‘We may as well take a look at the Pentagon while we’re here,’ said Parfit. ‘After all, you did want to see a bit of the United States, didn’t you? It said so on your application form for the Argos mission.’

Dreyfuss turned to him. ‘You’re enjoying all this,’ he hissed.

‘I enjoy my work, yes,’ Parfit admitted. ‘Sometimes I do, anyway. Haven’t you ever been part of a team who had a rival team? At football, maybe, or cricket?’

‘I was never very interested in sports.’

‘Well,’ said Parfit, unperturbed, ‘try to imagine it. Here’s us, and we’re up against the military – people like Esterhazy.’

‘You seem to forget that I’m military,’ Dreyfuss said.

Parfit glanced towards him. ‘Well, try to set that aside for a moment. So it’s an us-and-them situation, and I want us to win the game.’

‘But it isn’t a game.’

‘Yet in many ways it is exactly that. And if you forget that it’s a game, you start playing the wrong way. So far, the opposition has been in a strong position, because we don’t know what they’re up to. But now they’ve started making mistakes – letting you live was only the first. People are getting suspicious, people like your friend Hepton. And to cover their mistakes, they – whoever they ultimately are – are starting to take bigger and bigger chances, which only force them further and further into the open. So yes, I am enjoying myself, because at last I think we’ve got a chance of beating them. What about you?’

‘I’m delirious,’ said Dreyfuss blandly, causing Parfit to laugh again, louder this time.

After another half-hour or so, Parfit decided that they should stop at a roadside café.

‘I thought we were supposed to keep driving?’ said Dreyfuss.

‘We’re still early,’ replied Parfit. ‘And I’d rather we spent the spare time away from the airport. Nobody’s following us, so why not stop for a coffee?’

‘Okay, if you say so,’ Dreyfuss said.

They pulled into a parking area beside a large café proclaiming ALL DAY ALL NIGHT BREAKFAST/BURGER. It wasn’t until Dreyfuss was studying the large, plastic-coated menu, seated beside Parfit in one of the booths by the window, that he realised this capitalised mouthful was in fact the name of the establishment.

A waitress approached, looking as well used as the dishcloth with which she wiped their table.

‘What can I get you?’ she asked tiredly.

‘Just coffee, please,’ said Parfit. Dreyfuss nodded. ‘Two coffees,’ Parfit corrected.

‘Cream?’

Parfit nodded, and the waitress tore off a sheet from her pad, left it on their table and walked back towards the counter.