Hurst

["both\tof\tthem\twere\tso\tstubborn,\tthey\twere\tnever\tgoing\tto\tchange. Seeing\tAdele,\tRiley\u2019s\twhole\tface\tseemed\tto\trelax\tinto\ta\tsmile.\t\u201cHow\u2019re\tyou doing,\tkiddo?\tMaking\tyourself\tuseful?\u201d \u201cYeah,\t Sister\t Mel\t made\t me\t make\t like\t a\t hundred\t flatbreads.\u201d\t She\t wriggled round\t to\t face\t Riley,\t her\t eyes\t wide,\t her\t expression\t mischievous.\t \u201cHey,\t guess what\tI\tjust\theard?\tJoe\tand\tthe\tother\tmen\thave\tescaped.\u201d Riley\tsat\tbolt\tupright,\ther\tfatigue\tsuddenly\tevaporated.\tIt\twas\tlike\tan\telectric shock\t had\t passed\t through\t her\t body.\t \u201cEscaped\t where?\u201d\t She\t grabbed\t Adele\u2019s shoulders.\t \u201cThis\t is\t important,\t Adele.\t You\t need\t to\t tell\t me\t exactly\t what\t you heard.\u201d Adele\tlooked\tpuzzled\tbut\trealised\tthis\twas\tnot\tjust\tanother\tgame.\tShe\tsighed and\t told\t her\t what\t she\t knew.\t \u201cJust\t that\t when\t the\t guard\t went\t to\t check\t on\t them after\tthe\tfire,\tthe\tstables\twere\tempty,\tthe\tdoors\twere\twide\topen.\u201d Riley\tand\tZed\tlooked\tat\teach\tother\tin\tconfusion. \u201cWhy\t would\t Joe\t escape\t when\t they\t promised\t to\t release\t him\t tomorrow?\t It doesn\u2019t\tmake\tany\tsense.\tThe\tfinger\tof\tsuspicion\tis\tgoing\tto\tpoint\tsquarely\tat\tus,\u201d said\tZed. \u201cThey\t can\u2019t\t have\t gone\t very\t far.\t All\t the\t cars\t are\t still\t parked\t outside,\u201d\t added Mila. \u201cWell,\t if\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t one\t of\t us\t who\t let\t them\t out,\t then\t who\t the\t hell\t was\t it?\u201d wondered\tZed\tout\tloud.","Chapter\tThirty-eight As\tthe\tsun\tburst\tthrough\tthe\ttrees\ton\tthe\tfar\tside\tof\tthe\twood,\tJoe\tand\tthe\tothers were\t already\t two\t miles\t away,\t putting\t as\t much\t distance\t between\t them\t and\t the hotel\tas\tthey\tcould\tbefore\tthe\talarm\twas\traised.\tThey\twere\tfairly\tcertain\tthat\tthe sisters\twouldn\u2019t\tsend\ttheir\tguards\tafter\tthem. Joe\thad\twanted\tto\tstay\tbehind,\tto\twait\tfor\this\tfriends.\tIt\tseemed\tpointless\tto escape.\tHe\tonly\thad\tanother\tday\tbefore\tZed\twas\twell\tenough\tand\tthe\tHurst\tteam could\t go\t home.\t Seamus\t had\t insisted\t he\t came\t with\t them.\t He\t told\t Joe\t that\t he would\t get\t the\t blame.\t Perhaps\t Seamus\t simply\t didn\u2019t\t trust\t Joe\t to\t keep\t quiet.\t In the\tend\the\tfelt\the\thad\tno\tchoice\tbut\tto\tgo\twith\tthem.\tHe\twould\tbide\this\ttime\tand wait\tfor\tan\topportunity\tto\tslip\taway. The\t small\t group\t stayed\t as\t far\t as\t they\t could\t from\t roads,\t crossing\t fields\t and following\t footpaths\t through\t turnstiles,\t along\t fences\t and\t hedgerows\t that\t grew wild\tand\timpassable\tin\tplaces.\tThe\tdawn\tchorus\tof\tcrows\tand\trooks\tmasked\tany noise\t they\t made\t as\t they\t hurried\t away.\t Speed\t was\t more\t important\t than\t stealth right\tnow.\tBesides,\tthey\treckoned\tthere\twas\tno\tone\taround\tto\thear\tthem. They\thad\tJean\tto\tthank\tfor\ttheir\tescape.\tShe\twas\ta\tmousey\tlittle\tthing,\tsmall for\t her\t age,\t Joe\t reckoned\t no\t more\t than\t sixteen.\t She\t had\t the\t responsibility\t of bringing\t the\t men\t food\t and\t water\t twice\t a\t day.\t Joe\t had\t warmed\t to\t her\t almost immediately.\tShe\twas\tnaive\tand\timpressionable,\tsympathetic\tto\ttheir\tplight.\tShe had\tagreed\tto\thelp\tthem\tshould\tthe\topportunity\tarise.\tAll\tthey\thad\tneeded\twas\ta diversion. It\thad\tbeen\tSeamus\twho\thad\ttalked\ther\tinto\thelping.\tHe\twas\talways\tgoing\ton about\tthe\tinjustice\tof\ttheir\tcaptivity\tand\thow\tthe\tright\tthing\tto\tdo\twas\tto\trelease them\t and\t help\t them\t escape.\t He\t had\t nurtured\t this\t idea\t almost\t daily\t for\t the\t last four\t months,\t or\t so\t he\t said,\t twisting\t the\t conversation,\t moulding\t her\t to\t his purpose. Lying\t on\t his\t bed\t in\t the\t evenings,\t Joe\t had\t listened\t to\t Seamus\t whispering kindnesses\t to\t Jean,\t engaging\t her\t in\t conversation,\t trying\t to\t build\t her\t trust,\t gain her\t confidence,\t then\t bad-mouthing\t her\t as\t soon\t as\t she\t had\t left,\t his\t guile\t and artifice\tlaid\tbare.\tJoe\tdidn\u2019t\tlike\tSeamus\u2019s\tmethods\tbut\tfigured\tthe\tend\tjustified the\tmeans. \u201cDid\t I\t ever\t tell\t you\t what\t I\t was\t doing\t before\t all\t this?\u201d\t asked\t Seamus.\t Joe","realised\the\twas\tfond\tof\tthe\tsound\tof\this\town\tvoice,\tas\tif\the\twas\tafraid\tof\tsilence. \u201cI\twas\tlabouring\ton\tthis\tfarm\tjust\tnorth\tof\tNew\tMilton\twith\tthese\tPolish\tlads.\tI only\tever\tintended\tto\tstay\tin\tEngland\tfor\tthe\tsummer\tmonths\ttill\tharvest\ttime.\tI was\ttrying\tto\tearn\tenough\tmoney\tto\ttravel.\tMe\tand\ta\tcouple\tof\tmates\tplanned\tto spend\t the\t winter\t in\t Athens,\t doing\t bar\t work\t and\t sleeping\t above\t a\t fast-food restaurant\twe\tknew,\tnear\tthe\tAcropolis.\tBut\tI\tnever\tmade\tit\tout\tof\tEngland.\u201d \u201cWhat\thappened?\u201d\tJoe\tprompted,\tkeen\tto\tkeep\thim\ttalking. \u201cSure,\tI\tremember\tlike\tit\twas\tyesterday.\tI\twoke\tat\tfirst\tlight\twith\tthe\tmother of\t all\t hangovers.\t They\t took\t the\t money\t and\t my\t car,\t but\t they\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t got far.\t That\t car\t was\t only\t held\t together\t with\t fibreglass.\t I\t rewelded\t that\t chassis\t so many\ttimes\tit\twas\ta\tdeath\ttrap.\tThe\trest\tof\tthe\tfarm\tbuildings\twere\tdeserted.\tThe family\tmust\thave\tleft\tin\tthe\tnight.\tI\tstuck\taround\tfor\ta\tcouple\tof\tdays\tbut\twhen\tit was\t clear\t that\t no\t one\t was\t coming\t back\t I\t broke\t in\t to\t the\t farmhouse\t and\t lived there\ton\tmy\town\tuntil\tthe\tfood\tran\tout.\tAfter\tthat\tI\tsuppose\tI\tbegan\ta\tnomadic existence,\tliving\ton\tmy\twits,\tuntil\tthe\tday\tthose\tbitches\tfrom\tthe\tChewton\tGlen captured\tus.\u201d Jean\tglared\tback\tat\tSeamus\tbut\ther\twords\tof\treproach\tfroze\ton\ther\tlips,\tjust like\tevery\tother\ttime\the\tcriticised\tthe\tsisters.\tJoe\twatched\ttheir\tsilent\texchange. He\t hated\t the\t way\t Seamus\t manipulated\t her.\t How\t he\t would\t feign\t interest\t in\t her teenage\t life,\t commenting\t on\t the\t clothes\t she\t wore,\t how\t she\t wore\t her\t hair, ingratiating\thimself\tslowly\tbut\tsurely\tinto\ther\tfavours.\tJoe\thad\tto\tadmit\tSeamus was\ta\tgood\tlistener.\tJean\twould\thang\taround\tlate\tinto\tthe\tnight\tat\tleast\tuntil\tthe guard\ttold\ther\tto\tleave. In\tthe\tend\tSeamus\thad\tconvinced\tJean\tto\tmake\tthe\tleap\tfrom\tsympathiser\tto collaborator.\t When\t the\t commotion\t of\t the\t fire\t distracted\t the\t guards\t and\t drew them\tfrom\ttheir\tposts,\tshe\tcrept\tback\tto\tthe\tstable\tblock.\tShe\tstole\tthe\tkeys\tfrom a\thook,\treleased\tthe\tmen\tfrom\ttheir\tcaptivity.\tTogether\tthey\tran\tdown\tthe\tdrive towards\t open\t fields\t and\t freedom\t beyond.\t Jean\t had\t remembered\t to\t bring\t what little\t food\t she\t could\t conceal\t over\t the\t last\t few\t days.\t In\t Tupperware\t containers, she\tkept\tbiscuits\tand\tleftover\trice,\talready\tdesiccated\tand\tstale.\tIn\ther\trucksack she\thad\ta\tmetal\tflask\tfor\twater,\ta\ttorch\tand\ta\tpocketknife. Joe\twasn\u2019t\tsure,\tbut\the\twas\tbeginning\tto\tthink\tthat\tthe\tfire\twas\tno\taccident. Perhaps\tSeamus\thad\tput\ther\tup\tto\tthat\ttoo.\tHe\thad\tto\tadmit,\tit\twas\tfortuitous\tfor their\t purposes,\t to\t say\t the\t least.\t Judging\t by\t the\t smoke\t that\t rose\t high\t into\t the dawn\tbehind\tthem,\tthe\tfire\thad\tbeen\tdevastating.\tHe\tfelt\tterrible\tleaving\tZed\tand the\t rest\t of\t them\t behind.\t His\t best\t option\t was\t to\t wait\t for\t an\t opportunity\t to\t slip away.\t He\t felt\t a\t responsibility\t to\t Jean,\t despite\t what\t she\t may\t or\t may\t not\t have done.\tWithout\thim\tthere,\the\tfeared\tfor\ther\tsafety.\tHe\tdetermined\tto\ttake\ther\tback with\thim\tto\tHurst.","When\t they\t were\t several\t miles\t from\t the\t hotel,\t Seamus\t held\t up\t his\t hand\t and they\t gathered\t round\t a\t lonely\t bench\t on\t a\t country\t lane\t where\t the\t landscape opened\tout.\tViews\tstretched\tacross\tfields\tof\trapeseed,\tswaying\tbright\tyellow\tin the\tsunshine.\tThe\tfour\tmen\ttook\tit\tin\tturns\tto\tdrink\tfrom\tthe\tflask\tof\twater\tJean had\tbrought.\tThey\tshared\ta\tjoke,\thands\ton\thips,\twiping\tsweat\tfrom\ttheir\tbrows, before\tfinally\tallowing\tJean\tand\tJoe\tto\tshare\tthe\tlast\tdrops. \u201cWhere\t are\t we\t heading?\u201d\t asked\t Joe,\t interrupting\t a\t private\t conversation between\tSeamus\tand\tone\tof\tthe\tothers. \u201cNot\t much\t further\t now.\t Maybe\t another\t mile.\t There\u2019s\t a\t house\t not\t far\t from here,\t very\t secluded.\t Big\t place\t with\t an\t orchard\t and\t greenhouses,\t full\t of vegetables.\tWe\tused\tto\tdeliver\tanimal\tfeed\tthere.\tSeems\tlike\ta\tlifetime\tago.\u201d \u201cHow\tdo\tyou\tknow\tthere\twon\u2019t\tstill\tbe\tsomeone\tthere?\u201d\tchallenged\tJoe. Seamus\tspat\tsomething\ton\tthe\tground\tand\tkicked\tthe\tearth\twith\this\tboot.\tHe looked\t up\t with\t a\t smile,\t squinting\t in\t to\t the\t sun.\t \u201cI\t don\u2019t,\t but\t I\u2019ve\t a\t feeling\t that the\tfarmer\u2019s\tdaughter\twill\tremember\tme.\tEither\tthat,\tor\tthey\u2019ll\tbe\tlong\tgone\tby now.\tIt\twas\ta\tcouple\tof\tyears\tago.\tIf\tyou\u2019ve\tgot\ta\tbetter\tidea,\tI\u2019m\tall\tears.\u201d There\t was\t an\t edge\t to\t his\t voice\t that\t made\t Joe\t pause.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t worth\t an argument.\tAfter\tall,\the\thad\t no\tintention\tof\t staying\twith\tthe\tgroup.\tHis\tinstinct was\t screaming\t that\t prime\t sites\t like\t these\t were\t normally\t occupied.\t If\t they\t still had\tstores\tand\tfood,\tthen\tthey\twould\tnot\twelcome\tthe\tarrival\tof\tstrangers. As\t they\t approached\t the\t farm,\t they\t stopped\t at\t the\t boundary\t fence,\t watching the\t house\t and\t outbuildings\t for\t any\t movement\t or\t other\t signs\t of\t recent occupation.\tSeamus\ttold\tthe\tothers\tto\tstay\thidden\twhile\the\tscouted\tahead.\tAfter twenty\t minutes,\t lying\t on\t a\t grassy\t bank\t under\t a\t sycamore\t tree,\t basking\t in\t the mid-morning\t sunshine,\t they\t heard\t footsteps\t approaching\t down\t the\t lane\t and readied\t themselves.\t Joe\t grabbed\t a\t small\t log,\t holding\t it\t high\t above\t his\t head, ready\tto\tstrike.\tThe\tothers\tshifted\tuneasily\tfrom\tone\tfoot\tto\tthe\tother,\twaiting\tto grab\t whoever\t emerged\t from\t around\t the\t corner.\t They\t all\t breathed\t a\t collective sigh\tof\trelief\tas\tSeamus\twhistled\ta\tprearranged\tgreeting. Walking\t up\t the\t rough\t track\t that\t led\t to\t the\t farm,\t there\t were\t no\t signs\t of vehicles.\tA\ttree\thad\tfallen\tright\tacross\tthe\ttrack,\tblocking\tthe\troad.\tThey\tpassed a\tsign\tfor\ta\tlocal\tconstruction\tfirm\tand\timmediately\tunderstood\twhy.\tThe\twhole place\t was\t mid-renovation.\t Scaffolding\t framed\t the\t far\t end\t of\t the\t farmhouse, where\t the\t original\t red\t brick\t building\t was\t being\t extended.\t A\t large\t modern kitchen\twith\ta\tconservatory,\tpatio\tarea\tand\tstone\tsteps\tled\tdown\tto\ta\tlandscaped slope\tthinly\tcovered\twith\twhat\tlooked\tlike\tnewly\tsewn\tgrass,\tstretching\ttowards a\tstream\tthat\tran\tthrough\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tproperty. They\ttook\ta\tminute\tto\trefill\tthe\tflask\tin\tthe\tlazy\tflow\tof\tthe\tcool\twater,\tbefore cautiously\t approaching\t the\t front\t porch.\t There\t was\t a\t beaten-up\t old\t estate\t car","parked\toutside\twith\tthree\tflat\ttyres. Seamus\t tried\t the\t handle,\t but\t found\t the\t oak\t panelled\t door\t locked.\t Its\t white paint\t had\t peeled\t away,\t revealing\t knotted\t wood\t and\t sturdy\t iron\t hinges.\t He kicked\tat\tthe\tdoor\ta\tcouple\tof\ttimes,\tgrunting\tas\the\tcame\toff\tworse\tfor\twear.\tThe others\t watched\t him,\t arms\t crossed,\t faintly\t amused\t by\t his\t bravado.\t The\t hinges and\t lock\t refused\t to\t budge.\t Seamus\t directed\t the\t group\t to\t split\t up\t and\t head\t in opposite\tdirections. Joe\tand\tJean\tset\toff\ttogether,\ttesting\teach\tof\tthe\tshutters\tand\twindows\ton\tthe ground-floor\t windows\t but\t found\t them\t each\t securely\t fastened.\t Jean\t froze, hearing\t footsteps\t coming\t around\t the\t house\t towards\t them.\t They\t pressed themselves\t against\t the\t wall\t and\t crouched\t down\t only\t to\t see\t Seamus\t and\t the others\t rounding\t the\t corner,\t completing\t their\t search.\t The\t extension\t and conservatory\tproved\tmore\trewarding.\tThey\tfound\tan\tempty\twindow\tframe\twith no\tglass.\tSeamus\tpunched\tone\tof\tthe\tother\tmen\ton\tthe\tshoulder,\tlaughing\tat\ttheir good\tfortune. Inside\twas\ta\thalf-finished\tkitchen\tstacked\twith\tpallets\tof\tfloor\ttiles\tand\tflat- packed\t furniture,\t including\t various\t tools\t left\t out\t at\t the\t end\t of\t a\t shift.\t Seamus smashed\ta\tsmall\tpane\tof\tsemi-opaque\tglass\twith\this\telbow\tand\treached\tthrough, groping\t for\t the\t catch.\t He\t found\t the\t key\t still\t in\t the\t lock.\t Seamus\t paused\t as\t he and\tJoe\thad\tthe\tsame\tthought.\tIf\tthe\thouse\twas\tall\tlocked\tup\tfrom\tthe\tinside,\tdid that\tmean\tsomeone\twas\tstill\tliving\there?\tSeamus\traised\this\tfinger\tto\this\tlips\tand made\t sure\t everyone\t had\t understood\t his\t instruction\t before\t continuing\t their search. The\t door\t squeaked\t in\t protest\t as\t he\t wrenched\t it\t open,\t stepping\t into\t the\t cool darkness\tbeyond.\tThe\tmain\treception\troom\tlooked\tuntouched,\tdust\tlayered\tgrey on\tevery\tsurface.\tThere\twere\tno\tsigns\tof\tdisturbance.\tA\tvase\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\ta long\tmahogany\ttable\theld\twhat\tremained\tof\twilted\tflowers,\tthe\twater\tbrown\tand mouldy\t in\t its\t base.\t There\t was\t a\t musty\t smell\t about\t the\t place.\t Disturbed\t dust drifted\t in\t shafts\t of\t sunlight\t that\t penetrated\t through\t gaps\t in\t the\t shutters.\t It\t was like\tstepping\tinto\ta\ttomb,\tfrozen\tin\ttime,\tuntouched\tby\thuman\thand\tfor\tmonths, maybe\tyears. Next\t door,\t there\t was\t a\t snug-room\t with\t whitewashed\t walls\t and\t a\t large fireplace,\t its\t grate\t covered\t in\t grey\t ash,\t from\t a\t fire\t long\t since\t cold.\t Either\t side there\twere\tbookshelves\tset\tdeep\tinto\tthe\twall.\tBehind\tthe\tdoor,\tJoe\tcould\tsee\ta high-sided\t armchair\t facing\t an\t old-fashioned\t television\t set.\t Joe\t had\t not\t seen\t a TV\t like\t this\t since\t his\t childhood\t staying\t at\t his\t grandparents\u2019\t house\t up\t near Scarborough,\t in\t north\t Yorkshire.\t Televisions\t with\t cathode-ray\t tubes\t predated plasma\tand\tflat-screen\ttechnologies\tby\tsome\ttwenty\tyears. A\t sixth\t sense\t made\t the\t hairs\t on\t Joe\u2019s\t neck\t prickle.\t Was\t his\t mind\t playing","tricks\t or\t was\t there\t someone\t sitting\t in\t the\t chair?\t He\t signalled\t to\t the\t others behind\t him\t and\t leaned\t his\t head\t further\t around\t the\t door.\t His\t instincts\t proved right.\t He\t could\t see\t a\t pair\t of\t shoes\t resting\t on\t a\t footstool.\t He\t readied\t himself, gulping\tair.\tHe\tpicked\tup\ta\tglass\tpaperweight\tfrom\tthe\tside\ttable\tand\tadvanced further\tinto\tthe\troom. Slumped\t in\t the\t armchair\t was\t an\t emaciated\t old\t man.\t His\t eyes\t were\t open, staring\t lifelessly\t at\t the\t TV,\t his\t mouth\t wide,\t with\t prune-like\t skin\t drawn\t tight across\this\tjaw,\tdiscoloured\tand\travaged\tby\ttime. Joe\t had\t gotten\t used\t to\t seeing\t death\t at\t close\t quarters.\t It\t no\t longer\t bothered him.\t In\t fact\t he\t had\t developed\t a\t whole\t vocabulary\t around\t death\t that\t helped\t to dehumanise\tthe\tvictims.\tJack\thad\tonce\ttold\thim\tit\twas\ta\tcoping\tstrategy\tand\tthat no\t one\t ever\t got\t used\t to\t seeing\t dead\t people.\t They\t just\t found\t a\t way\t of\t dealing with\tit\tso\tit\tno\tlonger\theld\tthe\tpower\tto\tshock. Joe\t leaned\t in\t closer,\t inspecting\t the\t corpse.\t There\t was\t no\t sign\t of\t illness,\t no flecking\tin\tthe\teyes,\tno\tdried\tblood\taround\tthe\tnose\tor\tears.\tThis\tman\thad\tdied from\t old\t age,\t plain\t and\t simple.\t He\t had\t simply\t sat\t there\t and\t waited\t to\t die,\t an empty\t mug\t perched\t on\t a\t nested\t table\t beside\t him.\t Perhaps\t the\t old\t man\t had nowhere\t else\t to\t go,\t watching\t the\t news\t broadcasts\t until\t they\t went\t off\t air, replaced\tby\tthe\tpre-recorded\tpublic\tservice\tannouncements\tthat\ttold\teveryone\tto stay\tindoors,\tavoid\tcontact\twith\tothers\tand\twait\tfor\tfurther\tinstructions.