“Next thing, the team were all fighting with each other. Popper, Ince and Wilmut turned on the team leader, Bunton. But Bunton was bigger. He killed Ince with a scalpel and strangled Popper. Wilmut kept fighting him, he’s tough like a wee terrier. He and Bunton went at it until they were both dead. I hammered on the wall to try and distract them, but all I did was break the intercom.”
“You didn’t go in to help them?”
“I couldn’t. After seeing that… scene, I knew the door had to stay sealed.”
Dunwoody glanced across at Monk.
“We have no idea what went on.” The Doctor concurred. “But we can’t discount the possibility that this outburst was caused by some airborne virus. That somehow it jumped from May-Rose to the medical team. Drove them mad.”
“That’s why the observation booth is still sealed with May-Rose and the team inside.” Olly agreed. “Bunker 10 is equipped to deal with airborne contamination but this area isn’t.”
“And the observer?”
“Guy tested clean for everything. Otherwise we wouldn’t be in here talking to him.”
“Lieutenant Dunwoody,” the Commander broke in. “I’ll see you outside for a moment.” He stepped out into the corridor and Dunwoody followed him.
In the passageway the two armed guards automatically moved further away. Commander Saunders shut the door behind him.
“You delivered a portable containment unit to us this afternoon,” he said. “Now you know why. We have to assume May-Rose somehow caused the deaths of these men. Accept the possibility that she’s the carrier for an unknown virus. We need to get her into that secure unit and transfer her to biohazard labs in Edinburgh, where they’re better equipped.”
“The room she’s in now isn’t much more than a glorified bus shelter.” Dunwoody agreed. “It’s got sealed doors and windows but not much else by way of protection. Do you have an experienced Medvac team who can move her?”
“We do.”
Dunwoody looked evenly at him.
“You don’t send men like mine to be delivery boys,” he said. “That’s not what we’re trained for.”
The Commander’s jaw worked silently.
“Your troop are positioned on the upper levels, yes?”
“That’s correct.”
“As I said, we don’t know if this is a virus. We don’t know why these men went mad. But if something goes wrong….” The Commander was finding it difficult to put his fears into words. Dunwoody knew why.
“If your men start going nuts,” he said. “My soldiers will seal off the lower levels. Nobody will get out.”
The Commander took a deep breath. Then he gave a sharp, practised salute.
“Go brief your troop Lieutenant.”
17.30
Jimmy Hicks picked up his walkie talkie and turned it on.
“Leslie. What’s your position? Over.”
There was a short burst of static then Leslie’s voice came over the airwaves, crisp and clear.
“Barn and I are at the edge of the woods. There’s a fifty yard gap or so and we can just make out the perimeter fence. We can see the lights of the rear guard tower.”
“Wait for my signal. Then walk out to the perimeter fence and shine your flashlights around.”
“Will do.”
“And make sure not to shine your beams on each other.”
“My God, you really are a genius, Hicks. I’d never have thought of that.”
“Thank you for your sarcasm, Leslie.” Jimmy gave a wide smile. “Over and out.” He turned to Diddy Dave.
“Your turn, pal. You’ve got security access on your computer. Can you patch me into the communications system at the guard tower?”
“Fast as light, man.” Dave jerked a thumb at Simon. “Even faster if owl boy’s bampot theory is right.”
“Who’s on duty in there tonight?”
Dave consulted the computer screen. “Privates Jakar and Smith. They’re getting relieved in a couple of hours by Macintosh and Watts.”
“Perfect.” Jimmy put the headphones back on and adjusted the microphone. “Open a channel to the tower’s communications system and shut down their heating. Simon?” He tossed the walkie-talkie to the smaller boy. You know what to do.”
In the observation tower Jakar and Smith were brewing tea. Jakar was trying to explain the rules of cricket to Smith. Smith was gazing out over the treetops and thinking that this was the kind of place Bigfoot would live, if it existed.
The screen on their communication console flickered to life.
“Jakar, Smith? Major Cowper here.”
The two men leapt to attention and saluted.
“Easy men,” Cowper said, with a friendly smile. “You’ll do yourself an injury.”
Jakar and Smith couldn’t hide their surprise. The Major wasn’t the type to make jokes, even bad ones.
“I have good news and bad news,” Cowper said. “Bad news is your heating’s gone off.”
Both men groaned. It was bad enough being stuck up in this tower with nobody but each other to speak to. It would be intolerable without heat.
“Good news is, I already have Privates Macintosh and Watts out doing a routine check of the perimeter.”
The two guards exchanged knowing looks. That was like Cowper, sending men out on Christmas Eve to check a fence.
“Take a look outside,” Cowper said. “You see them anywhere?”
Back in the dorm, Jimmy Hicks put his hand over the mike and nodded to Simon. Simon pressed send on the two way radio and spoke softly.
“Leslie. Barn. Flashlights on and head for the fence.”
Back in the observation tower, Jakar and Smith peered out of the window.
“No sign of anybody yet, sir.” Smith said. Jakar nudged him and pointed. “Wait a minute. I see two flashlights coming out of the trees and heading for the fence. They’re on our side, about half a mile away. Can’t see the people, only the beams.”
“That’ll be them,” Cowper said. “Tell you what. You two get back to the base before you freeze. I’ll tell Macintosh and Watts to head over once they’ve finished their sweep. They’re dressed for a reccie, so the heat being off won’t bother them.”
“You sure sir?”
“It’s Christmas Eve, soldier. I may be strict, but I’m not a monster.”
“That’s debatable,” Smith whispered under his breath. Jakar nudged him again, hard this time.
“Yes Sir, thank you Sir. We’ll fill out our report sheets and head back. Take about five minutes.”
“You do that.” The Colonel reached out to switch off the channel. Then he paused.
“And listen you two,” he said. “You keep this to yourselves, OK? Don’t want everyone on the base to think I’m a big softie.”
“Roger that sir,” Jakar grinned.
“Cowper out.”
The screen went blank.
Simon got on the walkie talkie again.
“The guards will be leaving in a few minutes, you guys.” He said. “Once they’ve gone Barn can come back and Leslie, you head towards the perimeter gate. Jimmy’s going to be out shortly. You’ve got nearly two hours before the real guards turn up. I’ll pull the Cowper routine to explain to Macintosh and Watts why the guard post is unmanned when they get there. We’ll do another variation tomorrow morning to get you both back in.”
“Cool. According to Jimmy there’s a deserted ranger station on a hill half a mile from the base. Once he joins me were going to head there and build a little fire. Apparently the building is still intact and the view is spectacular.”
“You have a good time Leslie.”
“Thank you Simon.”
“My pleasure. Teenagers are supposed to sneak out on dates.” The boy gave a wry grin. “It’s just normally not this much trouble.”