'And a ball of string and a dog-clip, what more do you need? he said, still laughing.

'I take it youve done this?

'Yeah, of course, we all have. He grinned. 'Right, Im going to give you three-quarters of an hour, starting now!

So I sat down. Well, if they can do it so can I, I thought.

I must have sat there for about ten minutes trying to work it out, looking at the structure of the building to see what I could utilise I knew how to get the string down there and back but the one thing they hadnt shown me was how to pick a d.a.m.n egg up without breaking it! Then suddenly it came to me. I was fairly certain that by re-shaping the cardboard back into a box and using the string and dog-clip, I would be able to do it. At one point, I thought Id blown it when the piece of wood fell over and the egg disappeared. I fully expected to find it smashed or, at the very least cracked, but, much to their astonishment and mine, I accomplished the whole task in just over half an hour.

'Brilliant, Geordie, Chalky exclaimed, as they all clapped.

'Weve all done it, but none of us came up with that idea, Spot said.

'Does that mean I get a cup of tea, then?

Dynamo laughed. 'That was the easy one, lad, try this. Stay where you are in that circle and dont move. He walked down to the other end of the room and placed a small table where the piece of wood and egg had been, then came back to me and handed me a brick wrapped inside a piece of sacking.

'OK. Tie that tight underneath the table. When youve accomplished it there must be nothing, no string or anything else, connecting you to either it or the table. Youve got the same length of time as before and when youve done this one you can have your tea. He paused briefly and grinned. 'Then youve only got three more to do!

I could see what he meant about the first one being the easiest!

They told me that the tasks they set me were designed to test my powers of a.s.sessment, initiative, speed of thought and actual thought processes. Thats a right mouthful, I thought.

I had to think in a way Id never previously done, look at each task differently and carefully weigh up all of the possibilities from every angle. Id never been asked to do anything like this before but the first task had already whetted my appet.i.te and I found myself really enjoying it. Each task was progressively more difficult than the previous one but I found that once I got my brain running along the right lines, they actually became easier for me to do. But one in particular was a real brainteaser and gave me a pain in the head thinking about it. I might have known that when Dynamo had so readily offered me a drink of tea there would be a catch. He placed my cup on a flat piece of wood, roughly eighteen foot square and about forty-five feet away from me.

'If you want it before it gets cold, get it back to you in that circle without spilling it. It has to stay on the piece of wood and mustnt touch the ground, he called to me from the other end of the room.

At first I was stumped, and stood where I was in the circle, racking my brain, but when he walked back to where I stood and handed me two wire coat hangers, I knew exactly what to do.

The tests had been difficult, but I felt as though Id used my brain properly for the first time and was really chuffed that I accomplished them all that afternoon. I felt a great sense of achievement.

'Well done, lad, Chalky said, slapping me on the back.

'Clever, Spot said slowly, stringing the word out.

'To be honest, Im gobsmacked at the way youve just tackled those tests. Its quite amazing and thats not bull. That type of quick thinking and a.s.sessment is vital to us, and judging by what weve seen so far, its obvious that youve got just the kind of natural ability to learn this type of thing very quickly, Dynamo told me.

I was pleased to know that they thought I was doing well although a little embarra.s.sed at their comments. But to receive that kind of praise from these incredibly clever guys was to me quite amazing. Their keen, intelligent minds were always on the go, always querying and wanting to know 'how? Everything they did was, to my mind, done in a clever or trick way, even mundane, ordinary things, whether it was getting out of a vehicle, going up stairs, or even picking up a pencil. They seemed to use all of these everyday things to some effect.

'We need to get you trained up in the use of all the equipment so were taking you up into the hills tomorrow, Dynamo went on.

'Great! I told him. 'Ive really been looking forward to training with that gear now Ive a good idea what its used for.

'Weve got quite a lot to show you, Geordie, Chalky said. 'The main problem is that we can only stay in that area for a couple of days at a time. British troops regularly patrol around up there and b.u.mping in to any of them would be a tragedy; weve had a few narrow escapes in the past.

'What do you mean, what happened?

'Well, I know theyre our lads but nevertheless no one has to find out what we do.

'Do you mean that we would have to...? I said in astonishment.

'Yes, Spot interrupted quickly before I could finish. 'Wed have no option. You see we would look like terrorists to them and they might not ask any questions but just start shooting. We simply cant take the chance of them opening fire on us.

'Obviously weve got to avoid that situation at all costs, Dynamo pointed out. 'Remember we dont exist! We simply cant afford to let anyone know of our existence, especially our lot! Besides, as Chalky said, weve had one or two close shaves with them before.