\tHe\thad died\talone,\ton\this\town\tterms. It\tseemed\tto\tJoe\ta\tbetter\tway\tto\tgo\tthan\tthe\tpanic\tand\tdisorder\tin\tthe\tcities, the\tchaos\tat\tthe\thospitals\tand\ttreatment\tcentres\toverrun\twith\tthe\tsick.\tIn\tthe\tend the\thospitals\thad\tsimply\tlocked\ttheir\tdoors\tand\tturned\tnew\tarrivals\taway.\tFearful of\t further\t contamination,\t poorly\t resourced\t to\t deal\t with\t the\t flood\t of\t humanity, they\twere\tunable\tto\tdo\tanything\tbut\treserve\tthem\tfloor\tspace\tto\tcurl\tup\tand\tdie. He\t was\t jolted\t back\t to\t the\t present\t by\t a\t scream.\t Jean\t hid\t her\t face\t against\t his shoulder,\t shielding\t her\t eyes\t with\t her\t hands.\t She\t looked\t through\t clenched fingers,\t a\t morbid\t fascination\t beginning\t to\t replace\t the\t initial\t horror.\t \u201cThat\u2019s disgusting,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tunable\tto\tlook\taway. \u201cNo\tevidence\tof\tinfection.\tThis\tone\tdied\tof\told\tage.\u201d Seamus\tgave\tthe\tbody\ta\tcursory\tlook\tbefore\tturning\this\tback.\t\u201cThe\trest\tof\tthe place\tis\tdeserted.\u201d Joe\t was\t still\t staring\t at\t the\t old\t man\u2019s\t face,\t studying\t his\t features.\t There\t was something\t about\t him\t that\t looked\t familiar.\t He\t clicked\t his\t fingers,\t pleased\t with himself\tas\tthe\tpenny\tfinally\tdropped.\t\u201cDavid\tJason.\u201d Jean\tlooked\tup\tat\thim\tconfused. \u201cYou\tknow.\tDon\u2019t\tyou\tthink\the\tlooks\ta\tbit\tlike\tDavid\tJason?\u201d\tJean\twas\tnone the\twiser.\t\u201cYou\tremember?\tThe\tactor?\tPlayed\tDel\tBoy\toff\tthat\tBBC\tsitcom\tOnly","Fools\tand\tHorses?\u201d Jean\tlooked\tagain\tbut\tshook\ther\thead.\tShe\thad\tnever\theard\tof\tOnly\tFools\tand Horses\tthough\tshe\tliked\tthe\tname. \u201cSuppose\t you\t never\t had\t just\t the\t four\t broadcast\t channels\t to\t choose\t from. Your\tgeneration\twas\tall\treality\tTV\tand\tbox\tsets,\tYouTube\tand\twatching\tstuff\ton your\t phone.\u201d\t Joe\t sighed,\t nostalgic\t for\t a\t forgotten\t time\t when\t families\t would watch\t live\t broadcasts\t together\t on\t a\t Saturday\t evening.\t Doctor\tWho,\t X\t Factor, Strictly. \u201cYou\ttalk\tfunny.\u201d\tJean\tfrowned,\tpushing\tpast\thim. Seamus\u2019s\t voice\t from\t the\t wood-panelled\t corridor\t outside\t interrupted\t their exchange.\t \u201cJean,\t go\t make\t yourself\t useful\t and\t get\t a\t fire\t lit.\t There\u2019s\t a\t whole larder\tfull\tof\tcans\tand\tpasta\tin\tthere.\tWe\u2019ve\thit\tgold,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tclapping\this\thands together\tin\tdelight. With\ta\tsigh,\tJean\tmumbled\tsomething\tunder\ther\tbreath\tand\tdutifully\theaded off\tto\tgrab\tlogs\tfrom\tthe\tstack\tof\tchopped\twood\tin\tthe\tgarage,\ttogether\twith\tthe firelighters\tand\tmatches\tJoe\thad\tfound\tabove\tthe\tfireplace\tin\tthe\tsnug. Together\t the\t men\t carried\t the\t old\t man\u2019s\t body\t outside\t and\t dumped\t his\t frail desiccated\t corpse\t head\t first\t in\t a\t large\t green\t recycling\t bin.\t Joe\t rushed\t out\t to remonstrate\t with\t the\t men,\t berating\t them\t for\t their\t lack\t of\t respect,\t insisting\t they bury\thim\tproperly.\tThe\tother\tmen\tlooked\tat\teach\tother\tand\twalked\toff,\tlaughing at\tJoe\u2019s\tprotestations.\t\u201cIf\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tyou\twant,\tthen\tyou\tdo\tit,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tlarger\tof the\ttwo. Joe\t rummaged\t in\t the\t shed\t amongst\t an\t assortment\t of\t gardening\t tools\t before he\t found\t what\t he\t was\t looking\t for.\t He\t grabbed\t a\t shovel\t and\t started\t digging\t a shallow\t grave\t under\t an\t olive\t tree.\t Considering\t they\t were\t taking\t the\t old\t man\u2019s house\t and\t eating\t his\t food,\t it\t was\t a\t small\t sign\t of\t respect,\t but\t an\t important\t one. Joe\thoped\tthat\tothers\twould\tdo\tthe\tsame\tfor\thim\twhen\tthe\ttime\tcame. It\t was\t hard\t work\t and\t within\t minutes\t his\t clothes\t were\t soaked\t in\t sweat.\t The resulting\thole\twas\tonly\ta\tfew\tinches,\tbut\tdeep\tenough\tfor\tits\tpurpose.\tWhen\the stood\tback,\tleaning\ton\tthe\tshovel,\ta\thalf-smile\tformed\ton\this\tlips.\tHe\tfelt\ta\tglow of\trespectability. They\t sat\t in\t silence\t over\t dinner,\t sharing\t cans\t of\t baked\t beans\t and\t chicken curry\tthat\tJean\thad\theated\tup\tfor\tthem\tover\ta\tfire.\tThey\twashed\tit\tdown\twith\ta full\tbottle\tof\tsherry,\tthe\tfirst\tproper\tdrink\tthe\tmen\thad\thad\tin\tmany\tmonths.\tBy way\tof\tdessert,\tthey\tpassed\tround\ta\thalf-full\tbottle\tof\tBaileys,\tlistening\tto\tmore of\tSeamus\u2019s\tstories\tof\tgrowing\tup\tin\tIreland\tand\ttall\t tales\tof\tpersonal\ttriumph and\tgood\tfortune.\tJoe\twas\tsick\tof\thearing\tthem. Seamus\t yawned\t and\t stretched:\t \u201cThink\t I\u2019ll\t turn\t in.\t I\u2019ll\t take\t the\t master bedroom,\tthe\trest\tof\tyou\tcan\tfight\tover\tthe\trest.\tI\tfound\tthis\tplace,\tdidn\u2019t\tI?\u201d","No\t one\t argued.\t He\t grabbed\t Jean\u2019s\t wrist\t and\t hauled\t her\t up\t forcefully.\t She looked\tconfused\tand\ttried\tto\tsnatch\tback\ther\tarm,\tbut\the\theld\ttight.\t\u201cCome\ton, let\u2019s\tgo.\u201d She\t pulled\t away\t from\t him,\t her\t hand\t slipping\t from\t his\t moist\t palms.\t \u201cWhat are\tyou\tdoing?\u201d\tsaid\tJean. For\ta\tmoment,\tshe\tlooked\tlike\ta\tdefenceless\tanimal,\tcaught\tin\tthe\theadlights, painfully\tunaware\tof\tthe\tdanger\tright\tin\tfront\tof\ther,\tbut\tparalysed\tand\tunable\tto move.\t She\t looked\t at\t the\t others\t imploring\t for\t their\t help,\t but\t they\t seemed complicit\tin\twhatever\twas\thappening\there. Seamus\t smiled\t a\t lascivious\t smile,\t his\t movements\t were\t slow\t and\t imprecise from\t the\t booze.\t Hunched\t over\t in\t the\t semi-darkness,\t the\t man\t on\t the\t crate grinned\t back,\t enjoying\t the\t drama.\t His\t teeth\t were\t a\t dull\t yellow,\t several\t were missing.\tHe\ttook\tanother\tlong\tswig\tfrom\tthe\tbottle,\tnever\ttaking\this\teyes\toff\tthe girl.\tSeamus\tturned\tback\tto\tface\tJean.\tHis\tsmile\twas\tgone.\t\u201cLet\u2019s\tgo,\tI\tsaid.\u201d His\t tone\t towards\t her\t was\t different,\t more\t insistent\t somehow.\t Gone\t was\t the charming,\t affable\t Seamus\t who\t looked\t out\t for\t Jean,\t cared\t for\t her,\t the\t man\t she probably\t had\t a\t secret\t crush\t on.\t The\t person\t standing\t in\t front\t of\t her\t wanted\t one thing\tonly.\tWide-eyed,\tshe\tsuddenly\tsaw\thim\tproperly\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tand\twas very\t afraid.\t How\t could\t she\t have\t been\t so\t blind,\t thought\t Joe?\t He\t looked\t like\t a predator\tcircling\this\tprey. She\t backed\t towards\t the\t door,\t her\t eyes\t darting\t between\t Joe\t and\t Seamus, panic\tbuilding.\tShe\tstill\thad\ttime\tto\trun\tif\tshe\twas\tquick.\tShe\ttried\tto\tstall.\t\u201cI\u2019m not\ttired.\u201d \u201cNeither\tam\tI.\u201d\tSeamus\tshook\this\thead,\temboldened\tby\tthe\tothers. Joe\tstarted\tto\tintervene:\t\u201cListen,\tSeamus,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\u2026\u201d Seamus\t whipped\t his\t head\t round\t and\t silenced\t him\t before\t he\t could\t finish.\t \u201cI don\u2019t\tgive\ta\tmonkey\u2019s\twhat\tyou\tthink.\tStay\tout\tof\tthis,\tfat\tboy.\u201d Jean\t suddenly\t grasped\t what\t was\t happening\t and\t started\t to\t cry.\t \u201cPlease,\t I don\u2019t\u2026I\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto.\tJoe,\tplease,\tdon\u2019t\tlet\thim.\u201d Joe\t rose\t quickly\t and\t stood\t between\t them,\t blocking\t his\t path.\t He\t raised\t his hands\t in\t front\t of\t him\t to\t try\t to\t defuse\t the\t situation,\t appealing\t for\t Seamus\t to\t be sensible. Seamus\t shook\t his\t head.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t be\t a\t mug.\t We\t all\t know\t what\u2019s\t going\t to happen\there.\tDon\u2019t\ttry\tand\tget\tin\tmy\tway.\tI\u2019m\twarning\tyou.\u201d \u201cThis\thas\tgone\tfar\tenough.\tIf\tyou\tdo\tanything\tto\tthat\tgirl\tyou\u2019ll\thave\tme\tto answer\tfor,\u201d\tcautioned\tJoe. \u201cI\t thought\t you\t were\t one\t of\t us.\u201d\t Seamus\t looked\t around\t the\t others,\t making eye\tcontact\twith\teach\tof\tthem.\t\u201cSuch\ta\tdisappointment.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnothing\tlike\tyou,\tSeamus.\u201d","\u201cLocking\t us\t up\t in\t that\t place,\t for\t all\t that\t time,\t they\t treated\t us\t like\t animals. Sure,\t you\t were\t only\t there\t a\t few\t days,\t but\t us,\t we\t were\t there\t for\t weeks\t on\t end. Someone\thas\tto\tpay.\u201d \u201cDoesn\u2019t\tmean\twe\thave\tto\tbehave\tlike\tanimals.\tWe\u2019re\tbetter\tthan\tthat,\taren\u2019t we?\u201d \u201cYou\t may\t be,\t Joe,\t but\t I\u2019m\t not.\t Treat\t me\t like\t an\t animal\t and\t sooner\t or\t later that\u2019s\twhat\tI\tbecome.\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\twaiting\tfor\tthis\tday\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime.\u201d Jean\u2019s\tchest\twas\theaving\tas\ther\tterror\tmounted,\tadrenaline\tpumping\tthrough her\tveins,\ther\tfists\tclenched.\tShe\tmade\ta\tbreak\tfor\tthe\topen\tdoorway,\tbut\tone\tof the\tmen\tgrabbed\ther\twrist\tand\tpushed\ther\tback\tinto\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\troom. Seamus\tnodded\tat\this\tformer\tcellmate.\tJoe\tnever\theard\tor\tsaw\tit\tcoming,\tand was\t only\t vaguely\t conscious\t of\t movement\t behind\t him\t and\t a\t severe\t blow\t to\t the back\tof\this\thead.\tHe\tcollapsed\ton\tto\tthe\tfloor\tand\tthe\tworld\twent\tdark.\tHe\twas dimly\t aware\t of\t voices\t and\t snatched\t fragments\t of\t conversations.\t A\t strangled scream,\thurried\tfootsteps\tgoing\tup\tthe\tstairs,\tthen\tnothing. When\t he\t woke,\t it\t was\t dark\t with\t only\t the\t flickering\t light\t of\t a\t candle\t in\t a saucer.\tHis\thands\tand\tfeet\twere\ttied\twith\twhat\tfelt\tlike\tbungee\tcord,\tlying\ton\ta cold\tlimestone\tfloor.\tJean\tand\tthe\tothers\twere\tnowhere\tto\tbe\tseen.","Chapter\tThirty-nine Joe\tsquinted\tup\tinto\tthe\tbeam\tof\tsunlight\tthat\tstruck\tthe\tpaving\tstone\tnext\tto\this head.\t A\t dirty\t J-cloth\t had\t been\t stuffed\t in\t his\t mouth\t to\t stop\t him\t shouting\t out, which\tmade\tbreathing\tdifficult.\tThere\twas\ta\tmetallic\ttaste\tto\tthe\tcloth\tas\tif\tit\thad once\tbeen\tused\tto\tclean\tpaint\tbrushes. He\u2019d\t been\t down\t here\t for\t two\t days\t now\t in\t a\t state\t of\t squalor\t that\t made\t him gag\t each\t time\t he\t woke.\t His\t underwear\t was\t heavily\t soiled\t and\t despite\t his\t best efforts\t to\t wriggle\t clear\t of\t the\t wet\t patch\t on\t the\t floor,\t he\t had\t been\t unable\t to\t get any\t real\t sleep\t for\t the\t last\t few\t hours.\t He\t was\t dangerously\t dehydrated\t and exhausted.\t Conserving\t his\t remaining\t energy,\t he\t listened\t helplessly\t to\t the shouting\tand\tintermittent\tscreams\tfrom\tabove.\tIn\tpart\tas\ta\tsubconscious\tdefence mechanism,\this\tthoughts\twere\tmiles\taway.\tHe\thad\tbeen\tfilling\tthe\tinterminable hours\t reflecting\t on\t a\t happier\t time\t before\t the\t outbreak,\t escaping\t from\t the hopelessness\t of\t his\t current\t predicament.\t The\t smell\t of\t paint\t and\t the\t unpleasant taste\tin\this\tmouth\tsomehow\treminded\thim\tof\this\told\tneighbour\tHoward\tand\this part-time\t work\t for\t a\t decorating\t business\t run\t by\t a\t friend.\t Paint\t brushes\t left\t to soak\t in\t white\t spirit\t on\t his\t windowsill\t overnight.\t How\t he\t wished\t his\t best\t mate was\there\twith\thim\tright\tnow.\tHe\tcould\thave\tdone\twith\tthe\tcompany. Before\t coming\t to\t Hurst,\t Joe\t had\t spent\t several\t months\t holed\t up\t in\t a\t tower block\t in\t Shirley,\t on\t the\t outskirts\t of\t Southampton.\t The\t two\t friends\t shared\t a passion\tfor\tbad\tsci-fi,\tSouthampton\tfootball\tclub,\tBritpop\tand\tvideo\tgames\t\u2013\tthe more\tgore\tand\tviolence\tthe\tbetter.\tThey\ttook\tit\tin\tturns\tto\tcar\tshare\tinto\ttown\tto the\t same\t multi-story\t car\t park\t down\t near\t the\t docks.\t Howard\t was\t a\t crane operator,\t responsible\t for\t unloading\t large\t shipping\t containers\t on\t tight\t schedules and\t rewarded\t for\t hitting\t daily\t targets.\t It\t was\t dull\t work,\t but\t paid\t well\t and\t it meant\the\tgot\tto\tspend\tthe\tday\tlistening\tto\tmusic\tor\tdaydreaming,\twith\ta\twindow on\tthe\tcommercial\tworld\toverlooking\tthe\tport.\tBy\tcomparison,\tJoe\u2019s\tdays\twere more\tmundane,\tworking\tin\tthe\tkiosk\tat\tthe\tlocal\tcinema\tin\tOcean\tVillage.\tAfter work,\t they\t would\t sneak\t in\t and\t catch\t the\t latest\t releases,\t enjoying\t unlimited refills\tof\tCoke\tand\tpopcorn\ttill\ttheir\tbellies\twere\tfull,\tbelching\ton\tthe\tfront\trow in\tthe\tdarkness,\tlaughing\ttogether. When\t the\t first\t news\t reports\t of\t isolated\t outbreaks\t of\t the\t virus\t began\t in earnest,\t people\t left\t the\t cities\t in\t their\t droves,\t carrying\t what\t they\t could.\t Those","that\t remained\t took\t full\t advantage\t of\t unprotected\t stores\t and\t shopping\t centres. When\t the\t numbers\t of\t rioters\t swelled,\t sweeping\t away\t the\t thin\t blue\t line\t of\t law and\torder,\tlarge\tsegments\tof\tthe\turban\tpopulation\tformed\tant-trails\tto\telectronics and\t clothing\t stores\t for\t the\t latest\t gear.\t They\t had\t staggered\t home\t happy\t with wide-screen\t televisions\t and\t DVD\t players,\t unaware\t that\t the\t days\t of\t widely available\t electricity\t were\t soon\t coming\t to\t an\t end.\t Blackouts\t swiftly\t ensued, leaving\tdisplays\tlifeless\tand\tobsolete. Joe\thad\tthe\tforesight\tto\tborrow\ta\tTransit\tvan\tfrom\this\tdownstairs\tneighbour, and\t drove\t to\t the\t local\t cash\t and\t carry\t a\t few\t blocks\t away.\t They\t had\t avoided\t the supermarkets.\t By\t then\t larger\t stores\t were\t surrounded\t by\t private\t security\t guards equipped\twith\triot\tshields\tand\tbatons\tto\tdeter\tthe\thungry\tcrowds.\tWith\tHoward\u2019s help,\t Joe\t loaded\t up\t on\t multipacks\t of\t fruit\t juice\t and\t mineral\t water,\t boxes\t of biscuits,\t nuts\t and\t crisps,\t dried\t fruit\t and\t Biltong,\t sacks\t of\t rice\t and\t pasta,\t and anything\telse\tthat\twould\tlast\twithout\trefrigeration.\tBy\tthe\ttime\tthey\twere\tdone, they\thad\tferried\tseventeen\tbrim-full\tshopping\ttrolleys\tto\tthe\tvan\tparked\tin\ta\tside alley.\t It\t took\t them\t the\t best\t part\t of\t a\t day\t to\t manhandle\t box\t after\t box\t up\t the eleven\t flights\t of\t stairs\t to\t their\t bedsits,\t the\t lift\t broken\t for\t the\t third\t time\t that month.\tIt\twas\ta\tsmall\tblock\tand\tthey\tshared\tthe\tfloor\twith\ttwo\tlarger\tflats,\tboth of\twhose\toccupants\twere\taway\ton\tholiday\tor\tbusiness,\tthey\tweren\u2019t\tsure\twhich. He\t remembered\t the\t day\t a\t convoy\t of\t army\t trucks\t arrived\t to\t reinforce\t the police.\t Hundreds\t of\t soldiers\t did\t their\t best\t to\t wrestle\t back\t control\t with\t tear\t gas and\trubber\tbullets,\tbefore\tthey\twere\toverwhelmed\tand\tforced\tto\tretreat,\tleaving gangs\t of\t youths\t to\t slaughter\t each\t other\t in\t a\t mad\t scramble\t for\t what\t little\t food and\twater\tremained. Joe\t and\t Howard,\t along\t with\t a\t family\t from\t downstairs,\t watched\t with increasing\talarm.\tThey\tdecided\tto\ttake\tmatters\tinto\ttheir\town\thands,\tbarricading shut\t the\t ground-floor\t stairwell\t door\t with\t two\t sofas\t and\t a\t kitchen\t table\t hurled from\tthe\tfloor\tabove.\t They\t reinforced\t the\tmetal\tdoors\t with\ttwo\t heavy-looking curtain\t rods,\ttop\t and\tbottom.\tIt\t would\tkeep\tthe\t more\tcurious\t scavengers\t away but\t they\t both\t knew\t it\t was\t unlikely\t to\t stop\t any\t concerted\t effort.\t If\t the\t gangs thought\tthere\twas\tanything\tof\tvalue\tinside,\tthey\twould\tfind\ta\tway.\tIt\twas\tjust\ta matter\tof\ttime. The\tfamily\tdownstairs\tgot\tsick\tfirst.\tThere\twas\tnothing\tJoe\tor\tHoward\tcould do\tfor\tthem.\tThrough\tthe\tair\tvents,\tthey\theard\tthe\tchildren\tcoughing\tthrough\tthe night.\t The\t next\t day\t when\t they\t went\t to\t check\t on\t them,\t there\t was\t no\t response. Everything\twas\tsilent. With\ta\tsmile,\tJoe\tremembered\tspending\ttheir\tdays\treading\tfiction,\tsometimes aloud.\tHoward\tthought\tit\twas\timportant\tto\tstay\tfit,\tso\tthey\ttook\tit\tin\tturns\tto\tdo press-ups\t and\t sit-ups,\t running\t relays\t up\t and\t down\t the\t stairs.\t Hours\t passed","slowly,\tlost\tin\tconversation,\targuing\tabout\tthe\tmost\tpointless\tstuff,\tlike\tyou\tdid when\tyou\tno\tlonger\thad\tTV,\twork\tor\tsocial\tmedia\tto\toccupy\tyour\tevery\twaking thought.