arms dump, blow it up and be back in time for tea?”

“That’s up to you. I never said they were my men. If you’d prefer, we could just sit in this cave, and radio Cairo for some nicer Christmas pudding.”

Manoli stayed silent.

“Look, Manoli, I know what you’re thinking. The last time you saw me, I was a cocky student, and here I am, a few years later, telling you and your men to risk their lives blowing up German ammunition dumps. I still can’t believe it either. Even though I am one, I don’t feel like an agent, but that’s what I’ve had to become. It’s my duty, Manoli. I’d wasted far too much time farting around in so-called intelligence in Whitehall, but now I’m actually fighting this war. If I didn’t speak Greek or know this place, I’d probably be just a regular soldier, like Richard was. And it just so happens that my duty now involves coming over here to help you in giving the Germans a hard time. That’s all I want to do, to help.”

Manoli cradled the back of his head in his hands.

“That may be fair, but let’s not be too ambitious. My men aren’t real soldiers.”

“I know, but they’re committed, which is worth a lot of training. What do you say, arms dump or not? Come on.”

Manoli sighed. “The arms dump. Let’s blow up an arms dump.”

The band spent the next few days learning how to use the explosives. Lockhart had brought enough plastic explosives to eradicate half the island, let alone a fuel dump. The andartes were skeptical about the sticky, dough-like substance, so Lockhart took the risk of using a small amount to blow up a rock. The demonstration was a success, as the rock was obliterated. The only mishap was a falling fragment hitting one of the men on the head, knocking him out. He revived to be met by a throbbing headache and his companions’ laughter.