As Speedy instructed Jock on the differences in the cockpit from the standard production Vulcan, Millie loaded a reel of tape.
Steve Bright stowed the yellow ladder and closed the hatch.
Minutes later, the Vulcan came to life and the crew entered the closed world of the intercom.
As they climbed out of West Porton, Millie powered up Guiding Light and began a tape.
Over the intercom, Speedy thanked him and explained to Jock why the panel was now displaying height information.
They headed west to their usual playground in Wales.
THE VULCAN SHOOK the ground as it clambered into the air over the western threshold. Susie sat ten yards inside the double fence; she blocked her ears but could still feel the noise as it vibrated through her.
The sound became more manageable as the white aircraft banked right and headed toward the clouds.
Megan sat alongside her, looking anxious. She pulled her knees up to her chin.
“Are you OK?”
“Yes.”
They sat in silence for a little longer, watching a slower propeller aircraft lumber off the runway. After the Vulcan, it was like watching a tractor.
“Argosy, I think,” Susie said. “Quite a new one.”
“David said you’re a plane spotter,” said Megan.
“It’s hard to ignore them. They can be quite impressive.”
Megan flashed an angry look at her. “What’s that got to with anything? We’re here to end all this, not bloody celebrate it. I hate them.” Megan lay on her back and closed her eyes.
Susie left it a moment before carrying on. “Anyway, the plan sounds good. I definitely want to help if I can.”
Megan opened one eye and gave her a sideways glance.
“You really want to be with us? It’s no picnic you know.” She closed her eye again.
“It’s why I’m here.”
“I wondered that.”
“Wondered what? Why I’m here? Why are any of us here?”
“Different reasons.”
Susie paused. “Well, I’m not sure about others, but I’ve had enough of marching and waving banners. I’m here because it’s up to our generation to do something.”
“Even if that ‘something’ lands you in prison?” Megan asked, still on her back with her eyes closed.
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Really?” Megan propped herself up on her elbows.
“Not a big deal. A few of us took matters into our own hands in Trafalgar Square last year.”
“And you went to prison? Actual prison?”
“I was arrested, held in a police station for one night, transferred to Holloway for a second night. Then they paraded us into magistrates’ court, fined us, and that was it. As I say, no big deal.”
Megan lay back down.
A moment later, a shadow flashed across them, followed by a roar as the Argosy swooped across the camp.
Susie followed it around as it drew a wide arc in the sky, just above the trees. An object fell from its open rear cargo doors.
“Blimey.”
“What?” Megan asked without looking.
“That aircraft just dropped something. Is that Porton Down?” She could make out a series of low buildings in a field that backed onto the UK’s chemical weapons centre.
“They gas animals in that place,” Megan said, sitting up. “Perhaps they bomb them now as well.”
The aircraft carried out two more runs over Porton Down, releasing one more object. It took a wider arc south and descended, turning back toward West Porton. As it levelled out on the far side of the airfield, it pointed directly at them.
Susie squinted, studying the flight path as the Argosy descended even lower.
“What’s happening now?” Megan said.
“It’s OK.”
The aircraft travelled straight across the runway threshold and directly over the peace camp.
The engines sent powerful reverberations through the ground, and both women flinched as it tore overhead and pitched up into a steep climb.
The rear doors were still open and Susie could see a figure inside. From behind him, an object moved and the man leapt out of the way. A pallet, with what looked like a black barrel strapped to it, fell out of the opening.
She watched in horror, looking below the falling object to see who was in danger.
“Watch out!” she screamed, leaping to her feet.
The pallet hit the ground and smashed into several pieces; the barrel split in two or three parts.
As far as she could see it hadn’t hit anyone.
But as the aircraft noise dimmed, a hissing sound emanated from the barrel, along with a plume of white smoke.
“Get away from it!” Susie screamed.
A stinging sensation in her eyes. It started as an annoying tickle, but soon became a powerful irritant. Susie closed her eyes tight as the gas caught in her throat and she doubled over, coughing. Screams sounded across the camp, then moaning and coughing.
Susie gripped Megan and walked as fast as she could while virtually blinded.
She tried to open her eyes as they hurried away, alongside the fence, but another blast of irritant hit her, and water streamed down her face.
“Jesus Christ.”
She forced her eyes open.
Megan’s hand went limp. She dropped to the ground, hands over her face.
She looked in a bad way; incoherent and wailing.
Around them, people ran in different directions. Most campers escaped the field through the main gate.
Susie dropped next to Megan
“We have to get out of the field.”
“No! Leave me.” She curled up and began rocking.
Susie hauled Megan to her feet and set off with her under her arm.
As they neared the gate, Susie tasted fresh air again. The gas was dispersing.
They joined the others, spilling on the road.
A police siren wailed in the distance.
Someone had brought a bucket of water over, and the group splashed the cool liquid over their faces.
Susie looked at their puffy red eyes. Men and women, crying and wailing.
Her throat stung, and the acrid gas in her lungs triggered a coughing fit.
She squatted down and spat onto the road, desperate to clear the metallic taste from her mouth. “Christ alive.”
Eventually she regained control over her breathing and stood up.
A green military Land Rover with a blue flashing light arrived and two soldiers jumped out.
“Is everyone alright?” one of them shouted.
He got a chorus of anger from the protestors in return.
“What do you bloody think?”
“What the hell was that?”
“Are you bombing us, for Christ’s sake?”
The men didn’t answer. They scanned the crowd, then jumped back into their vehicle and drove onto the field. More sirens in the distance. A white ambulance rolled up, followed by another.
Susie walked to the field entrance and watched the two soldiers. They put on gas masks and slowly approached the remains of the crate and barrel, turning the debris over with their feet. They picked up the bigger pieces and loaded them into the back of their wagon.
The ambulance crews began to inspect the injured.
The Land Rover appeared at the gate and eased through the crowd onto the road before driving off.
“That’s the evidence gone,” Susie said. She looked at Megan, who didn’t seem capable of speech.
Susie got down on her knees next to her.
“I think it was just tear gas. It’s gone now.”
Megan didn’t respond.
She encouraged her to her feet. Slowly, they made their way back into the field where Susie sat Megan in the entrance to her tent and went off to fetch her water.