\tWho\twas\tthe\tbest\tJames\tBond\tvillain?\tWhether\tthere\treally\twas\textra- terrestrial\tlife?\tWho\twas\tthe\tbest\tEnglish\tstriker\tof\tall\ttime?\tWhich\tmembers\tof the\t latest\t boy-band\t sensation\t could\t actually\t carry\t a\t tune\t without\t the\t help\t of\t a mixing\tdeck? Joe\tstill\ttreasured\tthe\thandwritten\tdiary\the\tkept\tto\trecord\twhat\tthey\tsaw\tfrom their\t eleventh-storey\t panoramic\t view\t of\t the\t city.\t He\t tracked\t the\t movement\t of police\t vehicles.\t Counted\t the\t helicopters\t ferrying\t personnel\t in\t and\t out.\t The\t day the\t army\t arrived\t and\t started\t knocking\t on\t doors\t to\t evacuate\t whoever\t remained. He\tremembered\tthe\tday\tthey\tfirst\tnoticed\tthat\tpassenger\tjets\thad\tstopped\ttaking off\tfrom\tSouthampton\tairport\ta\tfew\tmiles\taway.\tThe\tunrelenting\tsilence,\tbroken only\tby\tcar\talarms\tset\toff\tby\tthe\tlast\tof\tthe\tlooters.\tEach\tevent\tnoted\twith\ttimes and\tapproximate\tlocations. They\thad\tdebated\twhether\tto\tleave\tthe\tcity,\tafraid\tof\tcontracting\tthe\tsickness. Howard\t talked\t of\t other\t dangers.\t Cholera\t and\t worse.\t Too\t many\t bodies\t left unburied,\t he\t said.\t Rats\t would\t spread\t disease.\t It\t was\t only\t a\t question\t of\t time before\t things\t deteriorated\t further.\t In\t the\t bedsit,\t they\t had\t been\t safe,\t rationing their\tfood\tand\twater\tfor\tas\tlong\tas\tpossible.\tIn\ta\tfew\tweeks,\tthey\thoped\tthe\tvirus would\tdie\tout,\talong\twith\tmost\tof\tthose\tinfected,\tgiving\tthem\tsafe\tpassage\tout\tof the\t city.\t They\t planned\t to\t head\t south-west\t towards\t Lymington\t where\t his\t aunt lived\tand\ttry\tto\tfind\ta\tfishing\tboat\tor\ta\tyacht\tto\ttake\tthem\tto\tFrance. The\t nights\t had\t been\t long\t and\t spent\t in\t total\t darkness.\t They\t conserved\t their candles\t and\t torch\t batteries\t for\t when\t they\t were\t preparing\t meals.\t When\t it\t got dark,\t there\t was\t nothing\t to\t do\t but\t sleep.\t They\t watched\t the\t stars\t from\t their balcony\twindow,\ttelling\tstories,\treminiscing\tabout\tschool\tdays. After\tfifty-five\tdays\tthe\tfood\tran\tout.\tThey\tsearched\tthe\tother\tflats\tfor\ttinned goods,\t or\t anything\t that\t was\t still\t edible,\t exhausting\t all\t that\t remained.\t Hungry and\t thirsty,\t they\t waited\t as\t long\t as\t they\t dared\t before\t setting\t out\t for\t Aunt Harriet\u2019s\ttown\thouse\tin\tLymington.\tHe\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tsure\twhether\tshe\twould\tstill be\tthere,\tbut\tit\twas\tas\tgood\ta\tplace\tas\tany\tto\thead\tfor.\tHe\tcould\tstill\tpicture\tthe views\tover\tthe\testuary\tand\tglimpses\tof\tthe\tSolent. Joe\tremembered\tthe\tday\tthey\tleft\tthe\ttower\tblock\tfor\tthe\tlast\ttime,\tlowering their\t kit\t down\t a\t rope\t from\t a\t second-floor\t window\t before\t clambering\t after\t it. They\tloaded\tthe\tTransit\tvan\tin\tsilence\twith\twhat\tremained\tof\ttheir\tsupplies\tand set\tout\talong\tback\tstreets\tand\talleyways,\tchoked\twith\tabandoned\tvehicles.\tAfter several\t miles\t of\t slow\t progress\t heading\t out\t of\t the\t city,\t they\t had\t swung\t south towards\tHythe,\thugging\tthe\tcoastline,\tavoiding\tthe\tmain\troads\tthrough\tthe\tNew Forest.\t Rounding\t two\t vehicles\t locked\t together\t in\t a\t head-on\t collision,\t they\t got","the\tvan\tstuck\tin\ta\tdeep\tditch,\tits\tfront\twheels\tspinning\tuselessly\tin\tmuddy\twater. Without\t a\t winch\t and\t a\t truck,\t there\t had\t been\t no\t way\t of\t getting\t it\t out\t again,\t so they\tcontinued\tthe\trest\tof\ttheir\tjourney\ton\tfoot. It\twas\tfurther\tthan\tthey\trealised.\tThey\thad\tno\tmap\tand\tonly\ta\tpocket\tcompass with\t a\t mind\t of\t its\t own,\t but\t figured\t that\t if\t they\t stayed\t close\t to\t the\t coast,\t they would\t get\t there\t eventually.\t It\t took\t them\t the\t best\t part\t of\t two\t days.\t Keeping\t to footpaths\t that\t sometimes\t ran\t deep\t into\t the\t forest,\t crossing\t fields\t left\t to\t grow wild,\t sleeping\t in\t deserted\t farmhouses.\t When\t they\t finally\t reached\t Lymington River,\t they\t found\t themselves\t opposite\t the\t ferry\t port\t and\t single-track\t railway station.\t Walking\t into\t town,\t they\t caught\t sight\t of\t other\t survivors\t and\t kept\t their distance.\t Their\t large\t backpacks\t caught\t the\t attention\t of\t those\t they\t passed\t who chased\tthem\tinto\tnearby\tfields. Lying\t on\t the\t cold\t stone\t floor,\t Joe\u2019s\t memory\t jumped\t forward\t to\t the\t fateful night\tof\tthe\tattack.\tRaised\tvoices\tin\tthe\tstreet,\tsomeone\tbanging\trelentlessly\ton the\t door.\t Somehow\t they\t had\t found\t a\t way\t in,\t smashing\t through\t a\t ground-floor window,\teven\tthough\tit\twas\tshuttered\tand\tpadlocked. He\t had\t replayed\t the\t following\t minutes\t again\t and\t again\t in\t his\t head.\t Stupid and\tcareless.\tThey\thad\tfallen\tasleep\twith\tthe\tcandle\tburning.\tSomehow\tthe\tlight must\t have\t been\t visible\t from\t the\t street\t below\t through\t closed\t curtains.\t They didn\u2019t\t stand\t a\t chance,\t there\t were\t too\t many\t of\t them,\t torches\t flashed\t in\t faces. Howard\t fought\t back\t and\t was\t stabbed\t in\t the\t stomach,\t Joe\t was\t badly\t beaten. They\ttook\ttheir\trucksacks\tand\tleft\tthem\tfor\tdead.\tJoe\theld\tHoward\u2019s\thand\tas\tthe colour\t drained\t from\t his\t face.\t His\t pulse\t grew\t fainter\t until\t the\t touch\t of\t his\t skin grew\tcold\tand\this\tbody\tstiffened.\tAfter\tthat,\tJoe\tmust\thave\tpassed\tout. It\twas\tZed\twho\tfound\tJoe\twith\tbroken\tribs\tand\ta\tfractured\tjaw.\tThey\tpulled him\t out,\t cleaned\t him\t up,\t carried\t him\t to\t the\t Land\t Rover.\t Riley\t tended\t to\t his wounds,\t whispering\t soothing\t words\t to\t keep\t him\t conscious.\t He\t could\t still picture\tRiley\u2019s\tface,\ther\tlong\tbrown\thair,\ther\teven\tsmile,\ther\tgreen\teyes.\tIn\tthe permanent\t half-light\t of\t the\t cellar,\t he\t felt\t he\t could\t reach\t out\t and\t touch\t her,\t but her\t image\t was\t temporary.\t The\t rest\t of\t his\t group\t was\t most\t likely\t back\t at\t the castle\tby\tnow,\twondering\twhere\the\twas.\tHe\tshuddered,\tremembering\tthat\tno\tone knew\twhat\thad\tbecome\tof\thim.\tHe\twas\ton\this\town.\tThis\ttime\tthere\twould\tbe\tno chance\tof\trescue. He\t looked\t deep\t within\t himself,\t wondering\t whether\t he\t had\t the\t courage\t and strength\t to\t carry\t on.\t His\t second\t incarceration\t in\t a\t week.\t Out\t of\t the\t frying\t pan and\tinto\tthe\tfire.\tWas\tthis\this\tpunishment\tfor\tfinally\tgiving\tin\tto\tcarnal\tpleasure at\t the\t hotel?\t His\t first\t time,\t after\t so\t much\t anticipation,\t had\t been\t purely functional.\t No\t talking.\t Watched\t by\t the\t guard.\t Then\t his\t first\t was\t quickly followed\t by\t several\t more.\t Each\t partner\t different\t and\t exciting,\t yet\t devoid\t of","emotional\t connection.\t An\t exchange\t of\t services.\t Few\t words.\t The\t guard\t had called\t him\t a\t breeder.\t An\t underclass\t to\t the\t women\t who\t used\t him.\t To\t them\t he was\t no\t better\t than\t an\t animal.\t He\t wondered\t what\t real\t love\t would\t feel\t like\t and whether\t he\t would\t live\t long\t enough\t to\t experience\t it.\t Mila.\t He\t thought\t of\t his beautiful\tMila,\ta\tsmile\tforming\ton\this\tlips. He\t twisted\t his\t body,\t rolling\t over\t on\t his\t back\t as\t his\t thoughts\t turned\t to\t Jean, the\tyoung\tgirl\the\thad\tcome\there\twith.\tThe\tgirl\the\thad\tput\this\tlife\ton\tthe\tline\tto try\tand\tprotect.\tLook\twhere\tthat\thad\tgot\thim.\tAn\tidea\tbegan\tto\tform\tin\this\tmind, building\tslowly\tlike\ta\tray\tof\tlight\tbarely\tvisible,\thalf\timagined.\tJean\tand\the\twere partners\t now,\t they\t both\t shared\t a\t common\t enemy.\t Seamus\t would\t get\t what\t was coming\t to\t him.\t He\t would\t teach\t that\t bastard\t a\t lesson.\t He\t was\t suddenly\t filled with\t hope.\t Jean\t would\t find\t a\t way.\t She\t was\t young\t but\t also\t resourceful. Somehow\t he\t had\t to\t believe\t she\t would\t get\t him\t out\t of\t here.\t He\t just\t needed\t to hold\ton\tand\tstay\tstrong,\twhatever\thappened.\tRight\tnow,\thope\tand\tfaith\twere\tall he\thad\tleft.\tHe\thad\tcome\tso\tfar\tto\tget\tto\tthis\tpoint.\tHe\towed\tit\tto\tHoward. From\t the\t kitchen\t above\t came\t the\t sound\t of\t raucous\t laughter\t and\t a\t chair scraping\t on\t the\t stone\t floor.\t The\t door\t at\t the\t top\t of\t the\t stairs\t swung\t open\t on\t its hinges\t and\t he\t heard\t the\t heavy\t clump\t of\t boots\t coming\t down\t the\t narrow\t steps towards\t the\t cellar.\t Joe\t looked\t back\t up\t into\t the\t light\t from\t the\t small\t window shrouded\t in\t foliage\t and\t whispered\t a\t silent\t prayer,\t repeating\t over\t and\t over: \u201cForgive\tus\tour\ttrespasses\t\u2013\tdeliver\tus\tfrom\tevil\u201d. He\trolled\tover\tand\tmanaged\tto\tget\thimself\tup\tinto\ta\tkneeling\tposition.\tIf\tonly he\t could\t get\t to\t his\t feet,\t he\t could\t try\t something.\t His\t legs\t were\t numb\t and unresponsive.\tThe\trenewed\tblood\tflow\tcaused\tagonising\tshooting\tpains. Footsteps\t stopped\t outside\t the\t door\t as\t he\t heard\t the\t rattle\t of\t keys.\t With\t a grimace\the\tlevered\thimself\tinto\ta\tcrouch,\tusing\tthe\tchair\tto\tsupport\this\tweight. He\trocked\tback\tuncomfortably\ton\tto\tthe\ttips\tof\this\ttoes\tand\tas\tthe\tdoor\topened he\t launched\t himself\t forward\t with\t all\t his\t might,\t catching\t his\t abuser\t completely by\tsurprise,\tbarging\thim\tbackwards.\tThe\tman\tsmashed\this\thead\tback\tagainst\tthe brick\twall.\tJoe\twas\ton\thim\tquickly\tbefore\the\tcould\trecover.\tPressing\this\telbow into\t the\t man\u2019s\t throat,\t throttling\t him\t until\t he\t lay\t still.\t Joe\t wasn\u2019t\t sure\t if\t he\t was dead\tor\tjust\tunconscious.\tIt\tdidn\u2019t\tmatter\tto\thim. There\t was\t a\t call\t from\t the\t kitchen\t above.\t A\t question\t left\t unanswered.\t The voice\twas\tslurred\tand\tuncertain. Joe\t checked\t the\t man\u2019s\t pockets\t and\t found\t a\t small\t kitchen\t knife.\t He\t stopped for\t a\t second,\t listening\t carefully\t for\t any\t further\t movement\t on\t the\t floor\t above. There\twas\tsilence. After\t several\t attempts,\t dropping\t the\t knife\t on\t the\t floor,\t he\t held\t the\t blade between\t his\t knees\t and\t moved\t his\t wrists\t backwards\t and\t forwards\t against\t the","serrated\t edge\t as\t the\t bungee\t cord\t began\t to\t fray.\t He\t freed\t his\t legs\t and\t stood painfully,\t braced\t against\t the\t wall.\t He\t looked\t up\t the\t stairwell\t to\t the\t kitchen, trying\t to\t remember\t the\t layout.\t With\t the\t knife\t in\t his\t right\t hand,\t he\t climbed\t the stairs\tlooking\tfor\tJean\tand\tSeamus.","Chapter\tForty It\thad\tbeen\ta\tfrustrating\tnight\tfor\tCopper\tand\this\tmen.\tAhead\tof\ttheir\tattack\ton Hurst\tCastle\tlater\tthat\tevening\tthe\tweather\thad\tdeteriorated\trapidly.\tA\tlocal\tman, they\t called\t Trevor,\t stood\t at\t the\t doorway,\t sniffing\t at\t the\t wind,\t making\t faces\t at the\t darkening\t sky,\t where\t grey\t clouds\t were\t gathering\t over\t the\t Ship\t Inn\t on Lymington\tquay. Trevor\treckoned\tit\twas\tblowing\ta\tforce\tsix,\tbut\tgusting\tseven\tor\teight,\twith\ta big\tsea\tswell\tto\tgo\twith\tit.\tIt\twas\talso\ta\tsouth-westerly\twind,\tfar\tfrom\tideal\tfor their\tintended\tbeach\tlanding\ton\tthe\texposed\tspit\tfacing\tthe\tNeedles\trocks. Will\t watched\t from\t the\t shadows\t as\t the\t two\t leaders\t conferred\t for\t several minutes\t in\t heated\t debate.\t The\t man\t in\t black\t finally\t gave\t in\t to\t common\t sense, postponing\tthe\tattack\tuntil\tthe\tfollowing\tnight,\tproviding\tthe\tweather\timproved in\t the\t meantime.\t Copper\t seemed\t impatient,\t perhaps\t realising\t his\t men\t were psyched\tand\tready\tto\tgo.\tWill\tknew\tfrom\tbitter\texperience\tthat\tdelays\tweakened resolve\t and\t would\t dull\t the\t men\u2019s\t edge\t as\t a\t fighting\t force.\t They\t had\t all\t been cooped\t up\t in\t the\t pub\t for\t most\t of\t the\t day.\t They\t were\t restless\t and\t baying\t for blood. Copper\tstrode\tback\tinto\tthe\tbar\twith\tconfirmation\tof\tthe\tbad\tnews.\t\u201cAttack\u2019s off,\t boys.\u201d\t There\t was\t a\t chorus\t of\t disapproval\t and\t disappointment.\t \u201cNo,\t listen, he\u2019s\tright,\tit\u2019s\ttoo\tdangerous\tfor\ta\tbeach\tassault\ttonight.\tWe\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\table\tto land\twhere\twe\tneed\tto.\tAnd\twith\tthe\tswell,\tsomeone\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tdrown,\tand\tI\u2019d rather\tit\twasn\u2019t\tone\tof\tyou\tlot.\u201d Will\u2019s\t wrists\t were\t still\t cuffed\t behind\t his\t back.\t The\t plastic\t ties\t were\t biting and\t chafing\t but\t if\t he\t sat\t very\t still,\t leaning\t forward,\t he\t found\t the\t pain\t lessened and\the\tcould\tget\tthe\tblood\tflowing\tall\tthe\tway\tto\this\tfingers\tif\the\twiggled\tthem slowly.\t He\t was\t racking\t his\t brains\t to\t figure\t out\t a\t way\t to\t get\t a\t message\t to\t his friends\t at\t Hurst\t to\t warn\t them\t of\t the\t impending\t attack.\t He\t had\t been\t trying\t to make\teye\tcontact\twith\tthe\tlandlord\tand\this\tdaughter,\tbut\tthey\thad\tnot\tlooked\this way.\tWill\twas\twatching\tthem\tcarefully,\tobserving\ttheir\tinteractions\twith\tCopper and\t the\t others,\t trying\t to\t determine\t whether\t their\t loyalty\t to\t Copper\t was\t feigned or\treal. The\t landlord\u2019s\t daughter\t collected\t the\t empty\t bowls\t from\t the\t dinner\t they\t had served\t the\t hungry\t men.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t much,\t just\t some\t soup\t made\t from\t boiled","vegetables,\t followed\t by\t a\t few\t chunks\t of\t \u201cFruit\t and\t Nut\u201d\t chocolate\t they\t had liberated\tfrom\ta\tvending\tmachine.\tThey\ttook\tit\tin\tturns\tto\tswig\tfrom\ta\tbottle\tof Cointreau\tthe\tlandlord\thad\tfound\tbehind\ta\tcatering\tfridge.\tHe\twas\tsaving\tit\tfor\ta special\toccasion. When\t the\t girl\t was\t within\t earshot,\t Will\t whispered\t the\t words\t \u201cHelp\t me\u201d\t as loudly\t as\t he\t dared.\t She\t looked\t at\t him\t and\t very\t deliberately\t shook\t her\t head. \u201cPlease,\u201d\the\timplored.\tAs\tshe\tapproached\this\ttable,\the\tnoticed\tshe\twalked\twith\ta slight\tlimp\tin\ther\tleft\tleg.\tShe\treached\tacross\tand\tstarted\twiping\tthe\ttable\tnearest him\twith\ta\tcloth,\teven\tthough\tit\tlooked\tspotless.\tShe\tleaned\tclose,\tlooking\tpast his\tshoulder.\tHer\tlong\tbrown\thair\tbrushed\tagainst\this\tright\tarm. \u201cThey\u2019ll\tkill\tme\tif\tI\thelp\tyou.\u201d \u201cAnd\tthey\u2019ll\tkill\tme\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t.\u201d\tHe\tsmiled\twanly. Before\the\tcould\tsay\tanything\telse\tshe\tmoved\ton\tto\tthe\tnext\ttable,\tbut\tglanced back\tat\thim\tfrom\tbehind\tthe\tbar\tcounter.\tHe\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tif\the\tcould\ttrust\ther,\tbut right\tnow,\tshe\twas\this\tbest\tand\tonly\toption. With\t the\t attack\t off\t for\t the\t night,\t Copper\t took\t some\t of\t the\t men\t on\t a scavenging\t mission,\t more\t to\t pass\t the\t time\t than\t for\t any\t real\t purpose.\t They already\thad\twith\tthem\teverything\tthey\tneeded.\tBut\tas\tCopper\thad\tsaid,\tit\tdidn\u2019t pay\t to\t have\t the\t men\t stuck\t in\t close\t quarters\t for\t hours\t on\t end.\t Like\t dogs\t and small\t children,\t his\t men\t needed\t daily\t exercise.\t They\t had\t all\t seen\t too\t many arguments\tboil\tover\tinto\tfistfights\tand\tworse. Will\t watched\t the\t way\t Copper\t interacted\t with\t the\t others.\t There\t was\t no question:\this\tmen\trespected,\teven\tliked\thim.\tPerhaps\tthere\twas\tmore\tto\tCopper than\tmet\tthe\teye.\tHe\tseemed\tfull\tof\tcontradictions\tthat\tkept\tWill\tguessing.\tWith his\t men,\t he\t was\t affable,\t humorous,\t even\t charming.\t The\t former\t policeman seemed\t to\t defy\t categorisation.\t He\t had\t come\t to\t know\t him\t as\t cruel\t and dispassionate,\tadept\tat\textracting\tinformation\tthrough\ttorture.\tCopper\tcould\tbe\ta vicious\t and\t vindictive\t bastard\t who\t thought\t nothing\t of\t beating\t or\t even\t killing\t a man. When\t it\t came\t to\t Copper\u2019s\t interactions\t with\t his\t boss,\t Will\t was\t under\t no illusions\t that\t the\t passive-aggressive\t behaviour\t betrayed\t a\t growing\t sense\t of frustration\t with\t his\t leader.\t Beyond\t the\t adopted\t mask\t of\t ruthlessness\t was\t the man\t in\t black\t simply\t a\t weak\t bully\t playing\t a\t part,\t living\t up\t to\t his\t men\u2019s expectations? Will\tturned\this\tattention\tto\tthe\trest\tof\tCopper\u2019s\tsquad.