Which leaves us with just one other matter. In view of the exceptional stress experienced by Captain Sara Gideon recently, the Prime Minister raised the question with General Ferguson if she was fit for purpose militarily.
Fit for purpose? Sara frowned. Of course I am.
I m sure the Prime Minister will be glad to hear that. General Ferguson even more so, since he wishes you to continue your posting to his unit for the full two years.
I thought that was the idea! She was beginning to get angry.
Roper said, We are, in effect, the Prime Minister s private army, which makes working at Holland Park a security issue, that s all. But now that s settled. Just one more thing. The safety of you and your colleagues would be compromised by any kind of media coverage of your activities, so I m afraid your Military Cross won t be listed. They ll send it to you, of course.
So I don t get it at Buckingham Palace?
Definitely not. This is Britain. Women aren t supposed to be war heroes, Roper told her, with a certain irony.
Tell that to those girls driving trucks in night convoys in Afghanistan at eighteen or nineteen. They all deserve a medal. General Charles Ferguson and the PM can go to hell. But I ll be at my desk in the morning.
I will, Sara, Roper told her, and went.
Holley said, At least another six hours to London, if not more.
Then let s try and sleep through it. Dim the lights, Daniel. Do you mind?
Of course not.
He did as she had asked; she snuggled against him, closing her eyes and yawning. I like having an older guy as a boyfriend.
And I like you liking it, he replied, closing his eyes also, as the Falcon droned on into the night.
Roper sat in front of his screens drinking whiskey and thinking of what had happened. Everything fitted and it all made sense, except for the ending. His main screen rippled for a moment, then produced Ferguson sitting at a desk. When he spoke, his voice boomed out.
How did she take it?
Badly, but she ll be at her desk tomorrow. You really can be a sod, Charles.
I just wanted to be sure that her heart was in the job, which it obviously is. So we can put my contingency plan into operation. At Clarence House on Tuesday morning, she ll receive her Military Cross in strictest secrecy from His Royal Highness, Prince Charles.
Roper was astounded. Are you sure about this?
Of course I am. I spoke to him about Sara the moment we got back from New York. He told me it would give him enormous pleasure.
And you can do that? Roper asked.
Charles Ferguson smiled wolfishly. My dear Giles, I would have thought you would have realized by now that I can do anything.
