This United state

'Don't forget,' Newman warned, 'that the whole perimeter is split up into sectors A, B, C, D, E, F and G.'

'That's the third time you've told us that,' Paula complained.

'I want you to remember it,' Newman told her.

'We ought to have had music to see us through the evening,' said Marler.

'What would you have suggested?' enquired Newman.

'The end of the 1812 Overture. The crash of the guns.' 'I don't think that's funny,' snapped Paula.

'Wasn't meant to be,' Marler rapped back.

Tweed again checked his watch. He pursed his lips, glanced at everyone round the table.

'That's the fifth time you've checked the time,' said Paula.

'Who's counting?' Newman snapped back.

'I am.'

'It's nine o'clock,' Tweed said in a bored voice.

He had just spoken when Mike, one of Alf's Gulf War veterans, got up from the table. He put on a short sheepskin coat. His night glasses were slung round his neck.

'Time I went up that tree. It is the observation point. Come and haul me up to heaven.'

Newman and Marler stood up, accompanied Mike outside. Paula, on edge, frowned.

'He'll freeze to death up that tree. It's too early.

'Never too early,' said Alf, who rarely spoke. 'And he'll be all right. Once trained for three months in the Arctic.'

'I could put the radio on,' Mrs C. said brightly. 'That is, if anyone wants it on.'

No one wanted the radio. The silence was oppressive. But the radio squawking away would be even more irksome. Tweed again checked his watch. Paula bit her lip to stop herself protesting. With Tweed it was not nerves – he was probably the coolest person sitting at the table. But he knew how time could suddenly flash by.

Paula got up, went outside. The moon was high and brilliant she was thankful to see. They would need its pallid light to detect signs of movement. She took a deep breath, almost felt giddy. The temperature had dropped below zero. She hurried inside again.

'What is it like out there?' Tweed asked casually. 'I know I could find out for myself, but why should both of us freeze?' he asked humorously.

'It's god-awful cold. But the moon is up and casting plenty of light.'

'Couldn't be better. Just what I ordered from the weather man.'

'Any more coffee for anyone?' asked Mrs C.

'Have some, Paula,' Newman urged. 'Keep you alert.' 'For your information, Mr Newman, I have never felt more alert.'

'Suit yourself.'

'That's exactly what I propose to do. Thank you, Mrs Carson, but I've had enough for now.'

'It's fairly near ten o'clock,' Tweed announced, after checking his watch. 'Bob, could you describe again – for everyone's benefit – the small advanced landing craft your American friend showed you when you visited that naval base in the States six months ago?'

'Very hush-hush,' Newman began. 'Had to sign a document that under no circumstances would I publish anything. These vessels, for use by the SEALs, are about the size of a small country bus – but they have no roof. They're amphibious, very stable on water. But also when they reach land huge wheels like snow tyres project underneath the craft. Driver just pulls a lever. On land they can move at about forty miles an hour.'

'How many occupants?' asked Tweed.

'Maximum of ten SEALs per craft. Three doors on either side – so they can get out fast. On land the powerful engine makes a gentle purring sound.'

'We have to call them something,' Tweed said. He gazed into space. 'Got it. Something that's at home in water and on land. Crabs. That's what we'll call them.' He pressed a button on his mobile. 'Tweed here. If the enemy has landing craft we're going to call them crabs.'

'What's that?' Mike's voice queried. 'Got it. Crabs. Like the name, matey.'

He came back on the line less than five minutes later. A cool voice. Everyone had switched on their mobiles.

'They're coming now. Enormous ruddy fleet. Stretches back miles down the Channel. Wait a minute.' At the table they all sat upright in silence. 'Now I can just make out a ruddy great aircraft carrier, big as a football pitch. Hang on, one warship well ahead is turning this way, belting towards the coast at a rate of knots. Hang on a mo.' Round the table they seemed to wait forever this time. A crackle on the mobiles. 'Looks like they're coming for us now. Lowering crabs over the side Hang on.'

'How many crabs?' asked Tweed.

'Three in the sea now. I think that's it. Three crabs coming.'

'I suggest we all take up battle positions now,' said Tweed. 'Do not forget my earlier order. No one opens fire until – or unless – they start shooting at us, or try to break through the wired hedge. I want to be able to say later they opened hostilities first.'

'Matey, another crab lowered,' Mike warned. 'Following the first three heading for the shore now. Fast.'

'That's forty men,' Tweed said coldly. 'We're outnumbered. So the first shot they fire, we all open up. When we see a target.'

'Matey, another crab lowered over the side. Now following the others.'

'Fifty men, then,' Tweed said. 'Same instruction as before.

51

Paula was first outside. She had slipped on her warm coat earlier while Mike was still talking. She wore surgical gloves. They'd keep out a bit of the cold, but she needed flexible fingers to press triggers. Over one shoulder hung her shoulder bag with her Browning inside, over the other was looped the heavy canvas holdall. She'd grabbed her machine-pistol and extra ammo off a couch.

Mrs C. followed her. She had the same equipment. She caught up with Paula and chuckled, brandishing her weapon. 'Used this to shoot rabbits. They were overrunning us. Men are bigger than rabbits. We're both Sector A.'

'Centre of the hedge where they'll probably attack,' Paula replied drily. 'Some kind of a compliment, I suppose.'

'I'll be with you,' said Newman as he joined them. 'Paula, you take A. You took your searchlight out there earlier?'

'Of course.'

They walked quickly across the flat earth, but refrained from running. With what they were carrying that could be fatal. Paula had lost her edginess. She was now cool, determined, alert. In the moonlight they could see the distant hedge they were advancing towards clearly. It had a blurred look at night, more like a wall. Paula revelled in the ice-cold air. It had become stuffy inside the farmhouse.

To their left and right shadowy silhouettes of men moving quickly were ahead of them. Alf's mob were swift on their feet. Hunched forward with the weights they were carrying, they reminded Paula of the opening scene in Silas Marner. There a shadowy figure moving through the night had been laden down.

'Rabbits,' said Newman, who had heard Mrs C.'s earlier remark. 'That means rabbit holes, risk of twisted ankles. We'd better be careful.'

'No need,' Mrs C. replied, moving quickly. 'They're all in that south-east corner – and beyond the hedge.'

Tweed was the only man who had not joined the relentless march to the southern hedge. After putting on his coat, he had gone out and climbed a wooden staircase Mrs C. had shown him. It was attached to the side of the farmhouse and led to a platform at the top. Standing on it, he could see clearly over the top of the roof. It did not give him the panoramic view from the observation post, but it did provide an uninterrupted view over the hedge and Romney Marsh beyond. He focused his night glasses on the hedge.

'Matey, four crabs landed on beach. Crossing it. Heading inland at speed towards us. Crab number five now beaching…'

'Everyone,' said Tweed into the mobile slung close to his mouth, 'get into position as soon as you can. You heard the latest report. Keep your heads down.'

Tweed, who normally mistrusted mobiles, thought the communication system was excellent. Everyone could hear him. Everyone could hear the reports from the observation post. Knowledge was power. Could make all the difference to the outcome.