\tTheir\tstab-proof\tvests exaggerated\t their\t size\t and\t bulk,\t but\t underneath\t they\t were\t fit\t and\t lean.\t In\t their adjusted\t roles,\t he\t smiled\t inwardly,\t there\t were\t undoubtedly\t fewer\t opportunities for\t sitting\t on\t their\t backsides\t eating\t donuts.\t His\t second\t in\t command,\t the\t man they\t called\t Sarge,\t like\t Copper\t had\t served\t in\t the\t local\t constabulary\t so\t he\t was","familiar\twith\tpolice\ttactics\tand\thad\tsome\tbasic\ttraining\twith\thandling\tweapons. They\t were\t barely\t recognisable\t as\t enforcers\t of\t the\t law.\t All\t police\t insignia\t had been\t removed.\t The\t laws\t they\t followed\t were\t mostly\t of\t their\t own\t making.\t They seemed\tto\tlive\tby\ta\tcode,\ta\tmutual\trespect\tof\teach\tother,\tof\thard\twork,\tdiscipline and\t determination.\t That\t didn\u2019t\t mean\t that\t they\t had\t suddenly\t become\t bad\t men, but\t their\t frame\t of\t reference\t was\t somewhat\t altered.\t Their\t filters\t had\t been removed\tand\tthe\tjustice\tthey\tdispensed\twas\ta\tlittle\tmore\tdirect\tand\tviolent.\tTheir loyalty\twas\tnow\tto\tCopper,\tpure\tand\tsimple. **** Will\tmanaged\tto\tget\tsome\trest,\tfinding\ta\tcomfortable\tposition\ton\this\tright\tside, lying\t on\t one\t of\t the\t padded\t bench\t seats\t under\t the\t blacked-out\t window\t of\t the pub.\tHe\twoke\tafter\ta\tcouple\tof\thours\twith\this\tright\tarm\tnumb\tand\ttingling.\tHe stood\t and\t stretched\t his\t legs,\t walking\t around\t the\t slumbering\t figures\t laid\t out\t on the\t floor.\t The\t dim\t light\t from\t a\t lone\t candle\t cast\t flickering\t shadows\t round\t the room.\tVoices\tfrom\tthe\tother\troom\tsuggested\tseveral\tof\tthe\tmen\twere\tstill\tawake, keeping\twatch. Behind\t the\t bar\t Will\t spotted\t the\t landlord\u2019s\t daughter.\t She\t made\t as\t if\t to\t leave but\the\tstretched\tout\tand\tgrabbed\ther\twrist\tbefore\tshe\tcould\tturn\taway.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t cry\tout\t but\tmade\tit\tvery\t clear\tthat\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tanything\tto\t do\twith\thim\tor what\the\thad\tto\tsay\tto\ther.\tHe\treleased\ther\thand,\tand\tshe\tremained\tstanding\tthere, rubbing\ther\twrist.\tShe\tmade\tno\tattempt\tto\tleave. \u201cIf\tanyone\tsees\tus\ttalking,\tI\u2019m\tdead.\tYou\u2019ve\tgot\ttwo\tminutes.\u201d Will\t nodded\t and\t started\t explaining\t how\t in\t a\t few\t hours\u2019\t time\t these\t men would\t launch\t an\t all-out\t attack\t on\t Hurst\t Castle.\t He\t begged\t her\t to\t help\t get\t a message\t to\t his\t friends.\t Their\t lives\t were\t in\t danger.\t He\t had\t to\t warn\t them\t some way,\t somehow,\t so\t that\t they\t could\t prepare\t themselves\t or\t get\t as\t far\t away\t as possible. She\theard\thim\tout,\tlistening\tdispassionately\tto\this\tstory.\tHer\tface\twas\thard\tto read.\tShe\tseemed\tempathetic\tbut\teager\tnot\tto\ttake\tsides\tin\tsomeone\telse\u2019s\tfight. \u201cListen.\t You\t seem\t like\t a\t nice\t person.\t But\t they\t will\t kill\t me\t and\t my\t father\t if they\t find\t out\t I\t helped\t you.\t I\t don\u2019t\t have\t a\t choice.\t It\u2019s\t too\t much\t to\t ask.\t If\t there was\t another\t way,\t then\t maybe,\t but\t short\t of\t me\t going\t there\t myself,\t it\t can\u2019t\t be done.\u201d Will\tknew\tshe\twas\tright,\tbut\tthat\tdidn\u2019t\tstop\thim\tfrom\ttrying,\tfor\tthe\tsake\tof his\tfriends.\t\u201cThen\tcut\tme\tloose.\u201d She\tlooked\tuncertain,\tplaying\tit\tout\tin\ther\thead,\ttrying\tto\tfigure\tout\twhether she\t could\t help\t him\t without\t compromising\t everything\t her\t father\t had\t worked\t so","hard\tfor. Will\tpersisted.\t\u201cThere\tmust\tbe\tanother\tway\tout\tof\there,\tplease.\u201d She\t checked\t no\t one\t was\t listening.\t Logic\t and\t reason\t were\t probably screaming\tat\ther\tnot\tto\tget\tinvolved.\tShe\tstruck\thim\tas\timpulsive,\tsomeone\twho liked\tto\ttrust\ther\tinstincts.\tDoing\tnothing\twould\tmake\ther\tcomplicit\tin\ta\tcrime. If\t she\t could\t find\t a\t way\t to\t help\t him\t and\t have\t plausible\t deniability\t when questioned,\tthen\tit\tbecame\ta\twin-win. One\tof\tCopper\u2019s\tmen\tstirred\ton\tthe\tfloor,\tfidgeting\tin\this\tsleeping\tbag,\tthen turned\t over\t and\t went\t back\t to\t sleep.\t She\t waited\t until\t his\t snoring\t resumed\t and turned\tback\tto\tWill,\ther\tmind\tmade\tup.\tShe\tleaned\ther\thead\ttowards\thim\tacross the\t bar,\t their\t faces\t nearly\t touching.\t Will\t became\t powerfully\t aware\t of\t an intoxicating\tmix\tof\tperfume\tand\tlavender\tsoap. She\t spoke\t quickly,\t pausing\t only\t to\t check\t no\t one\t was\t watching.\t When\t she had\t finished,\t he\t leaned\t forward\t and\t kissed\t her\t full\t on\t the\t lips,\t lingering\t for\t a second,\t enjoying\t the\t orange-scented\t sweetness\t of\t the\t Cointreau\t fumes.\t She kissed\thim\tback\thungrily\tand\tmouthed\tthe\twords:\t\u201cGood\tluck.\u201d","Chapter\tForty-one The\t following\t morning\t the\t wind\t direction\t veered\t to\t the\t south,\t and\t its\t intensity abated\t sufficiently\t for\t Trevor\t to\t consider\t sanctioning\t the\t boats\u2019\t departure.\t It remained\ta\trisky\tventure,\tbut\tan\tacceptable,\tcalculated\tone.\tThere\twould\tstill\tbe a\t strong\t sea\t swell\t to\t contend\t with,\t but\t all\t things\t considered,\t the\t attack\t should proceed\twith\tall\turgency.\tThe\tattack\ton\tHurst\twas\tback\ton. Storm\t clouds\t hurried\t across\t the\t horizon.\t The\t bad\t weather\t was\t more\t distant now,\tgiving\tway\tto\ta\tmilder\tspring\tevening\tin\tLymington,\tovercast\tand\tdry.\tIn\ta couple\t of\t hours\t it\t would\t be\t sunset.\t The\t sun\t was\t sinking\t rapidly\t behind\t the mainly\t Georgian\t houses\t and\t cottages\t that\t lined\t the\t high\t street\t and\t surrounding roads\t leading\t down\t to\t the\t cobbled\t alleys\t and\t quayside\t of\t the\t harbour.\t It\t would be\t dark\t by\t seven\t thirty.\t A\t half-moon\t meant\t there\t would\t be\t just\t enough\t light, giving\tthe\tattackers\ta\tfurther\tadvantage. High\t tide\t was\t set\t for\t around\t midnight.\t Their\t plan\t was\t to\t cast\t off\t in\t the failing\t light\t and\t head\t down\t the\t river\t estuary.\t Trevor\t had\t sailed\t these\t waters\t all his\t life.\t He\t was\t well\t aware\t of\t the\t shallower\t waters\t and\t treacherous\t mudflats weaving\t their\t way\t down\t river\t towards\t the\t main\t channel,\t heading\t west\t towards Hurst.\t Their\t arrival\t was\t timed\t to\t coincide\t with\t when\t they\t expected\t most\t of Hurst\u2019s\t occupants\t to\t be\t fast\t asleep\t in\t their\t beds.\t A\t nominal\t force\t would\t be protecting\t what\t amounted\t to\t a\t very\t large\t site\t with\t walls\t stretching\t over\t five hundred\t metres.\t They\t knew\t from\t the\t intelligence\t they\t had\t extracted\t from\t Will that\t Hurst\u2019s\t leaders\t mistakenly\t believed\t that\t the\t site\u2019s\t remoteness\t and\t relative inaccessibility,\twith\tten-metre-high\twalls,\tmade\ttheir\tbase\tvirtually\timpregnable to\tan\tattacking\tforce.\tTheir\tpride\tand\tarrogance,\tsaid\tthe\tman\tin\tblack,\twould\tbe their\tdownfall. Yet\thistory\twas\ton\ttheir\tside.\tWill\tknew\tfrom\tScottie\u2019s\tincessant\tstories\tthat Hurst\u2019s\t walls\t had\t never\t been\t breached\t in\t all\t its\t near\t five\t hundred\t years. Whatever\t the\t man\t in\t black\t had\t learned\t from\t the\t interrogation,\t Will\t hoped beyond\thope\tthat\the\thadn\u2019t\trevealed\tHurst\u2019s\tsecurity\tprotocols,\tguard\tpatrols\tor defensive\t frailties.\t In\t the\t end,\t he\t knew\t everyone\t broke;\t it\t was\t only\t a\t matter\t of time.\t There\t had\t been\t no\t need\t for\t their\t more\t experimental\t interrogation techniques\t improvised\t from\t what\t they\t knew\t of\t waterboarding.\t In\t Will\u2019s\t case they\thad\tsimply\tinjected\thim\twith\ta\tcocktail\tof\tdrugs\tand\tviciously\tbeaten\thim.","It\twas\tcrude\tbut\teffective.\tThere\twas\tno\tGeneva\tConvention\tto\tprotect\tthe\tmany captives\tthe\thospital\thandled\ton\ta\tweekly\tbasis.\tThey\thad\tgrown\tpretty\tgood\tat extracting\t information.\t Which\t all\t meant\t that\t Copper\t and\t the\t man\t in\t black\t now knew\teverything\tWill\tknew,\tand\tthat\tgave\tthem\tthe\tupper\thand. **** Copper\t was\t meticulous\t about\t their\t preparation.\t He\t meant\t to\t leave\t nothing\t to chance.\t His\t team\t spent\t the\t day\t checking\t and\t rechecking\t equipment.\t Several\t of them\t made\t a\t trip\t back\t to\t the\t hospital\t to\t get\t more\t food\t and\t supplies.\t By\t mid- afternoon,\t the\t weather\t was\t still\t holding\t fair,\t with\t scattered\t clouds\t and\t more moderate\t winds.\t They\t stowed\t their\t gear\t on\t board\t the\t boats,\t cleaned\t their weapons,\t loaded\t magazines,\t laid\t out\t the\t rope\t and\t grappling\t hook\t on\t the\t quay and\t then\t packed\t it\t away.\t The\t man\t in\t black\t congratulated\t Copper\t and\t his\t team. Walking\t amongst\t them\t with\t his\t hands\t on\t hips,\t he\t proudly\t inspected\t his\t foot soldiers.\tThey\twere\tas\tready\tas\tthey\twould\tever\tbe.\tProviding\tthe\tweather\theld, it\twas\tnow\tor\tnever. Will\tblamed\this\tpoor\tluck\tand\tbitterly\tregretted\this\tfailure\tto\tescape\twhen\tthe previous\tguard\thad\tbeen\ton\tduty.\tFor\tnow,\this\topportunity\twas\tgone.\tHe\twould need\tto\tbide\this\ttime\tand\thope\ta\tfresh\tchance\tfor\tdiversion\tpresented\titself. After\tWill\u2019s\tmidnight\trendezvous\twith\tthe\tlandlord\u2019s\tdaughter,\tthe\tguard\tshift at\tthe\tShip\tInn\tchanged\tand\tone\tof\tCopper\u2019s\tmost\ttrusted\tmen\thad\tbeen\tcharged with\tkeeping\twatch\tover\ttheir\tprisoner.\tWill\tpretended\tto\tsleep,\trunning\tthrough the\t execution\t of\t his\t plan,\t step\t by\t step,\t waiting\t for\t his\t guard\t to\t lose\t interest\t or drop\toff.\tCopper\u2019s\tmen\twere\tprofessional\tand\tstuck\tto\ttheir\ttask,\tunlike\tsome\tof the\t others\t from\t the\t hospital\t without\t military\t or\t police\t training.\t He\t had\t learned through\tbitter\texperience,\tthey\twere\tmostly\tnihilists\tor\tthugs\twith\ta\tchip\ton\tthe shoulder.\t Definitely\t worth\t avoiding\t eye\t contact.\t They\t tended\t to\t have\t a\t short fuse\tand\ta\tthirst\tfor\tviolence. By\t seven,\t with\t the\t light\t fading\t and\t the\t moon\t rising\t behind\t distant\t clouds, they\tstarted\tloading\tup\tthe\tboats\ton\tthe\tquay.\tCopper\twould\ttake\tthe\tlead\tin\tthe first\tR.I.B\twith\tfour\tof\this\tbest\tmen,\tforming\tthe\ttip\tof\tthe\tspear\tof\tthe\tattack.\tIn the\tlarger\tpleasure\tcraft,\ta\tferryboat\twith\tcovered\tmain\tcabin,\tSarge\twould\tlead the\t main\t force\t of\t some\t ten\t men,\t including\t Will\t and\t the\t man\t in\t black.\t The ferryboat\thad\tspent\ta\tlifetime\tshuttling\ttourists\tto\tthe\tNeedles\trocks\tand\tback,\tso was\tshallow\tdraft\tbut\tseaworthy,\tideal\tfor\ttheir\tpurposes.\tLast\tbut\tnot\tleast\twas\ta back-up\t team\t of\t four\t men\t in\t a\t second\t fast\t inflatable.\t They\t would\t be\t held\t in reserve\tuntil\tthe\tdrawbridge\twas\tdown\tand\tthe\tmain\tforce\twas\tinside. Will\twas\trunning\tout\tof\ttime.\tWith\tthe\tattack\tcertain\tto\tgo\tahead\ttonight,\the","somehow\t had\t to\t find\t a\t way\t to\t escape.\t Hurst\u2019s\t future\t hung\t in\t the\t balance. Everything\tdepended\ton\tWill\tnow.\tHe\tcould\tnot\tlet\this\tfriends\tdown.\tHe\tfigured it\t would\t take\t at\t least\t two\t and\t a\t half\t hours\t to\t walk\t back\t to\t the\t castle.\t He\t could picture\t the\t coastal\t footpath\t that\t ran\t along\t the\t estuary\t and\t marshlands\t towards Keyhaven.\t If\t he\t jogged\t most\t of\t the\t way\t then\t he\t could\t probably\t shave\t an\t hour off\t that,\t but\t the\t thought\t of\t running\t in\t the\t tired\t old\t working\t boots\t he\t was wearing,\t having\t not\t run\t for\t months,\t filled\t him\t with\t dread.\t Years\t of\t unhealthy living,\tCornish\tpasty\tlunches\tand\ta\tfondness\tfor\tRingwood\tale,\thad\tleft\thim\tsoft around\tthe\tmiddle.\tThe\tlast\tcouple\tof\tyears\tliving\tfrom\thand\tto\tmouth\thad\tdone remarkably\tlittle\tto\tshift\tthat\tflab.\tHe\thad\tat\tleast\tlost\tsome\tweight,\the\twas\tsure of\t that,\t just\t not\t in\t the\t places\t he\t tended\t to\t pay\t attention\t to.\t The\t chances\t of finding\t a\t bicycle\t or\t a\t boat\t were\t slim,\t but\t he\t might\t get\t lucky.\t Lady\t Luck\t had\t a funny\tway\tof\tsmiling\ton\thim\twhen\the\tleast\texpected\tit. With\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t men\t ferrying\t equipment\t to\t the\t waiting\t boats,\t for\t a\t few moments,\t Will\t and\t his\t minder\t were\t the\t only\t people\t left\t in\t the\t pub.\t Will\t was pretending\tto\tsleep,\this\teyes\tclosed.\tThe\tguard\twas\tdistracted,\tno\tlonger\tpaying attention\t to\t Will.\t The\t landlord\u2019s\t daughter\t was\t polishing\t glasses\t behind\t the\t bar. She\t had\t changed\t into\t figure-hugging\t jeans\t and\t was\t adjusting\t her\t hair\t in\t a mirror,\t applying\t some\t lipstick.\t She\t dropped\t her\t cloth\t and\t stretched\t down\t to retrieve\tit.\tWas\tshe\tdoing\tit\ton\tpurpose?\tShe\twas\tcertainly\tdrawing\tattention\tto herself,\twhether\tdeliberate\tor\tnot.\tThe\tguard\tnow\thad\this\tback\tto\tWill.\tHe\tseized his\tchance,\ttaking\thim\tcompletely\tby\tsurprise.\tHis\tbody\tlow\tlike\ta\trugby\ttackle but\t with\t his\t wrists\t still\t tied,\t he\t charged\t at\t the\t man,\t making\t contact\t with\t his shoulder,\tbarging\thim\twith\tall\this\tmight.\tThe\tguard\tslammed\this\thead\thard\tinto the\t wall,\t knocking\t over\t one\t of\t the\t tables.\t He\t lay\t still,\t stunned\t for\t a\t few moments.\t Will\t glanced\t back\t towards\t the\t landlord\u2019s\t daughter.\t She\t waved\t him urgently\ttowards\tthe\tback\tdoor. He\t wiggled\t under\t the\t hatchway\t on\t his\t hands\t and\t knees\t and\t got\t awkwardly back\tto\this\tfeet\tbehind\tthe\tbar.\tHe\tneeded\tto\tkeep\tmoving\tfast\tand\tstay\tunseen. Keeping\t low,\t he\t ducked\t through\t a\t doorway\t that\t led\t to\t a\t corridor\t stacked\t with boxes.\t Empty\t beer\t kegs\t lined\t the\t far\t wall.\t A\t notice\t board\t fluttered\t with\t staff notices,\t and\t fliers\t for\t visiting\t bands.\t Stairs\t to\t the\t right\t led\t up\t to\t where\t he imagined\tthe\tlandlord\tand\this\tdaughter\tlived\tabove\tthe\tpub.\tShe\thad\tbeen\tgood to\ther\tword.\tA\tbrick\tblocked\tthe\tfire\tdoor\tfrom\tclosing. Outside\tit\twas\tpitch\tblack.\tWill\tblinked\tinto\tthe\tdarkness.\tHe\tcould\tjust\tmake out\t a\t rusting\t iron\t gate\t that\t led\t to\t the\t car\t park.\t Over\t his\t shoulder\t he\t heard\t a woman\u2019s\tscream,\traised\tvoices\tand\ta\tglass\tsmashing\ton\tthe\tground.\tHe\tonly\thad a\tfew\tmoments\tto\tget\taway. As\tquietly\tas\the\tcould\tmanage\tin\tall\tthe\texcitement,\the\tput\this\tweight\tagainst","the\t heavy\t iron\t gate.\t He\t half\t expected\t a\t loud\t screech\t of\t rusted\t metal,\t but\t the mechanism\toperated\tsilently\ton\twell-oiled\thinges.\tBeyond\twas\ta\tsmall\tstaff\tcar park\tat\tthe\trear\tof\tthe\tpub,\tleading\tto\ta\tcobbled\talleyway. Taking\tthe\tmost\tdirect\troute\twas\ta\tbig\trisk,\tbut\the\tsimply\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ttime\tto backtrack\tthrough\tside\tstreets.\tWith\ta\t final\tlook\tover\t his\tshoulder\the\traced\tup the\t cobbled\t hill\t to\t the\t bottom\t of\t the\t high\t street,\t his\t hands\t still\t tied\t behind\t his back.\t He\t darted\t left\t and\t jogged\t along\t the\t narrow\t lane\t lined\t with\t rows\t of whitewashed\t cottages\t and\t town\t houses\t running\t down\t towards\t the\t waterfront marinas.\tTurning\tthe\tcorner,\ta\tforest\tof\tmasts\tand\trigging\tlay\tahead.\tTo\this\tleft, a\t boatyard\t full\t of\t yachts\t and\t vessels\t lay\t in\t various\t states\t of\t disrepair,\t waiting their\tturn\tfor\tthe\thuge\tcrane\tto\tcradle\tthem\tback\tinto\tthe\tslow\trunning\twaters\tof the\t Lymington\t river.\t Beyond\t the\t boatyard\t and\t yacht\t clubs\t lay\t open\t fields\t and country\tlanes.\tWill\tcraved\tthe\tdarkness\tand\tsolitude\tof\tthe\tasphalt\tfootpath\tthat led\tback\ttowards\tHurst.","Chapter\tForty-two Tommy\t and\t the\t others\t left\t guarding\t Hurst\t Castle\t had\t still\t not\t received\t word from\t the\t scavenging\t team.\t It\t was\t not\t the\t first\t time\t that\t their\t distance\t from\t the castle\thad\trequired\tan\tovernight\tstay,\tbut\twhen\tthey\tstill\thadn\u2019t\treturned\tby\tdusk on\t the\t second\t day,\t the\t members\t of\t the\t council\t met\t in\t emergency\t session. Protocol\t dictated\tthat\ta\tsearch\t party\tbe\tmounted\tbut\twith\tJack,\tTerra\tand\t Sam also\tnot\treturned,\tthey\tcould\till\tafford\tto\tfurther\tweaken\ttheir\tdefences,\twhen\tin all\tlikelihood\tthey\tcould\tall\tbe\tback\tat\tany\tmoment.