Roper said, I contacted Greg Slay in Hazar, and he snapped my hand off before I even got a chance to discuss money. He ll definitely be there when we reach Peshawar. I contacted Colonel Hamza. The Hawker landed three hours ago and is still there. They can t touch it because the owner is too important politically. No sign of Ali Selim, who is obviously on the other side of the border making for Amira. Colonel Hamza will give us all the support he can, but it will have to be unofficial.
Fair enough, Ferguson said.
He s suggested an air taxi firm run by a man named Wali Hussein as our best bet if we want to hire a helicopter. Hussein apparently operates three old Russian Raptors and has the right dodgy reputation smuggling, illegal pickups over the border, that kind of thing. Colonel Hamza is going to suggest to him that it would be in his best interests to help us. It will be a comfort to have an exceptional pilot like Slay along.
You seem to have covered just about everything, Ferguson said.
We aim to please, Roper told him. We re going to be in and out on this one, so no point in staying at one of the downtown hotels. Colonel Hamza suggests a place called Rangoon close to the airport. He s having a word with them.
Excellent, Ferguson said. I ve got a good feeling about this, but I d better get moving and see what they want at Downing Street.
He went out, followed by Doyle, and Sara said to Holley, Is he always so cheerful?
A rare occurrence. Enjoy it while you can.
Dillon said, The smell of power, the possibility of action, is what brings an old soldier to life again, Sara, so you ve got something to look forward to. I d grab a little shut-eye while you can, if I were you. You ve got a long flight ahead of you tomorrow morning.
A sensible thought. I ll see you here later. She gave Holley that special smile and walked out.
At the same moment, Ferguson had arrived outside the Prime Minister s study at Downing Street to find Henry Frankel, sitting alone and working his way through a file.
He glanced up. You look agitated, Charles.
I am, Henry. We ve got a lot on, and that s putting it mildly.
Miller s already here, Charles. The PM wanted a private word.
Ferguson frowned. Without me? Why is that?
To be frank, I think the PM believes this enterprise to be rather more hazardous than he at first thought.
Ferguson was immensely irritated. I m damned if I can see why.
Frankel smiled pleasantly. Well, you can go and find out, Charles, they re ready for you now. He went and opened the study door and ushered Ferguson in.
Harry Miller got up from his seat opposite the PM, who said,
There you are, Charles, do come in. I wanted to have a word with Harry to make sure that he fully appreciates the personal risk he is taking in this matter.
But, Prime Minister, the whole thing will be quite simple, I can assure you. I shall be at our Peshawar base to handle matters, the Pakistan authorities will look the other way, and I have arranged for a clandestine helicopter flight with a trusted pilot to take in Major Miller and my two best operatives to assess the situation.
Of course, he may not be there at all.
We ll only know that by taking a look at the place. I doubt young Jemal is lying. He s too distressed, Ferguson said.
I accept that, the Prime Minister said. But on the other hand, Amira may be a nest of Taliban, who would like nothing better than laying hands on my personal representative here. Harry has years of experience in British intelligence that would make him liquid gold to Al Qaeda.
Ferguson was badly thrown as he tried to think of the right thing to say, and it was Harry Miller who intervened. On the other hand, nothing is ever wholly certain in this business. I m willing to take a risk as long as my friends appreciate the danger.
The PM said to Ferguson, Do you, Charles?
Of course I do, Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister sighed. All right. Then I can only wish you Godspeed, and he shook hands with both of them.
Sitting in the rear of the Daimler as it turned into Whitehall, Ferguson said, What on earth was all that about? Stirring it up a bit, weren t you?
Nothing to do with me, Miller told him. I got a call from Henry Frankel changing the time of the meeting. When I arrived, I was surprised to find you weren t there.
Bloody Henry, sticking his nose in again. Ferguson was annoyed.
He was only doing his job as cabinet secretary, Miller said. He saw an element of danger in the plan.
And that s your opinion, too? Ferguson demanded.
Yes, but I also think it s worth taking the risk. I want to make sure both things are made clear to everyone. Is that agreed?
Yes, damn you, I suppose it is, Ferguson said, and spent the rest of the trip scowling out the window.
When they arrived at Holland Park, Ferguson went straight to his office, and Miller to the computer room, where he found Gideon and Holley talking to Roper and Dillon.
What s happened to the general? Roper asked.
He s in a black mood. We ve just been to see the PM at Downing Street, who was having second thoughts about what we intend.
And why would that be? Holley asked.
So Miller obliged. Dillon said cheerfully, For once, a politician is acting like a human being. He actually cares what happens to us, folks, it warms my heart.
Well, it didn t exactly please the general, Miller said. I ve made it clear I m willing to take my chances, but I don t think anyone should be ordered to do this one, and there s one thing I want you all to remember. Al Qaeda terrorists have taken many people hostage, and they have had a bad track record of not only keeping them for a long time but occasionally beheading them on video.
Yes, we had heard, Dillon said. Anything else?
Yes, I d be remiss not to point out what would happen to a good-looking London lady who fell into their hands, particularly when they discovered she was Jewish. There was a heavy silence. I just want you all to consider these facts.
Sara said to Roper, Giles, I believe you have quite a collection of costumes here for people going into the field?
Yes, we do, Roper said. I ll lead the way.
She turned and put a hand on Holley s arm as he stirred, ignoring everyone else. No, love, I d rather do this by myself.
She followed Roper s wheelchair as he coasted along the corridor, taking a remote control from a pocket in his chair and activating it. A broad door slid back at the far end and revealed a theatrical treasure-house.
There was anything one could ever need. Full makeup facilities at mirrored tables ranged against the rear wall; there were changing- and shower-room facilities; and walk-in wardrobes with sliding doors contained a wide selection of clothes and uniforms, both military and police, as authentic as could be wished for.
All this is amazing. She emerged from one wardrobe, holding up a uniform. A captain in the GRU. I could wear this in Moscow and be totally accepted.
But not in the wilderness of North Afghanistan, he said. What would you wear?
I ve already seen it, Giles. Wait here.
She vanished into a wardrobe she d paused at earlier; he lit a cigarette and sat there waiting. The shock when she appeared was considerable, for she drifted toward him, a strange and ghostly figure, wearing a head-to- toe black burka and a black face veil that left only the eyes exposed.
What do you think? she asked.
Perhaps a little dark eye shadow to reinforce the illusion, but first I would recommend a black cowl over that flaming hair of yours, just to make sure. Let s take another look.
They went back to the particular wardrobe, where she found what he d suggested and held it up. The very thing.