'So lets just hope we dont b.u.mp into any of them, for all our sakes, eh! Chalky said quietly. 'The main reason I brought the subject up is that we have to do the river crossings near the foot of the hills, as it is the only place where the rivers are anywhere near wide and deep enough for our purposes. There isnt anything really suitable on the island so we have to make do with what is available.

'Oh, Geordie, do me a favour will you, Dynamo asked. 'Nip outside and move the jeep around the back, will you?

I went to do as he asked and was just about to climb into the drivers seat when there was a sudden noise from above and Chalky came sliding down the roof and grabbed a hold of me, yanking me away from the jeep.

'Sorry about this, Geordie, he said apologetically. 'But Ive got into the habit of doing it whenever I get out. You cant trust these local b.a.s.t.a.r.ds to keep their hands off anything, you know. And with that, he bent over and removed his boot-knife from where hed wedged it under the drivers seat, blade pointing upwards and just touching the underside of the pad. Anyone plonking down on the seat would have been in for a very rude awakening!

We spent four days up and around the Troodos Mountains living rough. They taught me a variety of survival techniques, and we practised abseiling and crossing rivers or ravines, using all of the strange-looking arrowheads and equipment Id often wondered about. There were about seven or eight different types of arrowheads and what they could do was ingenious to say the least.

No wonder they wanted to keep it all a secret, I thought, as the uses of the various arrowheads were explained to me. Suddenly the reason for their odd shapes began to make sense to me at last. It was fascinating and I was like a kid with a new toy!

As we moved around the area, they selected a number of different sites in order to demonstrate the equipment and for me to familiarise myself with it.

'As weve explained before, Chalky said, 'these bits of equipment are what help us to carry out the seemingly impossible and to get in and out via the most unexpected routes. Let me explain what each of these arrowheads is called and what theyre used for. He picked one up and gave it to me.

'This one is called a single shot pickup. Its used to carry a light line across a river or from one building to another, where there is only one secure point, which enables us to then get a heavier line across with only one shot. These two work together, he said, picking up two different ones. 'This one is a stub end and this is a pickup, then there is another one here called a gripper. The purpose of all of them is the same as the single shot pickup, which is to carry a light line across an obstacle, which then enables the heavy line to follow.

It was all very clever stuff. Most of which theyd devised and invented themselves.

'The reason we have so many different types is so that we can a.s.sess each different situation then, by using the relevant piece of equipment, get the lines across no matter what the terrain is like, Spot explained. 'By using these arrowheads in conjunction with either a bow or crossbow, depending on the distance, and by attaching ourselves on to the heavy line using our pulley wheels, we can cross a huge variety of obstacles and distances very quickly, without getting our feet wet!

Although the training was as hard and intense as ever, I was in my element and thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. By now I was raring to go and couldnt wait to put it all together, and eventually into practise!

The following week I spent back at camp but, as Dynamo had warned that an operation could come up at any time, I didnt think it would be long before I was picked up again. I was right and on the following Monday Chalky was waiting on the road for me.

And now, as the battered old American jeep bounced along the scorched and dusty track, dragging behind it a billowing trail of choking white dust, he turned to me grinning from ear to ear.

'This could be your lucky day, lad, he shouted above the noise of the engine. 'Youve been waiting to see The Machine in action, well now youre going to get the chance! I think this is what youve been waiting for.

'Why, whats happened? Whats the job? I shouted back, desperately trying to cling on to my seat as we rattled over the rough terrain. Chalky didnt reply immediately as just then, one of the front wheels. .h.i.t a large stone in the potholed track with a bone-jarring crash. The jeep rocked violently, almost overturning, and I was thrown hard against the steel frame of what had once been the windscreen and almost over it on to the bonnet. Chalky laughed as he regained control of the vehicle and I fell back into my seat, rubbing my bruised ribs. He obviously thought this was great fun!

'Whats the job? he repeated, mimicking my Geordie accent. 'Youre beginning to sound like one of the lads already. Hang on a few minutes. Youll find out soon enough when we get to the hut, he yelled, still laughing.

About ten minutes later he brought the jeep to a screeching, shuddering halt outside the dilapidated training hut then dismounted in his usual fashion onto the bonnet.

'Whats the big idea? I asked. 'How come youre always telling me how invaluable I am to you and yet youve just about killed us getting here?

Chalky just laughed. 'Theres no time to hang about, Geordie, theres work to be done. Besides we cant afford to be spotted by any British troops patrolling this area.

There was a sudden thud at the rear of the jeep and I felt the pressure of cold metal on the back of my neck as a familiar voice quietly said, 'Gotcha! close to my ear. I turned around to see Dynamos grinning face he was pointing a .303 rifle straight at me.