\tUnknowingly,\tthe\tcastle\twas at\tits\tmost\tvulnerable\tin\tsome\ttime,\tand\tits\toccupants\twere\tdangerously\tunaware of\tthe\timminent\tthreat\tto\ttheir\tsecurity. In\t the\t courtyard,\t Tommy\t tossed\t another\t log\t into\t the\t firepit.\t The\t red-hot\t ash spat\tsparks\tat\this\tbare\tankles.\tHe\tkicked\tat\ta\tfew\twood\tends\twith\tthe\ttoe\tof\this boot\t where\t the\t logs\t had\t burned\t through,\t sending\t smoke\t and\t embers\t curling\t up into\t the\t night\t sky.\t Long\t shadows\t danced\t on\t the\t steep\t walls\t of\t the\t castle\t that towered\t over\t the\t small\t group\t as\t they\t sat\t round\t in\t a\t semi-circle,\t telling\t stories and\tenjoying\teach\tother\u2019s\tcompany. Tommy\t stared\t unblinking\t into\t the\t heart\t of\t the\t fire.\t With\t a\t sigh,\t he\t reached behind\tand\tgrabbed\tanother\tlog\tfrom\tthe\tpile\tof\twood\tthey\thad\tunloaded\tearlier from\tthe\ttrailer.\tHe\tresumed\this\tseat\tnext\tto\tLiz.\tShe\thanded\thim\ther\thalf-empty can\t of\t lager,\t toasting\t the\t assembled\t company:\t \u201cHere\u2019s\t to\t our\t new\t American friends.\tMay\tthey\tbring\tus\tbetter\tfood:\thamburgers,\tpizzas\tand\thot\tdogs.\u201d \u201cAnd\tsave\tus\tfrom\tLiz\u2019s\tcooking,\u201d\tadded\tTommy. Scottie\t and\t Greta\t raised\t their\t cans\t while\t Liz\t delivered\t a\t two-fingered response,\tadding,\t\u201cVery\tfunny.\u201d Scottie\u2019s\tlilting\tvoice\tfrom\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tfire\tadded\tto\ttheir\ttoasts.\t\u201cTo Hurst.\tMay\tJack\tand\tTerra\tbring\tus\tgood\tfortune,\tand,\taye,\tbetter\tfood.\u201d \u201cRemind\t me\t what\t we\u2019re\t really\t celebrating?\u201d\t asked\t Greta,\t toasting\t her\t toes against\tthe\tblazing\tfire. \u201cOh,\t don\u2019t\t be\t such\t a\t grouch,\u201d\t joked\t Tommy.\t \u201cDo\t we\t really\t need\t a\t reason? We\u2019re\talive.\tIsn\u2019t\tthat\tenough?\u201d \u201cI\tsuppose.\tWhen\tthe\tcat\u2019s\taway,\tthe\tmice\twill\tplay,\u201d\tadded\tScottie,\tlounging back\tagainst\tGreta\u2019s\tbare\tlegs.\tShe\tstroked\tthe\tback\tof\this\thead\taffectionately. Tommy\t scowled\t at\t their\t quiet\t intimacy.\t It\t bothered\t him\t that\t Scottie,\t of\t all","people,\t had\t scored\t the\t best-looking\t girl\t at\t the\t castle.\t A\t slightly\t effeminate Scotsman\t at\t that.\t There\t was\t no\t justice.\t Greta\t had\t her\t eyes\t closed,\t her\t head turned\ttowards\tLiz.\tIt\tlooked\talmost\tlike\tshe\twas\tseeking\ther\tfriend\u2019s\tapproval. \u201cCome\t on,\t Liz.\t What\t do\t you\t miss\t most\t about\t the\t way\t things\t were?\u201d\t asked Scottie. \u201cThe\tInternet,\tfor\tone.\tThe\tworld\tseems\tso\tmuch\tsmaller\tnow.\tWe\u2019re\tso\tcut off\tfrom\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tworld.\tI\tkind\tof\tlike\tthat,\u201d\tanswered\tLiz. \u201cAre\t you\t not\t a\t wee\t bit\t curious\t to\t know\t what\u2019s\t going\t on\t out\t there?\u201d\t added Scottie.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t you\t miss\t that\t feeling\t of\t being\t connected?\t Being\t part\t of something\tbigger.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\tthe\tscope\tand\tscale\tof\tthe\tway\tthings\twere.\u201d \u201cI\tmiss\tthe\tpeople,\tthat\u2019s\tfor\tsure,\u201d\tsaid\tLiz.\t\u201cMy\tfamily,\tmy\tfriends.\tI\tmiss stupid\tstuff\tlike\tSunday\tnewspapers,\ttaking\tthe\tday\tto\tread\tall\tthe\tsupplements.\tI miss\t sitting\t in\t a\t pub\t next\t to\t a\t roaring\t fire,\t drinking\t Ringwood\t ale\t pumped\t by hand.\t I\t miss\t the\t Colemanballs\t column\t in\t Private\tEye.\t So\t many\t things\t we\t just took\tfor\tgranted.\tWhat\tabout\tyou?\u201d \u201cI\tmiss\tgoing\tto\tthe\tRose\tBowl\tto\tsee\tTest\tmatch\tcricket.\tI\tappreciate\tthat\u2019s\ta wee\t bit\t odd\t for\t a\t Scotsman\t but\t I\t loved\t it.\t What\u2019s\t not\t to\t like?\t Beer\t snakes, Mexican\t waves\t and\t the\t barmy\t army.\t Anyone\t remember\t stewards\t wading\t into the\t crowd\t to\t grab\t ten-feet-high\t stacks\t of\t empty\t plastic\t glasses?\t What\t a\t sight. Ridiculous.\u201d They\tall\tlaughed,\tlost\tin\tmemories.\tTommy\twas\tsilent\tstaring\tinto\tthe\tfire,\tas shapes\tand\tfigures\tdanced\tin\tthe\tflames.\tHe\tlet\tout\ta\tdeep\tsigh\tand\tlamented,\t\u201cI miss\t summer\t holidays\t to\t Spain\t with\t Laura.\u201d\t The\t others\t shouted\t catcalls\t in\t his direction,\tmocking\this\tsentimentality. \u201cMore\tlike\tholiday\twith\tyour\tmum,\u201d\tderided\tLiz. Tommy\t spun\t round\t and\t scowled\t in\t her\t direction\t before\t continuing undeterred,\tunable\tto\tsuppress\ta\tsmile.\t\u201cNo,\tseriously,\twe\twent\tthis\tone\ttime\tto Palma,\t Majorca.\t Sandy\t beaches,\t sunburned\t Brits,\t beer\t bellies\t and\t cheap cocktails.\tIt\twas\tbrilliant.\u201d \u201cRemember\t just\t going\t on\t a\t plane\t to\t somewhere\t far\t away?\t Airports?\t Duty- free?\tNeeding\ta\tpassport?\u201d\tsaid\tGreta. Scottie\t went\t next.\t \u201cI\t miss\t live\t music,\t going\t to\t see\t a\t rock\t band\t at\t Wembley Stadium.\t Seeing\t Rod\t Stewart,\t U2,\t or\t Bruce\t Springsteen.\t Thousands\t of\t fans packed\ttogether,\tdancing,\tcheering,\tlaughing.\tThose\twere\tthe\tdays.\u201d The\tgroup\tfell\tsilent,\toverwhelmed\tby\ta\thundred\tmemories,\teach\tlost\tin\ttheir own\t private\t reverie.\t Greta\u2019s\t voice\t broke\t the\t silence,\t sounding\t fragile,\t perhaps fearful\t of\t the\t answer.\t \u201cDo\t you\t think\t things\t will\t ever\t get\t back\t to\t the\t way\t they were?\u201d \u201cOf\tcourse,\u201d\tresponded\tScottie,\twithout\thesitation.\t\u201cWe\tgotta\tbelieve\tthat.\tIt","may\t take\t time,\t but\t it\u2019ll\t happen.\t Maybe,\t things\t won\u2019t\t be\t exactly\t the\t same,\t but come\ton,\thumans\tare\ta\tresilient\tbunch.\tWe\u2019ve\tfaced\tsimilar\tthreats\tto\tour\tway\tof life.\tJust\tthink.\tThe\tbubonic\tplague,\tSpanish\tflu,\tacts\tof\tGod\t like\tearthquakes, meteor\t strikes,\t typhoons.\t Then\t there\t was\t the\t Holocaust,\t world\t wars,\t nuclear explosions,\tthe\tlist\tgoes\ton,\tand\tsomehow,\tlife\tfinds\ta\tway.\u201d \u201cThe\t dinosaurs\t didn\u2019t\t fare\t too\t well,\u201d\t challenged\t Tommy,\t smirking mischievously. \u201cYeah,\t but\t how\t many\t times\t has\t that\t happened\t in,\t like,\t a\t hundred\t billion years\t of\t history\t on\t this\t planet?\t A\t true\t global\t killer?\t Once,\t in\t like,\t ever?\u201d continued\t Scottie.\t \u201cAnd\t we\u2019re\t only\t talking\t about\t an\t extinction\t event\t for humans,\tnot\tall\tthe\tother\tanimals\tand\tinsects\tand\tlife\ton\tthis\tplanet.\tLife\tgoes\ton regardless.\u201d \u201cWho\t knows?\t Maybe\t humans\t are\t the\t next\t lemming,\t or\t dodo,\t driven\t to extinction\tby\tforces\tbeyond\ttheir\tcontrol?\u201d\tadded\tLiz. \u201cI\tdoubt\tit,\u201d\treassured\tScottie.\t\u201cHumankind\thas\ta\tgood\trecord\tof\tovercoming all\todds,\ttriumphing\tin\tthe\tface\tof\tadversity.\tIt\u2019ll\tbe\tlike\tthat\tagain.\tSomewhere, somehow\t it\t stands\t to\t reason\t that\t someone\t is\t doing\t better\t than\t us.\t We\t can\u2019t\t be the\tonly\tones\tto\thave\tsurvived.\tMaybe\twhole\tpopulations,\twhole\tcountries\teven, have\timmunity.\tThere\tmight\tbe\tsome\tgene\tthat\tprotects\tthem\tfrom\tgetting\tit.\tOr the\twarmer\tclimate\tprevented\ta\tflu-like\tvirus\tfrom\ttaking\thold\tin\tthe\tfirst\tplace? There\tmight\tbe\ta\tvaccine\talready,\ta\tcure\tfor\tthe\tvirus.\tYou\tnever\tknow,\tright?\u201d \u201cI\t wonder\t how\t Jack\t and\t Terra\t are\t getting\t on,\u201d\t said\t Tommy,\t changing\t the subject.\t\u201cThey\twouldn\u2019t\tsay\tmuch\tabout\ttheir\ttrip\tor\twhy\tthey\twere\tgoing.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\t got\t to\t be\t something\t to\t do\t with\t the\t Americans,\u201d\t reckoned\t Liz.\t \u201cNathan said\t it\t was\t all\t top\t secret\t and\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t breathe\t a\t word\t about\t it.\t All\t sounded very\t mysterious.\u201d\t She\t winked\t at\t Scottie.\t There\t was\t playful\t mischief\t between them. Tommy\tleaned\tforward,\tanimated\tand\tenergised\tby\tsomething.\t\u201cWhat\tif\tthere was\t a\t whole\t convoy\t of\t ships\t heading\t our\t way\t right\t this\t very\t moment?\t Some massive\t rescue\t mission.\t Maybe\t they\u2019re\t evacuating\t Britain\t and\t they\t need\t our help.\tTypical\tAmericans,\talways\thave\tto\tsave\tthe\tworld.\u201d \u201cRight,\ttrust\tthe\tAmericans\tto\tturn\tup\ttwo\tyears\tlate.\u201d \u201cI\twouldn\u2019t\tgo\tgetting\tpeople\u2019s\thopes,\u201d\tcautioned\tScottie.\t\u201cThere\u2019s\tnot\tgoing to\t be\t any\t relief\t convoy.\t I\t seriously\t doubt\t there\u2019s\t anyone\t left\t to\t rescue\t us.\t The rest\tof\tthe\tworld\tis\tprobably\tin\tjust\tas\tmuch\tof\ta\tmess\tas\twe\tare.\u201d \u201cNo\t one\t knows\t that\t for\t sure,\u201d\t said\t Tommy,\t shaking\t his\t head.\t \u201cThe Americans\talways\tsave\tthe\tday.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ve\t been\t watching\t too\t many\t disaster\t movies.\t No\t way\t Will\t Smith\t is going\tto\tsave\tus\tthis\ttime.\u201d","\u201cWhen\t the\t Americans\t come,\t they\u2019ll\t do\t it\t in\t style.\t It\u2019s\t normally,\t like\t now, when\t Britain\u2019s\t on\t its\t knees,\t they\t show\t up\t and\t turn\t the\t tide.\t Two\t world\t wars proved\tthat.\u201d\tTommy\tpaused,\ttroubled\tby\tsomething\the\tremembered.\tIt\twas\tjust a\tfeeling,\ta\thunch\treally,\tthat\thad\tbeen\tnagging\thim.\t\u201cThere\twas\tsomething\tthat felt\twrong\twhen\tthey\trefused\tto\ttell\tus\tanything.\tMakes\tyou\twonder\twhose\tside they\u2019re\ton.\u201d \u201cOh,\t we\u2019re\t on\t the\t same\t side\t all\t right,\u201d\t reassured\t Scottie.\t The\t man\t with\t a thousand\tvoices\tand\taccents\taffected\tan\tAlabama\tdrawl\tstraight\tfrom\t the\tdeep south,\t reprising\t the\t role\t of\t Atticus\t Finch\t from\t To\t Kill\t a\t Mocking\t Bird.\t He continued\tin\tcharacter:\t\u201cRight\tnow,\tthere\u2019s\ta\twhole\ttask\tforce\ten\troute\tfrom\tthe US\t of\t A.\t Ships\t filled\t with\t corned\t beef\t and\t ketchup.\t Frozen\t steaks\t as\t big\t as Frisbees.\tCheerleaders\twith\tpompoms.\tJet\tfighters\tstreaming\tred\twhite\tand\tblue vapour\ttrails.\tTicker\ttape\tparades\ton\tthe\tdocks\tas\tthey\tunload\tcrate\tafter\tcrate\tof good\tol\u2019\tlite\tbeer,\tflowing\tfrom\tevery\tporthole.\u201d Tommy\t didn\u2019t\t look\t so\t sure.\t \u201cYeah,\t and\t pigs\t might\t fly.\t If\t you\t ask\t me,\t I reckon\t they\u2019re\t up\t to\t no\t good.\t It's\t a\t land\t grab\t or\t they're\t here\t to\t steal\t all\t our supplies\tbefore\tmoving\ton,\tlike\tlocusts.\tDon\u2019t\tworry,\tLiz,\tI\u2019m\tsure\tthey\u2019ll\tleave your\tstash\twell\talone.\u201d Liz\t belted\t Tommy\t with\t the\t back\t of\t her\t hand\t and\t he\t fell\t backwards\t off\t his seat,\tclutching\tthe\tside\tof\this\tface.\t\u201cHey,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tneed\tfor\tviolence,\twoman.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019ll\tlearn\tyou,\tbig\tmouth,\u201d\tsaid\tone\tof\tthe\tothers. Tommy\t glared\t back\t at\t Liz,\t dusting\t himself\t down.\t Greta\t stretched\t her\t thin arms\thigh\tabove\ther\thead,\tsweater\tpulled\ttight\tacross\ther\tchest,\tyawning\tloudly and\t very\t deliberately.\t She\t fluttered\t her\t eyelashes\t in\t Scottie\u2019s\t general\t direction. \u201cRight,\tthink\tI\u2019ll\tturn\tin.\tYou\tcoming?\u201d Tommy\t made\t to\t join\t her\t but\t she\t wagged\t her\t finger.\t \u201cNot\t you,\t Tommy. Scottie?\u201d \u201cCan\u2019t.\tNot\ttonight.\tI\u2019m\ton\twatch,\twith\tthis\treprobate.\tI\u2019ll\tcome\tand\ttuck\tyou in\twhen\tI\u2019m\tdone.\u201d \u201cGo\t on\t then,\u201d\t said\t Liz,\t getting\t to\t her\t feet\t a\t little\t slowly,\t clutching\t her\t back from\ta\thard\tday\tin\tthe\tkitchen.\t\u201cEarly\tstart\ttomorrow.\tBest\tturn\tin\tand\tleave\tyou boys\tto\tit.\u201d \u201cNight,\tLiz,\tnight,\tGreta.\tSee\tyou\tladies\tin\tthe\tmorning,\u201d\tsaid\tScottie. The\ttwo\twomen\twandered\toff\tinto\tthe\tdarkness\ttowards\tthe\told\tcastle\tkeep, leaving\t the\t remaining\t group\t following\t them\t with\t their\t eyes.\t A\t door\t slammed and\t Nathan\t appeared\t out\t of\t the\t gloom,\t jangling\t a\t large\t bunch\t of\t keys.\t Tommy smuggled\t his\t can\t of\t lager\t behind\t a\t trouser\t leg.\t Nathan\t didn\u2019t\t approve\t of drinking,\tparticularly\twhen\tsomeone\twas\ton\tduty. \u201cEveryone\u2019s\t accounted\t for.\t The\t castle\t is\t yours.\t Try\t and\t keep\t it\t together\t out","there\t tonight,\t yeah?\t No\t messing\t about.\u201d\t He\t checked\t his\t clipboard,\t angling\t the paper\t towards\t the\t light\t to\t read\t the\t rota.\t \u201cRoger\t and\t Simon\t will\t relieve\t you\t at 0200\thours.\tRemember,\tperimeter\twalk\tevery\thalf\thour,\tone\tof\tyou\tstays\tat\tthe main\tgate\tat\tall\ttimes.\tHere\tare\tthe\tkeys.\u201d \u201cSo\t these\t are\t quite\t literally\t the\t \u2018keys\t to\t the\t castle\u2019,\u201d\t joked\t Tommy.\t \u201cI\u2019ve always\twanted\tto\tsay\tthat.\tYou\tknow\twe\u2019ve\tdone\tthis\ta\thundred\ttimes\tbefore?\tI could\twalk\tthe\twalls\twith\tmy\teyes\tclosed.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\twhat\tI\u2019m\tworried\tabout,\tyou\tsleepwalking\tagain,\u201d\tsaid\tScottie. \u201cLike\tto\tsee\tyou\ttry,\u201d\tcame\ta\tvoice\tfrom\tthe\tgroup\taround\tthe\tfire. \u201cHow\tmuch\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\tbet?\u201d\tboasted\tTommy. \u201cGentlemen,\t please.\t Just\t do\t your\t jobs.\t Just\t this\t once,\t try\t and\t behave\t like professionals,\u201d\timplored\tNathan. The\t pair\t of\t them\t burst\t out\t laughing.\t \u201cAw,\t we\u2019re\t only\t pulling\t your\t leg, Nathan.\t We\u2019ll\t do\t our\t best,\t don\u2019t\t you\t worry.\t We\u2019re\t a\t crack\t team,\t we\t are,\t ain\u2019t we,\t Scottie?\t The\t A\t team.\t Butch\t Cassidy\t and\t the\t Sundance\t Kid,\t Batman\t and Robin,\tBonnie\tand\tClyde,\u201d\tsaid\tTommy. \u201cBonnie\twas\ta\twoman,\tya\tgiant\tdunderhead,\u201d\tcorrected\tScottie. \u201cRight,\t I\u2019ll\t leave\t you\t to\t it,\u201d\t said\t Nathan,\t growing\t tired\t of\t their\t levity.\t \u201cNo pranks,\t Tommy.\t Keep\t your\t eyes\t peeled\t for\t the\t Nipper\t and\t Zed\u2019s\t team.\t They might\tput\tin\ta\tlate\tappearance.\tUnlikely,\tbut\tyou\tnever\tknow.\u201d \u201cWe\twon\u2019t\tlet\tyou\tdown,\twill\twe,\tTommy?\tCome\ton.\u201d The\t two\t of\t them\t said\t their\t goodbyes\t and\t left\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t group\t to\t enjoy the\tremains\tof\tthe\tfire.\tScottie\tput\this\tarm\taround\tTommy,\tmeandering\tunevenly towards\t the\t armoury\t to\t collect\t a\t rifle\t each\t and\t the\t flare\t gun,\t in\t case\t of emergencies.\t No\t doubt\t it\t would\t be\t another\t uneventful\t night\t like\t all\t the\t others. Still,\tbetter\tto\tbe\tsafe\tthan\tsorry.","Chapter\tForty-three The\t lead\t boat\t carrying\t Copper\t and\t his\t men\t was\t making\t steady\t progress\t up\t the channel.\t The\t wind\t had\t died,\t but\t there\t was\t still\t just\t enough\t breeze\t to\t disperse what\t little\t noise\t they\t were\t making.\t The\t seventy-five\t horse-power\t twin\t Yamaha outboard\t engines\t drove\t them\t forward\t against\t the\t incoming\t tide.\t Trevor\t said\t it was\tslackening\tby\tthe\tminute\tas\tit\tneared\thigh\twater. Surprise\t was\t critical.\t Copper \u2019s\t plans\t depended\t on\t his\t five-man\t team\t getting over\tthe\twall\twithout\tbeing\tseen.\tFrom\tthere,\tthey\twould\tmake\ttheir\tway\tto\tthe main\t gate\t on\t the\t northern\t side\t of\t the\t fortifications,\t knock\t out\t the\t guards\t and secure\tthe\tentrance\tfor\tthe\tmain\tattack\tgroup\twaiting\tfor\ttheir\tsignal. When\t Copper\t closed\t his\t eyes\t he\t had\t a\t mental\t map\t of\t the\t castle.\t He\u2019d\t been there\t once\t before\t on\t a\t date\t with\t a\t local\t girl\t years\t ago.\t It\t had\t been\t her suggestion,\t a\t boat\t trip\t from\t Keyhaven\t and\t a\t walking\t tour\t of\t the\t castle.\t It\t had rained\t the\t whole\t day\t and\t they\t cut\t their\t losses\t and\t made\t a\t cursory\t tour\t of\t the battlements.\tThey\t saw\tthe\tmuseum\tand\tdisplays,\twalked\taround\tthe\tcastle\tand took\t the\t early\t ferry\t home\t in\t time\t for\t fish\t and\t chips\t on\t the\t village\t green\t at Milford.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\tremember\ther\tname.