Arthur cleared his throat, 'ahem, Hallo.'

The smart looking lady behind the desk looked up. 'Bonjour, how can I elp?' She sounded bored in that way that official people always did. All of them, that is, except Arthur.

'Can you make the airport talk?'

The woman looked blankly at him.

'I'm sorry?'

Arthur was undeterred, ''Can you make the airport talk? You know, bing bong.' He gestured upwards in the vague direction of the speakers, hoping this would help.

'Ohhh you mean the tannoy.' The woman suddenly looked suspicious, 'why?'

'This little lady seems to have lost her parents.' At this moment Lucy stuck her chin above the desk and gave her most winning smile. The woman beamed back, 'why, of course! What are they called?'

There was a silence in which Arthur looked down at Lucy and she gazed back at him and the woman gazed at them both.

'Mummy and Daddy?'

'France.'

'Germany'

'Helsi...bloody hell.'

The two pilots had settled down in the flight deck to wait Carolyn's return, but the steps outside the aeroplane now did not sound like the small woman and her son. There were too many for a start and they all sounded like posh business shoes. The men's fear was confirmed when they heard Mr Grey's booming voice say, 'This is the one gentlemen. Yes, this one...I promise it is a real plane.'

The footsteps proceeded up the metal steps and they heard a knock on the door into the cabin.

Martin went pale and stared at his First Officer, 'what do we do?' He whispered.

Douglas stood, 'just follow my lead.'

Douglas stepped through the aeroplane and proudly pulled open the door on to the steps. 'Gentlemen,' he cried. 'Bonjour! Welcome.' He stepped back and waved four official looking men and Mr Grey into the cabin.

'Please do take a seat,' Martin stuttered at them. The four government men looked slightly non-plussed but seated themselves in the flight seats none the less. There was an awkward pause.

'Well?' Asked one of the suited men in a strong French accent.

Mr Grey looked up at Douglas, 'Yes, please do bring us the money and a small table.' He raised his eyebrows pointedly.

Douglas waved him away, 'Oh but you must all be so thirsty in this heat. Martin, get the drinks trolley.'

Martin, even paler than usual nodded and headed behind the curtain into the galley. Douglas clapped his hands awkwardly, 'So gentlemen...did you have a nice trip?'

Four big, government officials stared back at him silently.

'We are really just ere to make ze deal,' said one, unblinking. 'We do not ave time for zis small talk!'

Just then Martin reappeared with the drinks trolley. 'Certainly not!' Cried Douglas. 'But perhaps a drink first; Martine, shaken?'

'What!' The official looked aghast. 'We are about to do some terribly importate government work and you offer us ze alcohol! What is the meaning of zis?' The last comment was aimed at Mr Grey.

The spy shook his head as he rose. 'Monsieur, I am sure that these gentlemen were just having a little joke. However, I remember now that the money is locked safely away and that I need to fetch it for them. So' he looked very pointedly indeed at Martin and Douglas, 'Shall we?'

Arthur and Lucy both sat crossed legged, with their back against the information desk. Arthur was still clicking squares into place on the rubix cube. Lucy was playing with her doll, mouthing quietly to herself, clearly deep in an imaginary game. Suddenly Arthur had a face full of the doll. 'She wants to know where Mummy is,' said Lucy firmly.

Arthur turned slightly to face the child, smiled his most reassuring smile and said, 'oh I am sure they will be here really soon. The lady only made the announcement a few minutes ago.'

This was true. The woman had sent out a tonnoy message for 'Lucy's parents' to come to the desk, hedging her bets that only one set of parents could have lost a child called Lucy.

'Do you really go on aeroplanes all the time?' Arthur had mentioned that he was a steward to Lucy while they had been walking across the airport. Luck had her doll with its arms spread, flying around her head.

Arthur nodded, 'yeah it's great. We go all over the world and travel and have great adventures. Ones we even had to carry a fire truck in our swimming trunks!' Lucy giggled.

'But, don't you miss home?'

