“It’s the governor. We’ve found him.”
“And…?”
“He’s dead, sir, along with a few other of the senior staff. Superintendent Collins was found with them.”
Alan placed his head in his hands, hiding the despair on his face. Alison started to sob by the kitchen door.
There was another clatter of boots as two more soldiers came in with a couple of boxes of supplies, smiles on their faces after surviving the fight with the intruders during the night.
“There you go, sir,” trumpeted Sergeant Thompson. “Enough to feed the 5,000.”
CHAPTER 29
Bill, Robbie, Trevor, Owen and Simon, grouped in a huddle in a battered shop doorway, discussed the final plans. Looking back, Bill could see the line of people from his group, laden down with food and water, and anything else that was deemed necessary for their survival. Half a dozen of the men stood around in strategic positions, put there by Simon to guard the vulnerable group. The light from the burning tower, the upper storeys now engulfed in an inferno of licking flames and curling smoke, flickered over the huddled group. To him, they looked like wartime refugees: to keep warm, wrapped up in anything they could find on their way out; laden down with their worldly goods; afraid. Bill knew that they were looking to him to keep them safe. But, at the moment, they were exposed and in danger. One gang had already approached them, but they’d quickly backed off when confronted with the array of weapons that Bill and his security team now had in their possession. They were certainly stronger now, but would not be able to survive out in the desolation of the city for long. With thousands of rotting corpses left after the bombs and fires, and rats and dogs having free rein of the city, Weil’s disease, typhoid, typhus, dysentery, tuberculosis and even an outbreak of cholera amongst the survivors were serious risks. Bill knew he had to act, and act quickly.
The other four men looked at Bill, wanting answers, needing answers to the plight they had found themselves in.
“Do we try and find another tower, Bill?” asked Robbie.
“If they’re any good, they’ll be too well defended,” suggested Trevor.
“We can fight our way in. Take one over for ourselves,” proclaimed Simon.
“No, not an option,” Bill finally answered. “We need somewhere we can protect, somewhere where we can defend ourselves and, equally as important, somewhere we can keep warm. The temperature’s dropping every day, and winter’s not even upon us yet.”
“Where then, Bill?” challenged Robbie, starting to feel a little exasperated by Bill’s calm exterior.
“The Underground, the Tube stations.”
“Shit,” exclaimed Trevor. “Why the fuck didn’t I think of that?”
“Of course,” added Simon.
“Won’t they have been used as bomb shelters?” asked Simon. “Could still be occupied.”
“It’s a possibility,” agreed Bill, “but there’s nothing down there, so most people will probably have left after the all-clear. Anyway, there was some scaremongering, if you remember. People were afraid of being trapped down there when the bombs hit.”
“It’s worth a try.”
“It is, Robbie. So, let’s get this show on the road. Let’s get everyone moving. I’ll take a dozen on ahead to scout the area, and we’ll take it from there. Agreed?”
All four agreed, to a man.
“Let’s go then.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A qualified parachutist, Harvey Black served with British Army Intelligence for over ten years. His experience ranges from covert surveillance in Northern Ireland to operating in Communist East Berlin during the Cold War where he feared for his life after being dragged from his car by KGB soldiers. Since then he has lived a more sedate life in the private sector as a director for an international company and now enjoys the pleasures of writing. Harvey is married with four children. For more from Harvey, visit his website at www.harveyblackauthor.org.