\tSarah\tor\tSerena,\tsomething\tlike\tthat. It\tdidn\u2019t\tmatter\tnow,\tshe\twas\tlikely\tdead,\talong\twith\tall\tthe\trest. He\t berated\t himself\t for\t his\t wandering\t thoughts.\t He\t needed\t to\t get\t his\t mind back\ton\tthe\tjob\tat\thand.\tIf\twhat\tWill\thad\ttold\tthem\twas\tto\tbe\ttrusted,\tthey\tcould expect\t only\t limited\t resistance.\t Two\t guards,\t lightly\t armed.\t It\t would\t be\t a\t turkey shoot.\t Once\t they\t had\t the\t two\t girls,\t Adele\t and\t Stella,\t together\t with\t the\t Hurst leaders,\t the\t rest\t were\t expendable.\t They\t didn\u2019t\t need\t more\t mouths\t to\t feed.\t They had\tall\tthe\thuman\tspecimens\tthey\tneeded\tfor\tthe\texperiments.\tStill,\tif\tthere\twere young\t women\t amongst\t them,\t they\t might\t take\t a\t few\t back\t to\t keep\t the\t men entertained.\tAfter\tall,\ttheir\tnights\twere\tlong\tand\tdull.\tPlay\tit\tby\tear,\tthat\u2019s\twhat he\u2019d\tdo.\tHe\twas\ttrusted\tto\tmake\this\town\tdecisions. As\tthey\tpassed\ta\tline\tof\tyachts\ton\triver\tmoorings,\tthe\trhythmic\tthrobbing\tand gurgling\t from\t the\t engines\t grew\t louder,\t echoing\t momentarily\t across\t the\t water. There\twas\tnothing\tthey\tcould\tdo\tabout\tit,\tother\tthan\tcut\tthe\tengines\tand\tpaddle the\t rest\t of\t the\t way,\t but\t that\t would\t take\t too\t long.\t The\t engines\t were\t a\t necessary evil. Trevor\t was\t keeping\t to\t the\t left\t side\t of\t the\t channel,\t staying\t out\t of\t the\t last\t of","the\t tide\t and\t keeping\t clear\t of\t the\t mudflats\t marked\t by\t wooden\t posts\t every\t fifty yards\t or\t so,\t leading\t them\t out\t towards\t open\t water\t at\t the\t mouth\t of\t Lymington River. The\t R.I.B\t was\t built\t for\t coastguard\t use\t and\t maintained\t with\t the\t latest equipment.\tIt\thad\ta\tfunctioning\tradio,\tproper\tseating\tfor\tits\tcrew\tof\tfour\tto\tsix,\ta powerful\t searchlight,\t together\t with\t oars\t and\t flares.\t Copper\u2019s\t men\t were\t relaxed but\t focused.\t None\t of\t them\t was\t particularly\t enjoying\t being\t out\t on\t the\t water. There\t were\t a\t few\t green\t faces\t amongst\t them\t as\t the\t size\t of\t the\t waves\t grew\t and their\t craft\t began\t to\t pitch\t and\t yaw.\t The\t men\t gripped\t the\t handles\t nearest\t them\t a little\t tighter\t as\t they\t were\t tossed\t around,\t bouncing\t off\t waves,\t buffeted\t by\t the wind\t which\t seemed\t to\t strengthen\t now\t they\t were\t beyond\t the\t shelter\t of\t the harbour\tand\triver\testuary. In\t the\t distance\t they\t could\t see\t the\t dark\t outline\t of\t the\t castle.\t It\t looked enormous,\t more\t like\t a\t small\t citadel\t than\t a\t castle.\t Beyond\t Hurst\t Spit,\t on\t the other\t side\t of\t the\t Needles\t channel\t they\t could\t see\t the\t Isle\t of\t Wight.\t A\t shapeless mass\t in\t total\t darkness,\t stretching\t as\t far\t as\t the\t eye\t could\t see,\t punctuated\t by\t the Needles\t rocks\t like\t giant\t jagged\t teeth,\t facing\t Christchurch\t Bay.\t The\t island\t was shielding\tthem\tfrom\tthe\tworst\tof\tthe\twind,\tblowing\tin\tfrom\tthe\tChannel\tIslands, Cherbourg\t peninsula\t and\t France.\t The\t remnants\t of\t the\t earlier\t storm\t had\t blown itself\tout. For\t a\t moment,\t the\t wind\t seemed\t to\t strengthen\t again,\t gusting\t and\t swirling. Every\t few\t seconds,\t a\t new\t torrent\t of\t water\t broke\t against\t the\t bow\t of\t the\t boat, soaking\t the\t men\t with\t spray.\t The\t engine\t note\t changed\t slightly,\t lost\t against\t the sound\t of\t their\t wash\t and\t waves.\t They\t turned\t their\t faces\t away\t from\t the\t wind, bracing\tthemselves\teach\ttime\tthe\tboat\tpitched\tinto\ta\tnew\twave.\tIn\ta\tfew\tminutes their\tclothes\tand\tequipment\twere\tsoaked.\tThe\tmen\tlicked\tsalt\tfrom\ttheir\tlips,\tas water\tsloshed\taround\ttheir\tfeet,\tmaking\tthe\tfloor\tslippery. The\tcastle\tcame\tcloser\tinto\tview\tand\tthey\tcould\tmake\tout\tthe\tbattlements\tand towers\tof\tthe\told\tfort.\tAn\toutline\tof\ta\tlighthouse\ttowered\tover\tthe\tencampment. A\t dull\t orange\t glow\t lit\t up\t the\t inside\t of\t the\t castle\t walls.\t Copper\t guessed\t it\t must be\t a\t campfire.\t He\t smiled\t to\t himself.\t The\t fire\t would\t diminish\t the\t defender\u2019s ability\tto\tsee\tanything\tin\tthe\tdark. Rounding\t the\t Hurst\t headland,\t their\t boat\t kept\t its\t distance\t from\t the\t beach, labouring\tagainst\tthe\tincoming\ttide\tthat\tflowed\tfaster\there,\tfunnelled\tover\trocks. Copper\u2019s\tmen\tshrank\tlower,\thidden\tfrom\tsight.\tCopper\tkept\this\teyes\tfocused\ton the\tshoreline.\tHis\tsenses\twere\talert,\tever\tvigilant\tfor\tany\twaves\tbreaking\tagainst obstructions\t in\t the\t water,\t buoys,\t posts,\t or\t fishing\t nets.\t He\t was\t fairly\t sure\t there were\tno\tsea\tdefences\tadded\tby\tthe\tHurst\tcrew\tto\tprotect\tagainst\tshore\tlandings by\tan\tinvading\tforce.\tThe\tpilot\tchecked\this\tbearings\tand\tpointed\tthe\tbow\tof\tthe","R.I.B\ttowards\tthe\tbeach\tin\tbetween\ttwo\tgroynes,\tnudging\tCopper\tto\tmake\tsure he\twas\thappy\tfor\tthem\tto\thead\tin.\tPeering\tover\tthe\tbow\tof\tthe\tboat,\tCopper\thad one\tfinal\tscan\tand\tgave\ta\tthumbs\tup.\tIt\twas\tsafe\tto\tproceed. Copper\twas\tunder\tno\tillusions.\tDespite\twhat\the\tknew\tof\tHurst\u2019s\tdefences,\the told\t his\t men\t never\t to\t underestimate\t an\t adversary.\t The\t castle\t would\t be\t well defended.\tA\tsignificant\tthreat\tthat\tneeded\teliminating\tonce\tand\tfor\tall.\tOne\tside of\t Copper\u2019s\t mouth\t curled\t upwards.\t He\t was\t looking\t forward\t to\t getting\t his\t own back.\t As\t his\t boss\t was\t fond\t of\t saying,\t revenge\t is\t a\t dish\t best\t served\t cold.\t The pilot\tkilled\tthe\tengines\tand\tthey\tsurfed\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tway\tin\tto\tthe\tbeach.","Chapter\tForty-four Will\t was\t fairly\t sure\t that\t he\t was\t not\t being\t followed.\t After\t his\t headlong\t dash from\t the\t Ship\t Inn\t to\t the\t outskirts\t of\t Lymington,\t he\t paused,\t gasping\t for\t breath behind\t an\t abandoned\t truck\t near\t the\t town\t sailing\t club,\t or\t what\t was\t left\t of\t it.\t It was\t little\t more\t than\t a\t burned-out\t shell,\t ravaged\t by\t fire\t and\t the\t winter\t storms. The\t car\t park\t was\t part\t waterlogged,\t scattered\t with\t abandoned\t vehicles.\t They were\t of\t no\t use\tto\t Will.\tMost\t were\trusting\theaps,\ttheir\tbatteries\tlong\tsince\tflat and\ttheir\tignitions\tdead. On\t the\t green,\t beside\t a\t band\t stand,\t he\t noticed\t a\t large\t mound,\t with\t black plastic\t sheeting\t flapping\t in\t the\t breeze.\t He\t squinted,\t trying\t to\t discern\t its\t shape and\t purpose\t in\t the\t darkness.\t With\t a\t shudder\t of\t realisation,\t he\t recognised\t it\t as man-made,\t like\t dozens\t of\t others\t scattered\t around\t the\t town.\t Bodies\t collected from\t the\t houses\t that\t lined\t the\t riverside,\t ready\t for\t collection\t and\t disposal\t by clean-up\t crews\t who\t never\t showed\t up.\t Perhaps\t they\t themselves\t had\t succumbed to\t the\t sickness.\t After\t all\t this\t time,\t he\t recognised\t the\t faint\t stench\t of\t decay,\t of bodies\tleft\tto\tdecompose\tabove\tground.\tA\tfeast\tfor\trats. He\t turned\t away,\t his\t chest\t still\t heaving,\t and\t slumped\t onto\t a\t bench,\t keeping his\t eyes\t fixed\t on\t the\t road\t behind.\t He\t half\t expected\t footsteps,\t but\t there\t was\t no movement,\t no\t torchlight\t searching\t out\t their\t quarry.\t Why\t hadn\u2019t\t they\t followed him?\t Wasn\u2019t\t it\t obvious\t he\t would\t head\t this\t way,\t making\t for\t the\t castle?\t His thighs\t were\t burning\t from\t the\t exertion\t of\t jogging\t the\t short\t distance\t from\t the town\tquay.\tHe\thad\tkept\tto\tside\tstreets\tas\tmuch\tas\tpossible.\tEither\the\thad\tgiven the\tmen\tfrom\tthe\thospital\tthe\tslip,\tor\telse\tthey\thad\tdecided\tit\tno\tlonger\tmattered whether\t he\t lived\t or\t died.\t He\t had\t served\t his\t purpose\t and\t sooner\t or\t later\t they would\thave\tkilled\thim,\tof\tthat\the\thad\tlittle\tdoubt. Will\t was\t just\t getting\t his\t breath\t back\t when\t he\t spotted\t something\t unusual, tucked\t behind\t a\t boat\t trailer.\t Half-buried\t beneath\t nautical\t paraphernalia,\t race buoys\t and\t coiled\t polypropylene\t rope\t were\t the\t handlebars\t of\t a\t bicycle.\t He debated\t whether\t it\t was\t worth\t burning\t time\t trying\t to\t free\t his\t hands\t or\t continue on\tfoot. For\t three\t long\t minutes,\t half\t crouching,\t he\t gyrated\t his\t whole\t body\t up\t and down,\t rubbing\t his\t wrists\t against\t the\t rusted\t metal\t edge\t of\t the\t trailer.\t The\t backs of\t his\t hands\t were\t raw\t from\t the\t friction\t and\t incessant\t scraping,\t but\t eventually","with\ta\tfinal\tgrimace\tand\ta\tgasp\tof\telation,\tthe\tplastic\tties\tbroke\tand\the\tpulled\this hands\t free.\t He\t massaged\t his\t shoulders\t and\t biceps,\t manipulating\t his\t painful fingers\t to\t restore\t full\t circulation.\t He\t levered\t the\t trailer\t upright,\t dragged\t the bicycle\tout\tfrom\tits\thiding\tplace,\tand\tlet\tthe\ttrailer\tcrash\tdown\tagain.\tHe\tlooked around\t half\t expecting\t to\t see\t a\t dozen\t men\t racing\t his\t way.\t Other\t than\t the rhythmic\t percussion\t of\t a\t hundred\t sets\t of\t rigging\t tapping\t against\t masts\t in\t the marina,\tthere\twas\tsilence. The\tmountain\tbike\twas\tin\tpoor\tcondition\twith\ttwo\tflat\ttyres,\ta\trusting\tframe and\t missing\t its\t saddle.\t Someone\t had\t discarded\t the\t bike\t here\t with\t good\t reason. He\tswung\this\tleg\tover\tand\ttested\tthe\tpedals.\tThe\tchain\tsqueaked\tround,\tcrying out\tfor\tsome\tlubrication.\tThe\tbrake\tpads\thad\teither\tperished\tor\twere\tmissing,\the couldn\u2019t\t tell\t in\t the\t darkness.\t Compared\t to\t running\t another\t ten\t kilometres,\t the bike\twas\tbetter\tthan\tnothing,\tbut\tonly\tjust. He\tpushed\toff,\twobbling\tunevenly\tdown\tthe\ttarmac\tsurface\tbefore\tpicking\tup speed\t and\t gaining\t some\t improved\t stability.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t risk\t going\t through\t the gears\t and\t peddled\t slowly\t on\t the\t rims\t at\t little\t more\t than\t walking\t pace.\t Passing the\t last\t of\t the\t boats\t in\t their\t cradles,\t beached\t like\t whales\t stranded\t by\t a\t falling tide,\the\tleft\tthe\tboatyard.\tHe\tmanoeuvred\tthe\tbike\tthrough\ta\tkissing\tgate,\tlifting the\t back\t wheel\t through.\t Beyond,\t the\t asphalt\t path\t stretched\t out\t ahead\t of\t him. Moonlight\treflected\toff\tthe\tLymington\triver\u2019s\tundulating\tsurface. He\t picked\t up\t his\t speed\t a\t little\t and\t quickly\t lost\t control,\t veering\t to\t the\t right down\tthe\tbank\tand\tending\tup\tin\ta\twatery\tditch.\tHe\tpicked\thimself\tup,\trelieved to\t be\t uninjured,\t his\t left\t side\t coated\t with\t what\t felt\t like\t mud\t but\t smelled\t worse. The\tfetid\twater\treeked\tof\tmethane\tand\tsewage.\tHe\twheeled\tthe\tbike\tback\tup\tthe bank,\tand\tnoticed\tthe\tchain\twas\thanging\tloose. Alone\tin\tthe\tdarkness,\the\tshouted\tobscenities\tinto\tthe\tnight,\tstartling\ta\tpair\tof birds\t nesting\t in\t the\t gorse\t and\t bushes\t below.\t He\t wasted\t a\t couple\t of\t minutes trying\t to\t get\t the\t chain\t back\t on,\t feeling\t the\t teeth\t of\t the\t gear\t wheels\t with\t his fingers.\t He\t tried\t to\t relocate\t the\t chain\t manually,\t but\t each\t time\t the\t tension\t was too\tloose.\tHe\ttried\tone\tlast\ttime,\tkneeling\tdown,\tspinning\tthe\tback\twheel\tbefore the\t chain\t could\t come\t loose\t again.\t With\t a\t sigh\t of\t relief,\t he\t straddled\t the\t frame, standing\thigh\ton\tthe\tpedals\tand\tpushed\toff\tonce\tmore. The\t footpath\t meandered\t across\t the\t mudflats,\t jagging\t left\t away\t from\t Hurst before\tlooping\tround\tacross\ta\tsmall\ttidal\tlock\twith\ta\tgate\tat\teach\tend.\tHe\tcaught his\tfirst\tsight\tof\tthe\tcastle\tin\tthe\tdistance.\tHe\twas\tstill\tsome\tway\taway,\tperhaps as\tfar\tas\tfive\tkilometres.\tIt\tlooked\tlike\ta\tslumbering\tdragon,\tbelching\tsmoke\tinto the\t night.\t Will\t picked\t up\t the\t pace\t again,\t making\t sure\t to\t stick\t to\t the\t middle\t of the\tpath,\this\tconfidence\tgrowing\tnow\the\thad\tthe\tmeasure\tof\tthe\tbike,\talbeit\tone with\tflat\ttyres.","Where\t the\t footpath\t eventually\t rejoined\t a\t narrow\t single-lane\t road\t at Keyhaven,\t he\t recognised\t the\t small\t quay,\t low\t buildings\t of\t the\t sailing\t club\t and car\t park\t beyond.\t Keeping\t the\t water\t on\t his\t left-hand\t side,\t he\t cycled\t down\t the lane\tnearest\tthe\t salt\tmarshes\tthat\tled\tout\ttowards\t Hurst\tSpit\tand\tthe\ttidal\troad that\t flooded\t in\t spring\t tides.\t The\t roadway\t was\t littered\t with\t seaweed\t and\t other detritus. The\t bicycle\t would\t be\t useless\t on\t shingle\t so\t he\t dumped\t it\t in\t a\t bush\t near\t the footbridge\tjust\tin\tcase\the\tneeded\tit\tagain.\tHe\tstarted\trunning,\this\tfeet\tslipping\ton the\tloose\tpebbles,\treducing\this\tprogress\tto\ta\tfast\twalk.\tIn\tthe\tdistance,\the\tcould see\tthe\tcastle.\tHe\twas\tso\tclose\tnow.\tIn\tno\tmore\tthan\ta\tmile\the\twould\tsee\this\told friends\tand\tbe\table\tto\twarn\tthem,\tproviding\the\twas\tnot\talready\ttoo\tlate.","Chapter\tForty-five It\twas\tTommy\u2019s\tturn\tto\tpatrol\tthe\tperimeter.\tHe\ttook\ta\tleisurely\tstroll\taround\tthe battlements\tby\ttorchlight,\tstopping\t to\tlook\tfrom\tthe\tvarious\tvantage\tpoints.\tAt the\teastern\tend\tof\tthe\tfortifications\the\tpaused,\tlooking\tback\ttowards\tLymington and\t Cowes,\t scanning\t for\t any\t lights\t in\t the\t darkness.\t The\t channel\t buoys\t were mostly\t still\t lit.\t Others\t without\t solar\t panels\t had\t long\t since\t gone\t dark,\t though with\tthe\twind\tin\tthe\tright\tdirection\tthe\tbells\tof\tsome\tof\tthe\tcardinal\tbuoys\tcould still\tbe\theard,\tclanging\taway. It\t was\t now\t almost\t two\t years\t since\t the\t last\t ship\t had\t arrived\t here.\t A\t coastal steamer,\t seen\t creeping\t in\t under\t cover\t of\t darkness\t through\t the\t deep-water channel\t towards\t the\t deserted\t dockyards\t of\t Southampton.\t Tommy\t wondered what\thad\thappened\tto\tthem.\tBeing\ton\ta\tship,\tlike\tthe\tMaersk\tCharlotte,\tsounded like\t the\t best\t place\t to\t wait\t out\t the\t virus,\t heavily\t laden,\t as\t she\t was,\t with\t stores and\t food.\t Perhaps\t enough\t to\t last\t a\t lifetime.\t The\t Charlotte\t had\t been\t anchored near\t the\t Brambles\t bank\t in\t Southampton\t Water\t for\t as\t long\t as\t anyone\t could remember,\t waiting\t to\t unload.\t He\t could\t just\t make\t out\t her\t dim\t anchor\t lights\t in the\tdarkness. The\t Solent\t had\t once\t been\t one\t of\t the\t busiest\t waterways\t of\t the\t world.\t A playground\tfor\tthe\trich\tand\tfamous.\tAmerica\u2019s\tCup\tyachts,\tsquare-riggers,\tgiant motor\t boats,\t gin\t palaces,\t sailing\t vessels\t of\t every\t description\t had\t graced\t the Solent.\t Ferries\t transporting\t day-trippers\t to\t the\t island,\t packed\t with\t foot passengers,\t bicycles\t and\t motorbikes,\t children\u2019s\t faces\t daubed\t with\t ice\t cream, cars\t and\t lorries\t crammed\t in\t tight.\t It\t had\t been\t a\t bustling,\t happy\t sort\t of\t place. Today\tit\twas\tdeserted\tand\tforlorn,\tforgotten\tby\tman,\tno\tlonger\tmaster\tof\tthe\tsea, but\tland-locked\tand\tdecimated\tby\tsickness.\tAnd\tyet,\teach\tday,\tthe\ttide\tcontinued its\t meticulous\t cycle,\t rising\t and\t falling,\t enslaved\t by\t the\t moon.\t Every\t few seconds\t the\t sea\t crashed\t against\t the\t rocks,\t its\t energy\t dissipated\t amongst\t the pebbles\tand\tedges,\tindifferent\tto\tman\u2019s\tdesperate\tplight. At\t the\t far\t end\t of\t the\t complex\t Hurst\t Spit\t stretched\t out\t back\t towards\t the orderly\tshapes\tof\thouses\tand\tretirement\taccommodation\tthat\tlined\tthe\tcliff-tops of\t Milford\t in\t the\t distance.\t He\t peered\t in\t to\t the\t darkness,\t trying\t to\t pick\t out\t any shapes\t approaching\t in\t the\t distance.\t To\t his\t left,\t he\t could\t make\t out\t the\t Needles rocks,\tand\twaves\tcrashing\tagainst\ttheir\tbase,\tand\tlighthouse.\tThe\tlighthouse\tno","longer\tcast\tits\tbeam\tover\tChristchurch\tBay\twarning\tships\tto\tstay\tclear.\tHis\teyes were\tplaying\ttricks\ton\thim,\tseeing\tthings\tthat\tweren't\tthere.\tHe\tblamed\tthe\tbeer he'd\tbeen\tdrinking,\tlong\tpast\tits\tsell-by\tdate. Walking\t back\t along\t the\t length\t of\t the\t southern\t wall,\t he\t headed\t over\t to\t the gateway\tto\tthe\tcentral\tcourtyard\tof\tthe\toriginal\tTudor\tfort\tand\tthe\timposing\tgun tower\tat\tits\theart\tthat\tlooked\tout\tover\tthe\twhole\tcastle\tcomplex.