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can see snow-topped mountains out of the car window, but we're right on the equator here. The thing is, we're also nearly three thousand metres above sea level and that stops the temperatures from getting too high, which means this valley has spring-like weather all year round. And there's a thick layer of rich, volcanic soil on the lower slopes. Perfect for flower-growing.'
    'It's like living in paradise,' murmured Alex, gazing at the lorries full of bright flowers.
    'Hmm.'
    'Hmm?' said Alex. 'What does that mean?'
    'It means there's a darker side to this particular paradise. Parts of Ecuador are also perfect for growing coca. Do you know what that is?'
    Alex's dad glanced at him and Alex shook his head.
    'Well, a coca plant is pretty harmless in its natural state, but if you muck about with it enough, you can turn it into cocaine.'
    'Is that what this drugs baron does?' asked Alex.
    His father nodded grimly.
    'Any luck tracking him down yet?'
    Alex's dad sighed and ran a hand through his thick, fair hair. 'He's very difficult to find,' he admitted.
    'You'll get him, though,' said Alex.
    'Yes,' said his dad, his grey eyes suddenly as hard as steel. 'We will.'
    Alex searched for something to say to lighten the mood. He spotted a sad little collection of wilted red roses on the dashboard. 'Looks like you could do with some of those fresh flowers,' he said, picking up one of the brittle stems.
    'I buy them from a little girl,' his father said. 'She can't be more than five or six, but she's out on the main road every night, running up to car windows and trying to sell roses.' He shrugged. 'She's a street kid. There are thousands of them here, living rough. Some of them would steal the fillings out of your teeth if they could, but she's - I don't know - different. We'll probably pass her on the road later tonight. I'm taking you into the Old Town. We're having dinner with the guy I'm working with. General Luis Manteca.'
    Alex tried to look enthusiastic but he was suddenly overwhelmed by a jaw-cracking yawn. His father laughed. 'It won't be as bad as it sounds. He's a good friend of mine.'
    'Sorry,' said Alex. 'We were up most of the night.'
    'You and your friends? What were you doing?'
    'Oh,' said Alex vaguely. 'Stuff.'
    'That's OK,' said his father. 'You don't have to tell me. You're fourteen now. Old enough to have a few secrets.'
    Alex grimaced. His dad had no idea what sort of secrets he was keeping these days. Alpha Force had to be kept from their parents, but Alex hated not being able to tell his dad about it. He had always known that there were things about the SAS his father could not discuss with him, but he had never really understood until now how hard it was to keep secrets from the people you loved. Alex could not think of a thing to say, so he covered the silence with another yawn.
    'Tell you what. You can have a kip when we get to the hotel,' said his father.
    'Hotel?' said Alex. 'I thought we'd be staying at the army base.'
    'No way,' said his father with a grin. 'We are starting this holiday in style!'

F IVE
    The traffic lights turned to red and the line of cars and taxis heading into the Old Town for the night slowed to a stop. As they waited with their engines idling, a little girl ran out into the middle of the road and held a bunch of red roses up to the driver of the first car. He waved her away.
    'Here she comes,' said Alex's dad, pointing through the jeep's windscreen. 'The little girl I told you about. She's here every night. Poor kid.'
    Alex watched the girl as she moved from car to car. The headlights showed up the streaks of dirt on her face. One of her sandals flapped loosely from a broken strap and she wore a dirty woollen poncho that was far too big. Her skinny legs stuck out of the bottom of the poncho like matchsticks. Alex had just spent the day in a hotel suite, soaking in a king-sized tub, eating meals brought to him on a tray and sleeping in a clean, warm bed. He felt very lucky and a bit