course. But it’s a gesture of good will.

Rob holds his hand up and the laser pointers vanish. The priest exhales and closes his eyes for a second, but opens them again with a slight grin as he realises they are open to a negotiation. The Colonel is looking at the ground, thinking, then looks up and into the eyes of the priest: The day after tomorrow you say.

Brother Paul: Yes.

Colonel: Why the delay? Why not now?

Brother Paul: We have instructions Colonel Grace. I merely obey them, that level of detail is with my superiors I’m afraid. I assume it is due to the difficulty in securing the route to the station for the civilians we are to evacuate, but that is almost complete now.