'Where did you come from and how did you suddenly appear like that? I asked. Id heard nothing of his approach and couldnt see anywhere in the near vicinity where he might have been concealed.

'Just making sure no one was following, he said, winking at me. 'But one day Ill find it impossible to do this to you.

Then he jumped off the jeep and followed Chalky into the building.

I wondered if hed been up in the hills watching our approach but as he was wearing his CTC, he could have been hiding anywhere. I pushed the thought aside for the moment and smiling, despite my sore ribs, I went inside too.

'Close that b.l.o.o.d.y door will you? Spot shouted, complaining about the dust storm that the jeeps arrival had created and which had swirled inside the building each time the door was opened. To my surprise, Ken was sitting at the table with Spot I hadnt seen him since the night Id gone through the 'One Step Beyond some four months ago. Chalky had told me that Ken brought our orders and supplied transport and whatever else we needed.

'Hi there, Geordie, come on in! he said. 'Nice to see you again. Right, now were all here lets get on with it. Ive got little job for you lads.

Spot winked and smiled at me as Chalky and Dynamo joined him and Ken at the table.

Dynamo shoved a chair my way with his foot and nudged me as I sat down next to him. 'Now well have some fun, eh Geordie! he said, rubbing his hands.

Chalky must have seen my surprise. 'Thats right, Geordie, fun! When youve been on a couple of these operations youll know exactly what we mean, he said.

I helped myself to a couple of sandwiches from a plate Spot handed round and poured out a cup of tea. Although I was now one of the team, I got the impression that the operation, whatever it was, had been planned before I arrived and they were merely going over it once again for my benefit, in order to make me aware of the details.

'Right lads, Ken began. 'There are a bunch of guys up in the mountains that we believe are responsible for running most of the guns to various parts of the island. As you know, in the past their chief method of attack has been by means of hit-and-run tactics using guns or home-made bombs and incendiary devices against their targets mainly British servicemen and installations. Youve probably heard about the incidents involving the deaths of British servicemen and some of their families.

Id certainly heard rumours around my camp about the murders of several British servicemen, including a sergeant whod been shot in front of his little boy in Nicosia. And it now appeared that the terrorists were targeting the families too. Rumours were spreading about another incident involving a sergeants wife who had been killed while out shopping with her daughter. Most of these apparently random terrorist attacks took place in broad daylight and were intended to demoralise the British troops garrisoned on Cyprus and thereby maintain an atmosphere of crisis. However, the army verified none of this, in case British soldiers went on the rampage, taking revenge on the locals.

'Intelligence informs us, Ken went on, 'that the number of terrorists is on the increase and there are now believed to be over two hundred activists, not to mention EOKA sympathisers, on the island, many of whom are hiding and being trained up in the Troodos mountains.

'Surely there are enough troops on the island to take care of that? Chalky asked.

'Well, the army have increased the number of their patrols in the area and have stepped up the road blocks, Ken went on. 'In general, they dont do too bad a job in keeping a lid on things under the circ.u.mstances, but there just arent enough of them and, to a great extent, their hands are tied, which is where we come in. But I think the main problem is that the troops underestimate most of these people and the level of support they have.

'The crux of the matter is that these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds appear to be changing their tactics. Our information is that the Greeks expect the island to be invaded at any time by the Turks and are preparing themselves for an attack. Intelligence believes that they are now being supplied with much more sophisticated weapons; just what these are and where theyre coming from were not quite sure but it seems a pretty safe bet that theyve now managed to get their hands on grenades and mines, that sort of stuff. Weve been given a pretty good indication of the area where these guys are holed up and thats the reason were going in our job is to find out exactly what weapons they have got and destroy them.

'Besides, he chuckled. 'Its Geordies birthday later this month and it might be a good idea for him to get some practice in by having a little party up in the Troodos and let him have the chance to show what he can do!

The table was covered with maps and papers and Ken pointed to a spot on one of them.

'Our reports indicate that these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are hiding out in these caves around here. They keep changing their location but there have been signs of activity in this area within the last twenty-four hours. We believe they are regularly taking truckloads of guns and explosives up into this area, probably smuggled in from mainland Greece, Ken replied. 'OK. Any questions?

Yeah, loads, I thought, but not wanting to show my ignorance and inexperience, I kept quiet. Although I wasnt scared, I felt a little apprehensive because it was my first operation. But, with the training Id been given, I felt very confident and was raring to go. I just knew I could do it!

'What sort of opposition are we going to be up against? Dynamo asked. 'Can you give us any idea of numbers?

'Intelligence informs us that they are a small group of about ten or twelve. Youll have no backup from the rest of the team; therell only be the four of you.

'Well, lets hope that Intelligence have got it right, Chalky muttered.