'Naaa. Well, I mean, home sort of comes with me really because Mum comes on most flights. She owns GERTI you see, so quite often she comes with us.'

Lucy's eyes went wide and she placed her doll down. 'So, you mean that you get to spend all the time with your Mummy.' She seemed to be struggling with the idea.

For about the thousandth time that day Arthur felt the need to defend himself, 'Yes, alright I do, but I like it and it's fun and we get on and there is nothing else I would rather do!' He was nearly shouting by the end and Lucy lent back away from him slightly.

'That would be amazing.'

Arthur didn't seem to have heard her, 'and you know what, we have never cared what anyone thinks so why should I start...wait, what did you say?'

'I said that would be amazing.' And Arthur saw that there was no sarcasm in the young girl's eyes, no hidden meaning, and not even any pity. She really meant it. Arthur grinned.

'You know what, it is the best thing there is.'

Just then a female voice behind them said, 'um, yes hello, we are looking for Lucy.'

The little girl jumped up as though on springs and Arthur followed suit, 'MUMMY!' Lucy ran and jumped at the woman, hugging her tight. Lucy's mother was a prim looking woman, thin and clearly fit while her father as wirery but kindly looking with big, thick framed glasses.

'Oh Darling we were so worried! Where have you been?'

Lucy couldn't get the words out fast enough, 'I was with you and then I dropped doll and then I looked down and then up but you were gone and I couldn't see you and I didn't know what to do so I got sad and then Arthur found me and helped me. He is Brilliant!'

Unfortunately Arthur missed this last part as just then another female voice, one ever so familiar had said, 'Excuse me, I need you to make a bing bog and ask for Arthur Shappy, my idiot son!'

'Mum!' Arthur spun round on the spot and caught sight of his Mother, her hair messy and face red, standing at the desk that he had vacated not five minutes before. 'What are you doing here?'

Carolyn could have passed out from relief, 'Finding you, idiot! What does it look like?'

'No Mum,' said Arthur seriously, 'you don't understand, I have been the one finding people.'

'What? Arthur, I don't have time for this, we need you back at the plane! Where the hell did you put that money?'

But Arthur didn't get a chance to answer because, at that moment, he felt a small tug on his shorts and turned. Lucy and her parents were stood behind him. Lucy tugged on his trousers again so he crouched to be at eye level with the child.

'Thank you.' She whispered.

Lucy's father spoke up then, 'Luc has told us that you have been very kind. You have our thanks, we were so worried.' Lucy's Mother nodded, her hand resting protectively on her child as though terrified of losing her again.

'It was no problem,' said Arthur sincerely. 'We had fun really.'

Lucy's Mother said, stepping forwards and opening her purse, 'let us pay you for the hat by the way.'

But Arthur shook his head firmly and looked Lucy in the eye, 'My treat.' Lucy grinned widely.

Arthur made a move to stand but, just then, Lucy threw her arm around his neck and said, loudly for everyone sanding near to hear, 'when I grow up I want to be brilliant just like you.' Arthur hugged her warmly and then stood. 'Thank you Lucy. But you don't want to do that.' He nodded at her firmly and flicked her ever so gently on the nose, 'don't go growing up.' And with that he smiled at the family one last time, shook Mr Lucy's hand and turned to face his mother. She was stood stock still, a look of genuine pride plastered across her face.

Speechless for once, all Carolyn could muster was a whispered, 'That's my boy.'

Mr Grey forcefully shoved the two pilots through the curtain and into the Galley. 'What the HELL do you think you are playing at?' He whispered violently, peering back thought to make sure that none of the other diplomats could hear him.

'urh, urh, urh, urh.'

Douglas stepped up to the task, 'I believe what the captain in trying to tell you is that we may have some small problem...'

'Which is?' Mr Grey interrupted but gave them no chance to answer. 'I mean, obviously you do, making jokes in a situation like this! And you,' he gestured at Martin, 'turning up looking like you have just lost a fight. I mean, honestly...' The massive man towered over even Douglas, and looked furious.

'Well you see...'