On the recommendation of a freelance writer (a thinly veiled allusion to Forsyth himself), Endean hires Anglo-Irish mercenary "Cat" Shannon to reconnoitre Zangaro, and to investigate how Kimba might be deposed. After a visit to the country masquerading as a tourist, Shannon reports that the army has little fighting value and that Kimba has concentrated the national armoury, treasury and radio station within the presidential palace in Clarence, the Zangaran capital city and principal port. Should the palace be stormed and Kimba killed, there will be no opposition to any new regime. Because there is no organised dissident faction in Zangaro, the attacking force will have to be assembled outside the country and land near Clarence to launch the attack. Shannon prices the mission at £100,000, with £10,000 for himself. While Endean has used a fake identity, calling himself "Walter Harris", Shannon has had Endean tailed by a private investigator and has discovered his true identity and his involvement with Sir James Manson.