\tThis\tinner\tpart of\tthe\tcastle\twas\tkept\tlocked\tafter\thours.\tHe\ttook\ta\tminute\tto\tfind\tthe\toversized key\t with\t ornate\t ironwork\t and\t engraving\t the\t length\t of\t its\t shaft.\t The\t lock\t was original\tand\tfor\ta\tmoment\the\timagined\thimself\tas\ta\tTudor\tguard\tdressed\trather differently\t in\t chainmail,\t holding\t a\t lantern,\t opening\t the\t same\t door,\t making\t the same\tmidnight\tpatrol\tin\tservice\tof\tthe\tking. One\thalf\tof\tthe\tdoor\tswung\topen\tand\the\tstepped\tinside,\tsliding\tthe\theavy\tbolt into\t place.\t Crossing\t the\t stone-paved\t inner\t courtyard\t he\t climbed\t the\t outside staircase\t that\t curved\t around\t the\t main\t building\t till\t he\t reached\t the\t first-floor entrance\tto\tthe\tmain\tliving\tarea.\tInside\tthe\ttwelve-sided\twalls\tof\tthe\ttower\tit\twas cramped\t and\t dark,\t packed\t with\t sleeping\t bodies\t and\t stores.\t The\t doorway\t had once\t been\t a\t first-floor\t Tudor\t window,\t but\t Scottie\t said\t the\t internal\t spiral staircase\thad\tbeen\tadapted\tduring\tthe\treign\tof\tQueen\tVictoria\tto\tact\tas\ta\tconduit for\tlight\tfor\tthe\tlower\tlevel. As\t silently\t as\t possible\t Tommy\t lifted\t the\t latch\t back\t into\t place\t to\t avoid waking\tthe\tpair\tnearest\tthe\tentrance.\tTreading\tlightly\taround\ta\trow\tof\tcamp\tbeds and\tsleeping\tbags,\the\theaded\tup\tthe\tstairs\tto\ta\tflat\troof.\tPushing\topen\tthe\thalf- size\thatchway,\the\tcrawled\tout\ton\this\thands\tand\tknees. He\tloved\tit\tup\there.\tThe\tthree-hundred-and-sixty-degree\tpanoramic\tviews\tof the\t Solent\t were\t unparalleled.\t Even\t in\t the\t darkness,\t the\t sense\t of\t space\t was intoxicating.\t He\t closed\t his\t eyes\t and\t breathed\t in\t deeply,\t savouring\t the\t salt\t and seaweed\t in\t the\t air.\t It\t was\t an\t overcast\t and\t virtually\t moonless\t night.\t The\t strong breeze\t ruffled\t his\t hair\t and\t made\t him\t shiver\t slightly.\t He\t could\t hear\t waves breaking\t against\t the\t groynes\t and\t rocks\t below,\t pebbles\t scraping\t and\t sliding\t in sync\twith\tthe\tpull\tof\teach\treceding\twave. Was\tit\this\timagination\tor\twas\tthere\talso\tsomething\telse?\tHe\tthought\the\theard a\t voice\t and\t then\t a\t metallic\t sound\t that\t seemed\t out\t of\t place,\t coming\t from\t just outside\tthe\tcastle\twalls.\tHe\twas\tconvinced\this\tmind\twas\tplaying\ttricks\ton\thim. With\tso\tmany\tsleeping\tunder\tcanvas\tin\tthe\tcastle\tgrounds,\tit\twas\tlikely\tsomeone sleep-talking\t or\t knocking\t something\t over.\t With\t a\t shake\t of\t his\t head,\t he continued\ton\twith\this\tsweep. Looking\t north\t towards\t Keyhaven,\t he\t could\t make\t out\t the\t line\t of\t moored yachts\tin\tthe\ttidal\testuary.\tSilhouetted\tshapes\tand\tmasts\tswayed\tin\tthe\tprotected waters,\ttheir\tbows\tnodding\tgently\ttowards\thim.\tAll\twas\tquiet,\tas\tit\tshould\tbe.","He\tyawned\tand\twas\tjust\tabout\tto\thead\tback\tdown\twhen\the\theard\ta\tscrape\tof metal\t on\t stone.\t It\t sounded\t like\t an\t anchor\t dragged\t along\t the\t quayside.\t He couldn\u2019t\tplace\tits\tsource,\tbut\the\tthought\tit\tcame\tfrom\tthe\tdirection\tof\tthe\tbeach facing\tthe\tNeedles\tpassage.\tThere\tit\twas\tagain,\tit\twas\tlike\tsomeone\tcutting\tfish heads\ton\ta\tstone\tslab.\tWas\tsomeone\tout\tfishing\ttonight?\tAnother\tshiver\ttravelled down\this\tspine,\tthough\the\twas\tno\tlonger\tcold. He\thurried\tover\tto\tthe\tparapet\tbut\tsaw\tnothing\tout\tof\tplace.\tHe\trealised\tthere was\t a\t blind\t spot\t beneath\t him\t where\t he\t suspected\t the\t noise\t had\t come\t from.\t He shrugged\t his\t shoulders,\t blaming\t an\t overactive\t imagination.\t He\t should\t never have\t drunk\t that\t last\t beer.\t He\t needed\t to\t get\t a\t grip\t and\t head\t back\t to\t the\t gate, before\the\tweirded\thimself\tout. He\t thought\t he\t heard\t the\t sound\t again,\t convinced\t he\t could\t see\t movement. First,\t a\t pair\t of\t hands\t broke\t the\t straight\t line\t of\t the\t wall\u2019s\t edge,\t followed\t by\t the head\t and\t shoulders\t of\t a\t figure\t clambering\t over\t the\t wall.\t For\t a\t moment,\t the figure\t lay\t prone,\t turning\t its\t head\t slowly\t while\t it\t got\t its\t bearings.\t As\t Tommy looked\ton,\tpinching\thimself\tin\tdisbelief,\tanother\tfigure\tclambered\tover\tthe\tlip\tof the\twall\tand\tjoined\tthe\tfirst,\tlying\tflat,\twaiting. Tommy\t froze,\t unsure\t what\t to\t do\t next.\t If\t he\t moved,\t they\u2019d\t see\t him.\t In\t his rucksack\tslung\tacross\this\tback,\the\thad\ta\tflare\tgun\tand\ta\tpistol\twith\ttwo\tloaded clips.\t Very\t slowly,\t he\t sunk\t down\t behind\t the\t parapet,\t hoping\t that\t they\t were\t too occupied\t to\t notice\t him.\t He\t rummaged\t through\t the\t bag\t and\t found\t what\t he\t was looking\tfor.\tHe\tcocked\topen\tthe\tflare\tgun,\tchecked\tthere\twas\ta\tcartridge\tloaded, released\tthe\tsafety,\tpointed\tit\thigh\tabove\this\thead\tand\tfired. **** On\tthe\tshingle\tbeach,\tmaking\tslow\tprogress\ttowards\tHurst,\thands\ton\thips,\tWill was\tspent.\tHe\thad\thardly\teaten\ttoday,\tother\tthan\tthe\tapple\tsmuggled\tout\tto\thim. There\t had\t been\t barely\t enough\t food\t at\t the\t pub\t for\t such\t a\t large\t host,\t and\t the unplanned\textra\tnight\u2019s\tstay\tat\tthe\tShip\tInn\thad\texhausted\tthe\tlandlord\u2019s\tmeagre stores.\tWill\thad\tbeen\tlast\tin\tline\tfor\tscraps\tand\thand-outs.\tHe\twas\talso\tparched, his\tlips\tdry\tand\tsore.\tHe\tpushed\ton.\tThere\twould\tbe\tplenty\tof\ttime\tfor\tfood\tand drink\twhen\the\treached\tthe\tcastle.\tIn\this\tmind,\the\tvisualised\tsitting\tin\tthe\tHurst canteen\t wolfing\t down\t second\t helpings\t of\t his\t favourite\t vegetable\t lasagne\t and\t a tankard\t of\t Jack\u2019s\t home-brewed\t ale.\t He\t salivated\t just\t thinking\t about\t it,\t licking his\tlips\twith\ta\tdry\ttongue. A\t red\t light\t soared\t above\t Hurst\t and\t exploded\t in\t the\t night\t sky,\t bathing\t the whole\tof\tthe\tcastle\tand\tits\tsurroundings\tin\tan\torange\tglow.\tWill\tfroze,\twatching the\t flare\t drift\t on\t the\t breeze\t over\t the\t estuary,\t pick\t out\t a\t large\t boat\t that\t was","approaching\t the\t small\t jetty\t behind\t the\t castle.\t It\t looked\t like\t he\t was\t already\t too late.\tThe\tattack\ton\tHurst\thad\tbegun.","Chapter\tForty-six In\tthe\tguardhouse\tby\tthe\tmain\tgate,\tScottie\theard\tthe\tpop\tof\tthe\tflare.\tHe\tsat\tbolt upright,\tdropped\tthe\tbook\the\twas\treading\tand\tthrew\this\tglasses\ton\tto\tthe\ttable. He\t grabbed\t the\t large\t handbell\t from\t its\t place\t on\t a\t bookshelf\t and\t scrambled through\t the\t doorway,\t peering\t up\t at\t the\t orange\t glow\t as\t the\t small\t blur\t of\t light blazed\tin\tthe\tsky\tabove\thim. Scottie\u2019s\tfirst\tthought\twas\tthat\tthis\thad\tto\tbe\tone\tof\tTommy\u2019s\tpractical\tjokes. It\t was\t the\t kind\t of\t stunt\t that\t Tommy\t was\t notorious\t for,\t but\t surely\t even\t he wouldn\u2019t\tgo\tthis\tfar,\twould\the?\tHe\tdithered\tfor\ta\tfew\tprecious\tseconds,\tsuddenly unsure\twhether\tit\twas\ta\tfalse\talarm\tor\ta\treal\temergency.\tHe\tfound\tit\tdifficult\tto imagine\twhat\tcould\tpossibly\tbe\tworth\twaking\tthe\twhole\tcamp\tfor\tin\tthe\tdead\tof night. Scottie\twas\tstill\tgawping\tup\tinto\tthe\tnight\tsky,\twide-eyed,\tadrenaline\tpulsing, when\t he\t heard\t shouting\t from\t up\t high.\t Suddenly\t gripped\t by\t a\t very\t real\t fear, Scottie\tstarted\tringing\tthe\tbell\tas\tloudly\tas\the\tcould. All\taround\tHurst,\tmen,\twomen\tand\tchildren\twere\troused\tfrom\ttheir\tslumber. Shaken\t awake\t and\t turfed\t out\t of\t their\t beds\t by\t the\t prospect\t of\t an\t imminent though\t unknown\t threat.\t To\t Scottie,\t it\t sounded\t like\t a\t village\t coming\t to\t life\t at once,\t voices\t and\t noises\t in\t the\t darkness.\t He\t grabbed\t the\t rifle\t and\t stood\t alone, alert\t and\t waiting,\t scanning\t the\t battlements,\t watching\t the\t flare\t as\t it\t drifted\t over his\t head\t towards\t Keyhaven,\t casting\t long\t shadows\t in\t the\t eerie\t silence\t that followed.\t What\t could\t have\t spooked\t Tommy?\t He\t rocked\t backwards\t and forwards\ton\this\theels,\tlooking\taround\thim,\tpuzzled. A\trifle\tcrack\tsplintered\tthe\tstone\tclose\tto\this\thead,\tand\this\tright\tear\tseemed\tto explode\twith\ta\tsearing\tpain.\tHis\thand\tcame\taway\tslick\twith\tblood.\tHe\tcrouched down,\t manoeuvring\t himself\t back\t behind\t the\t doorway\t to\t the\t guardhouse.\t The bell\t was\t still\t in\t his\t right\t hand\t and\t he\t started\t ringing\t it\t again\t as\t loudly\t as possible.\t He\t clasped\t a\t pocket\t handkerchief\t to\t his\t ear,\t trying\t to\t staunch\t the steady\tflow\tof\tblood.\tWho\tthe\thell\twas\tfiring\tat\thim? **** Back\ton\tthe\tGun\tTower,\tTommy\twas\tstill\tcowering\tbehind\tthe\tparapet,\twatching the\tflare\tdrift\ton\tthe\twind.\tHe\tsteeled\thimself,\ttrying\tto\tget\ta\tgrip\ton\tthe\tsurging","panic\t threatening\t to\t get\t the\t better\t of\t him.\t His\t heart\t was\t pounding\t so\t fast\t he thought\the\tmight\tbe\thaving\tan\tasthma\tattack. He\tpoked\this\thead\tover\tthe\tledge,\ttrying\tto\tget\ta\tlook\tat\twhat\twas\tgoing\ton beneath\thim.\tA\tshort\tburst\tof\tautomatic\tfire\tmade\thim\tduck\tdown\tagain.\tBullets seemed\tto\tricochet\toff\tthe\tlip\tof\tthe\twall,\tshowering\thim\tin\tstone\tfragments\tand dust.\t He\t moved\t to\t his\t right\t and\t tried\t again.\t This\t time\t he\t got\t a\t clear\t view\t of three\tmen,\tedging\tslowly\t across\tthe\t roof\ttowards\tthe\tcourtyard\tand\t front\tgate. One\t man\t took\t up\t position\t behind\t a\t chimney,\t getting\t ready\t to\t provide\t covering fire.\t A\t silhouetted\t figure\t took\t the\t strain\t on\t a\t rope,\t while\t another\t abseiled\t the short\tdistance\tto\tground\tlevel. Out\tin\tthe\twestern\twing\tof\tthe\tcomplex,\the\tcould\tsee\ta\tsmall\tcrowd\tof\tpeople pointing\t at\t the\t men\t on\t top\t of\t the\t wall.\t Tommy\t shouted\t at\t them,\t realising\t the danger.\tFor\ta\tmoment,\tthe\tintruder\twas\tclearly\tvisible\tby\tthe\tfading\tlight\tof\tthe flare.\tHe\tturned\tand\tbrought\this\tweapon\tto\tbear,\taiming\tsquarely\tat\tthe\tgroup. A\t heavy-set\t man\t emerged\t from\t a\t doorway,\t gesticulating\t at\t the\t man\t on\t the roof.\tA\tshort\tdeafening\tburst\tsplit\tthe\tair.\tThe\tfirst\tsalvo\tdowned\tthe\tman\tbefore the\tgunman\tmoved\ton\tto\this\tnext\ttarget.\tHe\tfired\tindiscriminately\tnow.\tStanding in\t the\t open,\t they\t were\t like\t fish\t in\t a\t barrel.\t Tommy\u2019s\t warnings\t were\t lost\t as\t a second\tgunman\tbegan\tfiring. Something\t suddenly\t snapped\t inside\t Tommy,\t an\t anger\t he\t had\t not\t felt\t since his\t father\t died.\t This\t time\t was\t different.\t There\t was\t a\t channel,\t an\t outlet\t for\t his rage.\t Whoever\t these\t men\t were,\t they\t would\t pay\t for\t what\t they\t had\t done.\t He shook\t his\t head\t and\t tried\t to\t blink\t away\t the\t last\t traces\t of\t alcohol\t still\t coursing through\this\tveins.\tPerhaps\tit\twould\tgive\thim\tthe\tDutch\tcourage\the\tneeded. **** Tommy\t hurried\t down\t the\t stairs\t to\t join\t Nathan\t and\t Liz\t who\t were\t assembling\t a motley\t group\t of\t volunteers.\t One\t man\t wore\t no\t shoes,\t another\t looked\t half- dressed.\t Despite\t their\t training,\t they\t all\t looked\t terrified.\t Everyone\t looked\t at Tommy\t as\t if\t the\t rifle\t lent\t him\t some\t authority.\t With\t Jack\t and\t Terra\t away,\t and Zed\tand\tRiley\tstill\tnot\tback,\tit\twas\tup\tto\tthem\tto\trally\tthe\tdefence\tof\tthe\tcastle. Tommy\t cleared\t his\t throat\t and\t stepped\t forward,\t his\t voice\t breathless\t and\t full\t of emotion.\tInside,\the\twas\tfighting\tto\tcontrol\tthe\tfear\twhich\tgripped\this\tchest\tlike\ta vice. \u201cListen\t up.\u201d\t His\t voice\t sounded\t weird\t in\t his\t head,\t like\t it\t was\t coming\t from someone\telse.\tHis\tfather\u2019s\tvoice.\t\u201cWe\tdon\u2019t\thave\tmuch\ttime.\tI\tsaw\tfour\tmen,\tbut there\t could\t be\t others.\t We\t have\t no\t idea\t how\t many\t are\t already\t inside\t the\t castle walls\tand\thow\tmany\tof\tthem\tcould\tbe\twaiting\toutside.\u201d","Nathan\t took\t over\t from\t Tommy,\t his\t voice\t trembling.\t \u201cJamie\t and\t the\t rest\t of you\twith\trifles,\tget\tback\tup\ton\tthe\troof\tand\tgive\tus\tcovering\tfire.\tWe\u2019ve\tgot\tto stop\tthem\treaching\tthe\tmain\tgate.\u201d Nathan\t handed\t out\t the\t few\t remaining\t guns\t to\t the\t volunteers,\t together\t with the\tknives,\tswords\tand\ta\tmedieval\tcrossbow\twith\ta\tsingle\tbolt. Greta\tstood\tready\tby\tthe\tlocked\tdoor\tto\tthe\tcourtyard.\tShe\tdrew\tback\tthe\tbolt as\t quietly\t as\tshe\tdared.\tNathan\u2019s\tparty\tof\tfive\tsized\teach\tother\t up\twith\tgritted teeth,\t trying\t to\t hide\t their\t terror.\t None\t of\t them\t were\t fighters\t but\t they\t had\t no choice.\t This\t was\t tantamount\t to\t suicide.\t They\t didn\u2019t\t stand\t a\t chance.\t Tommy noticed\t a\t wet\t patch\t appear\t on\t the\t crotch\t of\t the\t man\t next\t to\t him.\t His\t hand\t was shaking\tuncontrollably,\tas\ta\tlarge\tpuddle\tpooled\tnext\tto\this\tleft\tboot.\tHe\tpatted the\tman\ton\tthe\tshoulder\tbefore\tracing\tup\tthe\tstairs\tto\tjoin\tJamie\ton\tthe\troof. Once\tTommy\twas\tin\tposition,\the\tshouted\tto\tthe\tparty\tbelow.\tOn\tthe\tcount\tof three,\tGreta\tunlocked\tthe\tgate\tand\tthe\tfive\tof\tthem\tjostled\tthrough\tthe\tdoorway, with\ttwo\tshotguns\tat\ttheir\thead.\tGreta\tslammed\tthe\tdoor\tbehind\tthem\tand\tclosed her\t eyes,\t saying\t a\t silent\t prayer.\t Nathan\u2019s\t team\t made\t a\t dash\t for\t the\t guardhouse where\t Scottie\t was\t waving\t them\t forward.\t He\t had\t taken\t up\t position\t with\t a\t rifle, taking\t pot\t shots\t at\t the\t two\t men\t on\t the\t roof\t as\t they\t advanced\t along\t the\t rooftop towards\thim. As\t Nathan\u2019s\t group\t surged\t forward,\t a\t hail\t of\t bullets\t felled\t two\t of\t the\t Hurst men\tin\tquick\tsuccession.\tOne\tman\ttook\ta\tshot\tto\tthe\tleg,\tpassing\tclean\tthrough his\t calf\t and\t the\t other\t went\t down\t clutching\t his\t abdomen.\t The\t rest\t of\t the\t group promptly\t lost\t their\t nerve\t and\t turned\t tail,\t retreating\t to\t the\t safety\t of\t the\t Tudor archway.\t With\t their\t fists,\t they\t banged\t impotently\t for\t Greta\t to\t let\t them\t back inside.\tFor\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tthey\twere\ttrapped. Tommy\tand\tthe\tother\tHurst\triflemen\ton\tthe\troof\tcouldn\u2019t\tget\tan\tangle\tof\tfire. Without\texposing\tthemselves\tto\ta\tvolley\tof\treturn\tfire,\tno\tone\thad\ta\tclean\tshot. Hidden\t out\t of\t sight\t with\t a\t field\t of\t fire\t covering\t the\t courtyard\t and\t entrance, Copper\u2019s\tmen\thad\tScottie\tpinned\tdown. Tommy\tlooked\ton\thelplessly.\tTwo\tof\tNathan\u2019s\tmen\twrithed\tin\tagony\tjust\tout of\t reach.\t Each\t time\t one\t of\t them\t reached\t forward\t to\t try\t to\t pull\t the\t others\t to safety,\tthe\tground\tbetween\tthem\tseemed\tto\texplode\twith\tbullets.\tFrom\tround\tthe corner,\t in\t the\t archway\t leading\t to\t the\t main\t entrance,\t Tommy\t could\t hear\t Scottie shouting\tfor\thelp.\tFor\ta\tfew\tseconds,\teach\tside\twaited\tfor\tthe\tother\tto\tmake\tthe next\tmove. **** From\t behind\t a\t buttress,\t Scottie\t took\t up\t a\t kneeling\t position,\t firing\t sporadically","towards\t the\t men\t on\t the\t roof\t opposite.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t have\t a\t shot\t and\t was\t running low\ton\tammunition.\tThere\twas\tstill\tno\tsign\tof\treinforcements.\tBehind\thim\tcame the\tsound\tof\ta\trifle\tbutt\tsmashing\tagainst\tthe\traised\tdrawbridge.\tHe\tsmiled\tfor\ta split\tsecond,\tknowing\tit\twould\ttake\ta\tbattering\tram. He\t whipped\t his\t head\t round\t as\t a\t smoke\t canister\t landed\t just\t in\t front\t of\t his position,\tswiftly\tfollowed\tby\ta\tsecond.\tWith\ta\tloud\tpop\tand\ta\thiss,\tsmoke\tbegan to\tfill\tthe\tcourtyard.\tIn\ta\tfew\tseconds,\this\twhole\tfield\tof\tvision\twas\tshrouded\tin billowing\tclouds\tof\tchoking,\tcloying\tgas. Two\tof\tCopper\u2019s\tmen\tshimmied\tdown\ta\trope\tfrom\tabove\tand\temerged\tfrom cover,\tadvancing\ttowards\tScottie\twearing\tgas\tmasks.\tWithout\ta\tclear\ttarget,\tthey fired\t controlled\t bursts\t at\t shapes\t and\t shadows.\t Unable\t to\t see\t anything,\t Scottie peered\t into\t the\t cloud.\t As\t the\t smoke\t swirled\t towards\t his\t position,\t he\t stifled\t a cough.\tThe\tsmoke\tcompletely\tenveloped\tthe\tTudor\tgate,\trendering\tTommy\tand the\tothers\tblind. Scottie\ttook\this\tchance.