'Oh, and keep a tight rein on Geordie, lads, Ken laughed, winking at them. 'We dont want him to get carried away and kill some local farmers, now do we? he added.

We spent some time discussing the equipment, route and transport we would take and decided upon only the bare essentials our MK1s, sashes, boot-knives and ropes.

'The idea is to hit them hard, get in and out as quickly as possible, then? Dynamo confirmed.

Ken nodded. 'Thats right. This area is unknown to us, so its pointless making too many plans. Just look on it as an extra bit of training. OK, then guys, Ill leave you to it. Catch you later. And with that, he left.

Each of us had a locker in the building and from the variety of equipment we had stored, selected only those items we needed for this operation. We knew the type of terrain and didnt want to be bogged down with unnecessary gear. We each took out ropes, harnesses, pistols, ammo, boot-knives, dog-clips and a new CTC, together with a canteen of fresh water and dry biscuits, which we called 'dog biscuits.

As this was to be a totally clandestine, unofficial operation, there was to be absolutely no indication that any of us were British servicemen. Besides, if the unthinkable happened and we were caught, the British army would deny all knowledge of us anyway.

I changed out of my army uniform of shorts and khaki shirt into clothes similar to those always worn by the others a white shirt, jeans, an old army tunic and American-style lace-up boots, which we wore rather than standard army issue boots. These American-style combat boots had softer soles and were longer in the leg than the ones we were ordinarily issued, making them ideal for concealing boot-knives. Finally, around my waist I fastened the belt-like weapon we called 'The Sash, the most lethal piece of equipment we carried.

As I was collecting my gear, I once again wondered about the organisation of all of this. How did all this stuff actually get here and who looked after it when we were gone? It seemed to me that the lockers were possibly removed from the building whenever we left it. They were always in a slightly different location each time I returned. Although the training area was in the middle of nowhere, there was always the possibility of some locals or even an army patrol stumbling across it. Removing our gear would certainly help to avoid detection.

We each placed our equipment into identical canvas holdalls, which we put ready for when we left, together with a map of the area. As we would leave at 0100 hours, we rested up for the remainder of the day and evening.

When it was time to go, we threw our bags into the back of the jeep and set off. There was a fine drizzling mist falling and it was freezing cold in the open vehicle. Ken had given us the coordinates of the area the terrorists were reported to be in, and as we travelled, the others chatted together and cracked jokes as they discussed the job and the route we needed to take. I said little during the journey. I wasnt frightened or nervous, just a little anxious about what might happen, but I had every confidence in my colleagues, who had a lot more experience. I knew that I wouldnt be here with them if they didnt think I was totally ready for it.

There was a 10.00 p.m. curfew on the island and we had to be careful to avoid army roadblocks or any form of confrontation with British troops, who would probably view us as terrorists. In order to do this we had to take little-used narrow, winding tracks but these could be just as hazardous as the main routes, as we had no way of knowing whether we might b.u.mp into a group of terrorists using them for the same reason we were.

It was very dark on the steep mountain tracks and we had to drive relatively slowly as we couldnt use the jeeps headlights for fear of being spotted either by terrorists or troops. But every so often, the moon shone through a break in the heavy cloud and we caught glimpses of the sheer drop down the mountainside only inches away from the jeeps wheels as we gradually climbed higher and higher.

The brief spells of moonlight were very bright and it was just possible to make out the fresh tracks of a bigger vehicle where it had dislodged several large stones and part of the road on its way up the narrow, winding track. Dynamo began to travel a little faster along the tortuous track ahead of us. He seemed totally oblivious to the dangers of the narrow trail that was now partially obscured by a swirling patchy mist.

Eventually, the fine drizzle that had begun just as we left the training area, turned into a heavier, steady downfall.

'Oh, great! Chalky said. 'Thats all we need those tracks will be gone soon.

'It doesnt matter, this has to be them, no one else would be daft enough to come up here; the army certainly wouldnt risk it! Dynamo pointed out, peering ahead of him.

Spot was sitting in the rear next to me. 'How do you feel, Geordie? he asked.

I turned and grinned at him, water dripping off the end of my nose. He looked and sounded so calm and relaxed, in fact they all did. I was cold and soaked to the skin, but adrenalin was pumping through every inch of my body and I was trying very hard not to show just how 'keyed up I was. I knew that my actions today would no doubt result in someones death, the first death I would be responsible for, but I was ready.

'Im okay, Spot, I replied. 'Just fine!

I just wanted to get on with it to really prove to these guys that there were right to have chosen me, to show them that I really was one of them, part of the team, and ready for action.

CHAPTER 8.

DEATH IN THE MARKET PLACE.