“Let’s get out Jimmy,” Simon agreed. “Otherwise we’re going to end up dead.”
“All right. Grab anything that’s important. to you” Jimmy sat down at the computer. “I’ll print off another copy of your formula, Simon and then try and delete anything that links us to this nightmare. Wait a minute….”
He sat back, puzzled.
“What’s wrong now?” The children gathered round.
“A new security programme has just activated itself.” Jimmy pointed to the screen. “It’s completely independent from the existing system.”
“Let me see if I can open it.” Simon nudged Jimmy aside and began to type. “It’s separate from the mainframe, but I should at least be able to read what it does.”
A thick block of data appeared on the screen and Simon swallowed hard.
“I wish wasn’t seeing this,” he whispered. “Pinewood base has an automatic failsafe system in the event of a viral outbreak.”
“But we dinnae have a viral outbreak! We’ve got a wee lassie with a big mooth who’s gone raj!”
“The system obviously doesn’t know that.” Jimmy’s eyes flicked from side to side, taking in the information. “Fifteen minutes after any alarms go off this hidden security programme kicks in. The perimeter lasers turn and point inwards◦– reprogramming themselves automatically to fire at anything going near the fence. It’s designed to stop anyone infected getting out.”
Simon looked at his watch. “It’s coming up for than fifteen minutes now,” he said in a shocked whisper.
“If no all clear is given within half an hour, the system assumes that the infection is out of control and a countdown begins.” Jimmy was clutching the sides of the console so hard, his knuckles were like white marbles. “It can only be countermanded by High Command or by Commander Saunders and Major Cowper together.
“Countdown tae what, or do I no want tae ken?”
“A countdown ‘till the base self-destructs.” Jimmy said.
“But the Commander and Cowper are dead and all links to Central Command are permanently frazzled.” Simon’s eyes were like saucers. “How long before this place goes up?”
Jimmy bit his lip. “An hour and twenty minutes.”
“Away tae buggery! Ahm, offski man.”
“Can’t we shut it down?” Simon urged. “We’ve got access to the security systems.”
“No. No. Like I said, this one operates independently. There’s no way”
“Dave’s right then. Let’s take our chances with the perimeter fence.” Simon was already on his feet and heading for his locker. “We’ve got a combined IQ higher than the national debt. Surely we can beat a few lasers.”
“This is not a case where brains will overcome brawn,” Jimmy said without a trace of doubt. “What do you think you’re going to do? Talk your way past them?”
“You got any better ideas?”
“Not a one,” Jimmy admitted. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Guys.” Barn had his forehead pressed against the window. “Half a dozen of those soldiers in black are heading our way.”
“How far?”
“They’re at the front door now.”
“Aw! Thanks fur the timely heid’s up, flash.”
“Switch on the cameras in the corridors below and use our code to lock the outer door.” Jimmy grabbed the nearest bed and began pulling it across the floor. “Barricade the dorm door too. Tables, lockers… anything heavy you can find.”
Barn lumbered over, picked up a table and computer with one mighty heave and staggered towards the door.
“What do they want Jimmy?”
“If they’re Dunwoody’s men, I’m pretty sure they’re coming to kill us.”
18.45
Private Kruger zigzagged behind the Sergeant across the compound and up to the entrance of the West Wing. Lights on top of the building illuminated all the paths so the men hugged the walls, staying in the shadows.
“The outlying buildings are empty. Thank Christ it’s Christmas Eve and there is minimal staff on the base.” The Sergeant waved his arm and half a dozen soldiers emerged from the gloom at a run, crunching across the hardening snow and flattening themselves beside their leader. “But there are a bunch of kids in a dormitory at the top of this block.”
“They can’t actually be infected Sarge,” Kruger said tentatively. “Not if they’ve been up there while all this is going on.”
“It’s not our call to make, soldier,” the Sergeant retorted. “Besides, they might have heard the girl’s intercom message same as the rest of the base. We have to assume they’re hostile and act accordingly.”
“Yes sir.” Private Kruger planted a small charge against the outer door and leapt back. There was a dull thunk and a puff of smoke from the lock. He stepped forward and kicked hard. The door swung open and the men entered, rifles held in front of them.
“Hall is clear!”
The Sergeant motioned again and the soldiers began climbing the stairs.
Dave watched the assailants’ progress on the computer monitor.
“Don’t take a flaky guys but your never gonnae get a barricade built before these gadgies reach us, know?”
“Maybe we would if you’d get off your skinny butt and help.”
“Ahm no wantin ma togs dirty when ah go tae meet mah maker”.”
“Aren’t there any weapons in the West Wing?” Barn asked plaintively.
“No. But maybe we can make something?” Simon turned to Jimmy in desperation. “A Molotov Cocktail or some kind of bomb made out of chemicals? Hey! Can we tie bed sheets together and lower ourselves out the window?”
Jimmy looked at the screen over Dave’s shoulder.
“Not in the two minutes it’ll take them to reach this floor.” He picked up his baseball bat and patted it against his hand. “We can either hide or fight but I don’t think either will do us much good.”
“If it’s a square-go they’re wantin, they’ll be getting a Glasgow kiss fae yours truly.” Dave reversed his baseball cap so the peak was at the back and pulled a small knife from his pocket. “And a good chibbin an all.”
“God, there’s another four of them coming in the front door.” Simon pointed to the computer screen. “They’re catching up fast.”
Gunfire erupted from the floor below.
Simon’s jaw dropped. “The second group have opened fire on the first!”
The others crowded round the screen and watched in amazement.
Private Kruger turned at the top of the stairs in time to see his Sergeant topple backwards, one bloody hand scrabbling at his chest. On either side, his companions convulsed, bobbing like marionettes, caught in a storm of bullets.
His last sight was of four strangers, one of them a woman, swinging the barrels of their weapons towards him.
- Trespassers will incur the severest penalty, he thought, as the group below opened fire.
The children stood in a cluster as the door to the dormitory was forced open. Three men and a woman entered, guns in their hands. Jimmy lifted his baseball bat in a defiant gesture. Dave gave Barn a nudge.
“You better stand in front of me, big man.”
“I’m slow Dave. Not stupid.”
“You can put your weapons down boys.” A stocky man in a leather jacket stepped forwards, lowering his gun. “We’re not going to harm you.”
He gestured to the other three and they too lowered their arms.
“My name’s Sherman,” the stranger said. “And I need your help.”
18.50
“Are you terrorists?” Barn was as straightforward as ever. Jimmy winced.