Bagot took the lead. ‘Tony and I are most anxious you cease wasting department funds and join us in our vehicle for the short trip to Mosul aerodrome. Tony, get Dr Ashe’s bags please.’
Richmond joined the men. ‘Friends of yours, Toby?’
‘They’re from an escort agency called SIS.’
‘Afternoon, chaps.’
‘Major Richmond, isn’t it?’
Richmond gripped Colquitt’s hand like a vice; Colquitt winced. ‘Now listen, you’re to give Dr Ashe the very best treatment. He is a British hero. Get that? H. E. R. O.’
‘I can spell.’
Richmond turned to Ashe. He blinked with a moist twinkle of fellow feeling. ‘Cheer up, old friend. Things have a habit of—’
‘Going pear-shaped?’
‘Keep the faith.’
Colquitt butted in. ‘Come on, Ashe. No time for niceties.’
‘What about Vinny?’
‘Never mind him. Zappa’s in enough trouble as it is.’
Ashe was manoeuvred into the back of a Humvee troop carrier. It pulled out of the barracks and headed for the old aerodrome in the south of the city. Ashe stared at the metal floor, then looked up and faced Colquitt and Bagot. ‘What’s the charge?’
‘Seems your interference with Turkish national security operations is not only an embarrassment to Her Majesty’s Government, but was occasioned by no operational necessity we can possibly fathom.’
Colquitt chipped in. ‘Heads will have to roll.’
The group got down from the Humvee and made their way to the control tower. There was a brief delay: an SAS detachment from Anbar Province was expected to arrive any minute for well-earned leave.
Colquitt and Bagot strode off to make calls and complete paperwork. Ashe squatted down and slumped back against a Coca Cola machine. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
‘I hear you’re leaving us, Tobbi. So I come here with Major Richmond and bring Rozeh to you.’
Behind Richmond stood Laila in smart jeans and a clean tee-shirt, her magnificent hair gathered up with a silver comb. Her eyes gazed at him through large, expensive glasses.
‘One short flight to a British forces airport and Rozeh can claim asylum. Then you write to the ambassador and organise everything. This is her chance, Tobbi.’
Laila turned to the shy girl standing behind her. ‘Here, Rozeh, this is Tobbi Ashe. He is a very good man from England. He makes sure you get your education.’
Rozeh nervously approached Ashe, who stood up. She extended her hand. He shook it. She slowly raised her sad eyes from the ground and met his own.
Ashe turned to his friend. ‘What do you think?’
Richmond shrugged his shoulders. ‘Not up to me. But since you want my opinion…’
Ashe read his face. It was a no-no. Anyhow, Ashe not only knew it was hopeless trying to appeal to the system, he also doubted the wisdom of the exercise in the first place. He hadn’t promised Laila anything. She had presumed too much in all the excitement and heightened atmosphere of Lalish. ‘It would’ve been better if the major here had stowed Rozeh aboard the plane.’
Colquitt came into the waiting area. ‘What’s all this then? Farewell party? Hard to believe you’ve made so many friends, Ashe.’
Ashe decided to push Bagot and Colquitt as far as he could, regardless.
‘I want to take this girl back with me.’
‘Really?’
Colquitt dashed off to find Bagot.
Richmond looked apologetically at Laila. ‘I feared this might happen, Your Highness. These two goons, Colquitt and Bagot, are actually here to escort Ashe out of the country.’
‘Tobbi’s a prisoner?’
‘Not exactly a free agent.’
‘Is this true, Tobbi?’
‘Afraid so.’
‘I speak to them.’
Bagot came huffing and puffing through the door.
‘So, now you wish to compound your folly with a spot of illegal immigration.’
‘It’s important, Giles. This young girl, Rozeh. Her parents have been…’ He looked at Rozeh. ‘How’s her English, Laila?’
‘Very good.’
Ashe whispered into Bagot’s ear. ‘Murdered by terrorists in Mosul.’
‘Dear oh dear. That’s very sad. Do you have any more victims of the insurgency waiting to take the plane? We could fill it several times over with deserving cases. You really have left this a little on the late side.’
‘Excuse me, sir.’ Laila took Bagot’s arm.
Bagot looked to Richmond. ‘Who is this woman?’
Richmond cleared his throat. ‘You’re addressing Princess Laila of the Yezidi people.’
‘This is outside of your professional remit, isn’t it? Our orders are quite definite. Nothing here about illegal immigrants.’ Bagot pointed to his departure authorisation papers.
‘I’ll take responsibility.’
Bagot laughed. ‘You, Dr Ashe! You. I’m not sure responsibility and you travel in the same plane.’
‘Now look here!’ Richmond was getting annoyed. ‘We’re not asking you to do anything. Just turn a blind eye. This won’t be the first time we’ve managed to save some very deserving cases! For goodness’ sake, Bagot. Come off your high horse and do something worthwhile with your bloody life!’
‘Listen, Major. You may think I’m deficient in humanity. But this sort of thing’s got to stop. Last month we had some reporter from ITN bringing another deserving case with him back to Britain. And did he keep quiet about it? The thing got on the news. The prime minister’s under a great deal of flak from the media about asylum seekers. He’s promised a clampdown and a review. He’s got to be very careful.’
‘Look, Bagot, for Christ’s sake, let Tony Blair look after his own interests – I’m sure he doesn’t need your help.’
‘You forget, Toby, that Tony and I serve the government of the day.’
Laila took his arms again, imploring him with tears. ‘Please, sir. Let Tobbi take Rozeh on the plane. I’ve told her she’s going to a great country where they care about real people. That is why you are in Iraq, is it not?’
Bagot looked to Colquitt. ‘Is that why we’re here, Tony?’
‘Difficult to say, sir. Official policy was to rid the country of a dictator.’
‘We deliver policy, Princess Laila, not invent it. I’m sorry. You’ll have to try somewhere else. If Dr Ashe insists on letting this girl on the plane, we shall have to arrest him. Tony, get the bags. I think I see our jeep.’
Ashe exploded. ‘You fucking bastard, Bagot! You little shit! Deliver policy, my arse! You just love the fucking power of it all!’
‘And I love you too, Toby. You can calm down on the plane. Tony, the bags!’
Ashe looked helplessly at the princess and Rozeh and shook his head.
‘Look, when I get back, I’ll contact the ambassador. That is a promise. You can take it up with him while I try to bend his ear.’
‘I’ll second that, Your Highness. Don’t give up hope.’
‘I never give up hope, Major.’ She looked at Ashe. ‘There is something else you can do. I know you have the resources.’
‘Go on.’
‘Please, Tobbi, please find my brother Sinàn.’
‘Your brother? Look, Laila, I’m not Father Christmas!’
‘I know your heart, Tobbi.’
‘My heart?’
‘Please!’
‘All right. Where do you think he might be?’
‘He is in Europe. With the Baba Sheykh.’
‘The who?’
‘Baba Sheykh. We need them, Tobbi.’
‘Ashe!’ Colquitt bellowed from the door. ‘Get a bloody move on!’