\tUnseen\tby\tthe\tinvaders,\the\tdived\tacross\tthe\tarchway. Scrambling\t through\t the\t open\t doorway\t to\t the\t guardhouse,\t he\t slammed\t and locked\t the\t door\t behind\t him.\t He\t was\t safe\t for\t the\t time\t being,\t but\t had\t just\t cut himself\toff\tfrom\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tHurst\tgroup. Meanwhile,\tNathan\tmust\thave\tseen\tor\theard\tthe\tinvaders\tadvancing\ttowards him,\t hammering\t on\t the\t door\t until\t Greta\t let\t them\t back\t through.\t They\t collapsed inside,\t coughing\t and\t spluttering.\t Wisps\t of\t the\t smoke\t dissipated\t slowly\t around them.\t Tommy\t raced\t down\t the\t stairs\t to\t confer\t with\t Nathan.\t They\t were outgunned.\t Their\t nerves\t shredded\t by\t the\t speed\t of\t their\t demise\t and\t the\t ferocity of\tthe\tfire\tthey\thad\tfaced.\tNathan\thad\tlost\thalf\this\tgroup\tin\ta\tmatter\tof\tseconds. The\t battle\t for\t the\t main\t gate\t was\t lost.\t Tommy\t knew\t that\t now.\t And\t yet,\t he consoled\t himself\t with\t the\t fact\t that\t the\t bulk\t of\t Hurst\u2019s\t occupants\t were\t safe\t for now.\tBetween\tthem\tand\ttheir\tattackers\twere\tstone\twalls\tfrom\tanother\ttime.\tSix feet\tthick\tand\tbuilt\tto\twithstand\tthe\tvery\tworst\tthe\tFrench\tand\tSpanish\tnavies\tof yesteryear\tcould\thurl\ttheir\tway.\tTommy\twas\tfairly\tsure\tthat\tthe\tcastle\tcould\thold out\t against\t a\t superior\t force\t for\t many\t days.\t The\t unlucky\t few\t trapped\t on\t the wrong\tside\tof\tthe\tTudor\tgate\twould\thave\tto\tfend\tfor\tthemselves.\tUnfortunately, that\tincluded\tScottie. **** Outside\tthe\tcastle\tcomplex,\tthe\tman\tin\tblack\twaited\timpatiently,\tpacing\taround. His\tplan\twas\tworking\tperfectly,\tbut\tnot\tknowing\twhat\twas\tgoing\ton\tinside\twas killing\thim.\tWhy\twas\tit\ttaking\tCopper\tso\tlong? The\t main\t force\t had\t arrived\t unopposed\t in\t the\t small\t harbour\t area.\t They\t had","silently\t approached\t the\t main\t gate,\t crossing\t what\t would\t once\t have\t been\t a\t moat surrounding\t the\t original\t Tudor\t fort.\t Today\t it\t was\t little\t more\t than\t a\t ditch.\t They had\t their\t backs\t pressed\t against\t the\t stone\t walls,\t looking\t up\t nervously\t in\t case there\twere\tany\tsharpshooters\ton\tthe\tramparts\tabove\tthem.\tThey\tknew\tfirst-hand that\tit\tpaid\tto\tbe\tcareful. The\tdrawbridge\twas\tstill\t raised\tand\tbeyond\tthe\tformidable\tstone\tand\twood defences\t they\t were\t listening\t to\t the\t fire\t fight.\t The\t man\t in\t black\t smiled\t and pressed\t his\t cheek\t against\t the\t cold\t of\t the\t stone,\t trying\t to\t interpret\t the\t sounds from\twithin.\tHe\tseemed\tto\tbe\tenjoying\thimself\tand\tstarted\tto\twhistle.\tWhen\the heard\t the\t pop\t and\t hiss\t of\t the\t smoke\t grenades,\t he\t clicked\t his\t fingers\t and gesticulated\t at\t one\t of\t the\t others\t in\t the\t darkness,\t recognising\t his\t plan\t playing out. The\tinterrogation\tof\tWill\thad\tbeen\tdecisive.\tThe\tcastle\twas\tindeed\tvulnerable and\twould\tbe\ttaken\twith\tminimal\tcasualties.\tLosing\ta\tfew\tof\tCopper\u2019s\tmen\twas neither\t here\t nor\t there.\t It\t was\t an\t acceptable\t price\t to\t pay\t for\t this\t jewel\t of\t the Solent.\tHurst\twas\tto\tbe\tan\timportant\tstrategic\tpillar\tfor\this\tnew\tempire. **** Back\t on\t the\t roof\t of\t the\t tower,\t the\t man\t next\t to\t Tommy\t took\t a\t bullet\t to\t the shoulder,\tsending\this\trifle\tclattering.\tTommy\tpicked\tit\tup,\tchecked\tit\twas\tloaded and\t scanned\t for\t targets.\t The\t smoke\t masking\t the\t movement\t of\t the\t invaders\t as they\tfought\ttheir\tway\ttowards\tthe\tgate\tparted\tsuddenly\texposing\ta\tsolitary\tfigure for\ta\tsecond. Tommy\ttook\tcareful\taim,\tletting\this\tbreath\tout\tslowly\tas\tZed\thad\ttaught\thim, before\tsqueezing\tthe\ttrigger.\tThe\trecoil\tfrom\tthe\trifle\tsurprised\thim\tand\the\tlost sight\t of\t the\t figure\t below.\t When\t the\t smoke\t next\t cleared,\t he\t could\t make\t out\t a body\t lying\t prone\t on\t the\t ground,\t then\t the\t smoke\t obscured\t his\t view\t again.\t He punched\t the\t air\t in\t delight\t to\t muted\t congratulations\t from\t the\t man\t next\t to\t him clutching\t his\t injured\t shoulder.\t How\t many\t more\t were\t there?\t Nathan\t had\t tasked them\t with\t stopping\t the\t men\t from\t reaching\t the\t front\t gate,\t but\t with\t the\t counter- attack\t over,\t almost\t before\t it\t had\t begun,\t the\t balance\t of\t power\t had\t swung violently\tagainst\tthem. **** Scottie\tcould\tonly\tlisten\tto\tthe\tfire\tfight,\twondering\thelplessly\twhat\thad\tbecome of\t his\t friends.\t The\t door\t handle\t close\t to\t his\t ear\t silently\t began\t to\t turn.\t He\t heard whispered\t voices.\t There\t were\t two\t men\t outside.\t Would\t they\t try\t to\t break\t down","the\t door?\t Or\t would\t they\t leave\t him\t there,\t trapped\t while\t they\t tried\t to\t open\t the drawbridge?\t A\t second\t group\t shouted\t instructions\t from\t outside\t the\t gate.\t He could\t hear\t muffled\t sounds,\t perhaps\t struggling\t with\t the\t release\t mechanism\t for the\t drawbridge.\t Scottie\t smiled,\t remembering\t how\t stiff\t and\t awkward\t it\t was unless\tyou\tknew\thow.\tThe\tfootsteps\thurried\taway\tback\tto\tthe\tcourtyard\tand\the relaxed\t in\t the\t brief\t silence\t that\t followed,\t beginning\t to\t feel\t safe\t behind\t the barricaded\t door,\t jammed\t shut\t with\t a\t heavy\t oak\t desk\t and\t metal\t filing\t cabinet stacked\ton\ttop\tof\tit.\tHe\thad\this\tback\tto\tthe\tdesk,\tready\tto\tpush\tback\tif\tsomeone tried\tto\tforce\ttheir\tway\tin. The\t silence\t stretched.\t Perhaps\t they\t had\t given\t up.\t Where\t were\t those reinforcements?\t Either\t his\t friends\t had\t been\t beaten\t back\t or\t they\t were\t dead.\t On his\town,\tstuck\tin\tthe\tguardhouse,\tthere\twas\tnothing\the\tcould\tdo.\tHe\tchecked\this ammunition.\tTwelve\tmore\trounds,\tthen\the\twas\tout. He\t searched\t the\t desk,\t looking\t for\t anything\t he\t could\t use,\t but\t the\t drawers were\t mostly\t full\t of\t paperwork,\t ticket\t stubs,\t pencils\t and\t pens.\t The\t shelves\t each side\tof\tthe\twindow\twere\tstacked\twith\tguidebooks\tof\tthe\tcastle\tand\tmaps\tof\tthe local\tarea,\ttogether\twith\tassorted\tmerchandise\tfrom\twhen\tthe\tguardhouse\tserved as\t the\t ticket\t office\t and\t gift\t shop.\t The\t second\t room\t towards\t the\t back\t proved more\t rewarding.\t He\t found\t biscuits\t and\t bottled\t water,\t together\t with\t a\t walkie- talkie\twith\tworking\tbatteries.\tHe\tturned\tthe\tvolume\tdial\tand\tgot\ta\tburst\tof\tstatic. He\tleft\tit\ton\tlow\tin\tcase\tsomeone\telse\tin\tthe\tcastle\twas\ttrying\tto\tcontact\thim. Two\texplosions\ta\tcouple\tof\tmilliseconds\tapart\tsent\tdust\tshowering\tdown\ton top\tof\thim.\tThe\tdeafening\tnoise\techoed\tround\tthe\tconfined\tspace.\tHe\tstaggered against\t the\t wall,\t dazed\t and\t disoriented.\t The\t ringing\t in\t his\t ears\t drowned\t out\t all other\tsounds,\tincluding\this\town\tcries\tof\tanguish. **** The\t blast\t from\t the\t two\t charges\t had\t torn\t one\t side\t of\t the\t drawbridge\t from\t its hinges\t and\t its\t wood\t was\t broken\t and\t splintered.\t Copper\t waited\t for\t the\t dust\t to settle.\tA\tdraft\tof\twind\tthrough\tthe\tnew\topening\tslowly\tdispersed\tthe\tsmoke\tfrom the\texplosion.\tScorch\tmarks\tdiscoloured\tthe\twalls\tand\tceiling.\tThrough\tthe\tblast hole\tclambered\tCopper\u2019s\tboss,\tquickly\tfollowed\tby\tthe\trest\tof\this\tmen. The\t two\t men\t embraced\t but\t their\t moment\t of\t self-congratulation\t quickly passed\tas\ta\tbullet\tricocheted\ton\tthe\tstone\tfloor.\tOut\tof\tsight,\tin\tthe\tshadows,\tthe defenders\ton\tthe\troof\tof\tthe\tGun\tTower\twere\texchanging\tfire\twith\tthe\tintruders below.\tA\tsniper\thad\ttaken\tup\tposition\tbehind\ta\tchimneystack\ton\tthe\troof\tof\tone of\t the\t gun\t batteries.\t In\t the\t gathering\t darkness,\t he\t was\t all\t but\t invisible,\t picking off\tthe\tHurst\tmen\twhenever\tthey\trevealed\tthemselves\tabove\tthe\tparapet.","Copper\u2019s\tteam\trounded\tthe\tcorner,\tstaying\tclose\tto\tthe\twall.\tHe\tattached\tthe last\tremaining\tset\tof\tcharges\tto\tthe\tinner\tgate\tleading\tto\tthe\told\tTudor\tcastle\tand the\t eastern\t wing\t beyond,\t where\t the\t bulk\t of\t Hurst\u2019s\t occupants\t were\t now cowering. **** Inside\tthe\tTudor\tfortress,\tTommy\tand\tthe\tothers\twere\tbarricading\tdoorways\tand fortifying\t firing\t positions\t with\t anything\t they\t could\t get\t their\t hands\t on. Overturned\tbeds\tand\tmattresses\twere\tdragged\tagainst\twindows\toverlooking\tthe courtyard.\t Tommy\t was\t confident\t that\t if\t the\t invaders\t did\t get\t through\t the\t gate, they\twould\tbe\twalking\tinto\ta\tkill\tzone.\tAnything\tand\tanyone\tthat\tcame\tthrough would\tbe\tcut\tto\tshreds.\tIt\twould\tbe\ta\tturkey\tshoot. When\tthe\tlast\tof\tthe\tcharges\texploded,\tthe\tblast\treverberated\tin\tthe\tenclosed space.\tThe\tdeafening\tsound\trumbled\tthroughout\tthe\tTudor\tcomplex\tand\tnetwork of\t dark\t tunnels\t and\t chambers\t beneath\t their\t feet.\t For\t a\t few\t long\t seconds following\t the\t explosion,\t nothing\t happened.\t No\t one\t dared\t come\t through\t the doorway.\t Tommy\t and\t the\t others\t stood\t ready,\t guns\t trained\t on\t the\t gap,\t where light\tnow\tstreamed\tthrough\tfrom\ta\thigh-powered\ttorch\tor\tlantern. Something\tmetallic\tcame\tskidding\tthrough\tthe\tdoorway,\tfollowed\tby\tthe\tnow familiar\tpop\tand\thiss\tof\ta\tsmoke\tcanister\tas\tit\tcame\tto\trest\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe courtyard.\t One\t of\t the\t defenders\t emerged\t from\t the\t shadows\t to\t try\t and\t kick\t the grenade\tback\twhere\tit\tcame\tfrom.\tA\thail\tof\tfire\tthrew\thim\tback\tagainst\tthe\twall where\the\tslid\tdown,\tclutching\ta\twound\tto\tthe\tchest.\tHe\tdisappeared\tfrom\tview, shrouded\tin\tan\timpenetrable\tcloud\tof\torange\tgas\tthat\tbegan\tto\tfill\tthe\tcourtyard. The\t cloud\t rose\t inexorably\t towards\t Jamie\t and\t the\t men\t on\t the\t roof\t of\t the\t Gun Tower.\t They\t could\t now\t see\t nothing\t at\t all\t below\t them\t and\t scanned\t for\t any shapes\t or\t movement.\t They\t could\t hear\t footsteps\t and\t one\t man\t fired\t on\t instinct towards\tthe\tsource\tof\tthe\tnoise.\tStanding\tto\tsee\tif\the\u2019d\thit\tanything,\tthere\twas\ta loud\t crack\t and\t the\t man\t to\t Jamie\u2019s\t right\t went\t down.\t The\t others\t dropped\t lower behind\tthe\tparapet\tand\twaited.\tThe\tattackers\twere\tinside\tthe\tTudor\tcastle.\tThere was\t nothing\t now\t between\t them\t and\t taking\t control\t of\t the\t whole\t complex.\t Only the\tGun\tTower\tnow\tremained\tsecure.","Chapter\tForty-seven The\t fire\t fight\t was\t over.\t For\t a\t few\t minutes,\t there\t was\t an\t eerie\t silence,\t bar\t the cries\t for\t help\t from\t the\t wounded\t on\t both\t sides.\t Tommy\t peered\t out\t the\t window into\tthe\tcourtyard\tfrom\tbehind\ta\tcurtain\tin\tthe\tGun\tTower. From\t beyond\t the\t damaged\t gate,\t he\t heard\t a\t measured\t hand\t clap.\t One\t of\t the men\t below\t spoke\t in\t a\t slow\t deliberate\t voice,\t imbued\t with\t a\t calm\t authority\t that reminded\tTommy\tof\ta\thigh-court\tjudge\tdelivering\this\tsentence\tto\ta\tcondemned man.\t\u201cBravo,\tbravo.\tYou\thave\tfought\twell.\tHistory\twill\tremember\tyour\tbravery. But\t enough\t is\t enough.\t There\t is\t no\t need\t for\t any\t more\t of\t you\t to\t die unnecessarily.\t Lay\t down\t your\t weapons\t and\t come\t out\t from\t your\t hiding\t places with\tyour\tarms\traised.\tThis\tis\tnot\ta\tbattle\tyou\tcan\twin.\u201d The\t voice\t paused,\t its\t words\t echoing\t around\t the\t battlements.\t Tommy\t looked on,\t his\t face\t hidden,\t aware\t of\t faces\t pressed\t together\t behind\t him,\t trying\t to\t get\t a look\t at\t the\t silhouetted\t figure\t behind\t the\t disembodied\t voice\t in\t the\t darkness.\t He looked\tover\this\tshoulder\tand\tstudied\ttheir\tfaces.\tThey\tlooked\tdefeated,\tthe\tfight gone\tfrom\tthem. Outside,\t a\t figure\t dressed\t in\t black\t emerged\t from\t the\t archway,\t marching\t two prisoners\t ahead\t of\t him,\t using\t one\t as\t a\t shield,\t a\t pistol\t held\t to\t the\t side\t of\t his head.\t Tommy\t recognised\t the\t human\t shield\t immediately.\t It\t was\t Jackson,\t one\t of the\t recent\t arrivals.\t Jackson\t stared\t straight\t back\t at\t the\t window\t where\t Tommy was\t hiding\t as\t if\t he\t could\t see\t him\t as\t clear\t as\t day,\t despite\t the\t near\t darkness.\t It chilled\t Tommy\t to\t the\t bone,\t knowing\t that\t they\t would\t have\t to\t choose\t between surrender\tand\twatching\this\tfriend\tbe\texecuted. \u201cIf\t you\t surrender\t now,\t I\t give\t you\t my\t word\t that\t no\t one\t else\t from\t Hurst\t will die\ttonight.\u201d\tThe\tspeaker\u2019s\tsense\tof\ttheatre\twas\tnot\tlost\ton\tothers.\tHe\tseemed\tto be\t relishing\t this\t moment\t of\t drama,\t milking\t the\t tension\t on\t both\t sides,\t knowing eyes\twere\twatching\this\tevery\tmove,\twondering\twhat\the\twould\tdo\tnext. There\t was\t silence.\t Tommy\t stayed\t completely\t still,\t his\t mind\t racing.\t What would\t his\t father\t have\t done\t in\t this\t situation?\t A\t thought\t occurred\t to\t him\t and\t he smiled\tin\tspite\tof\tthe\tcircumstances. \u201cOf\t course,\t if\t you\t do\t not\t surrender,\t I\t can\t assure\t you,\t you\t will\t all\t die,\u201d continued\t the\t voice\t from\t below.\t \u201cOf\t that\t be\t absolutely\t certain.\t Starting\t with these\t two\t right\t here.\u201d\t He\t jabbed\t the\t gun\t in\t Jackson\u2019s\t neck\t and\t kicked\t out\t his","legs\tfrom\tbehind\tso\tthat\the\tfell\tforward\tonto\this\thands\tand\tknees,\tgasping\twith pain. \u201cI\t will\t give\t you\t five\t minutes\t to\t consider\t my\t offer.\t Surrender\t and\t live.\t Or fight\tand\tdie.\u201d Tommy\t let\t the\t curtain\t fall\t back\t into\t place\t and\t crouched\t down\t below\t the window\t to\t confer\t with\t Nathan,\t their\t backs\t pressed\t against\t the\t wall.\t There seemed\t no\t way\t they\t could\t win\t this\t fight.\t Surrender\t now\t and\t they\t could\t avoid further\tbloodshed,\tbut\tcould\tthey\ttrust\tthis\tman\tto\tkeep\this\tword?\tWhat\tdid\tthey want\t anyway?\t To\t seize\t control\t of\t Hurst?\t To\t steal\t their\t food\t and\t supplies?\t Or was\tthere\tsome\tother\tmotive? They\thad\tput\tup\ta\tgood\tfight,\tTommy\twas\tsure\tof\tthat.\tIncluding\tthe\ttwo\the had\t killed\t or\t wounded,\t he\t estimated\t at\t least\t ten\t of\t them\t had\t been\t injured,\t but guessed\tthere\twere\tat\tleast\tas\tmany\tattackers\tagain.\tAll\ttold,\tthe\tHurst\tdefenders far\t outnumbered\t them,\t but\t were\t poorly\t armed.\t In\t their\t favour,\t however,\t they held\tthe\thigh\tground\tand\tcould\tpick\toff\tanyone\twho\tentered\tthe\tinner\tcourtyard. With\ta\tbit\tof\tluck,\tthey\tmight\tbe\table\tto\thold\tout\there\tfor\tdays,\teven\tweeks\twith the\t food\t and\t water\t they\t already\t had.\t If\t they\t could\t just\t get\t word\t to\t their\t allies, then\t perhaps\t they\t could\t survive\t the\t siege\t or\t fight\t their\t way\t out.\t It\t was\t a\t risky move.\tIf\tonly\tJack\twas\there,\the\twould\tknow\twhat\tto\tdo. Tommy\tsurveyed\tthe\tfaces\tof\tthose\taround\thim\tand\tmade\tup\this\tmind.\tThey should\tplay\tfor\ttime.\tTry\tand\treason\twith\tthis\tman\tholding\tHurst\tto\transom\tand find\tout\twhat\the\twanted. With\t the\t window\t pushed\t open\t a\t few\t inches,\t Tommy\t called\t out,\t \u201cWe appreciate\tthe\toffer\tand\teverything.\u201d\tHe\tshook\this\thead,\thearing\this\town\twords. That\t just\t sounded\t weird.\t Nathan\t patted\t him\t encouragingly\t on\t the\t shoulder. Tommy\t swallowed\t hard\t before\t continuing.\t \u201cBut\t before\t we\t give\t you\t our response,\twe\thave\tsome\tquestions\tfor\tyou.\u201d The\t man\t below\t laughed.\t \u201cVery\t well.\t I\t will\t allow\t you\t three\t questions.\t Use them\twisely.\u201d Tommy\t closed\t his\t eyes,\t trying\t to\t organise\t his\t thoughts.\t His\t first\t question tripped\t out\t before\t he\t could\t think\t it\t through.\t \u201cWhy\t are\t you\t here?\u201d\t He\t flinched, cursing\thimself.\tIt\twas\ta\tdumb\tquestion. \u201cWhy\t are\t we\t here?\u201d\t he\t repeated\t in\t a\t mocking\t voice,\t mimicking\t Tommy\u2019s nasal\t twang.\t \u201cIsn\u2019t\t it\t obvious?\t You\t have\t something\t we\t need.\t A\t mutual\t friend told\tus\teverything.\tNeed\tI\tsay\tmore?\u201d \u201cPerhaps\tif\tyou\tcould\tbe\ta\tbit\tmore\tspecific,\twe\tcould\tcome\tto\tsome\tkind\tof arrangement?\u201d\toffered\tTommy\ttentatively,\tbeginning\tto\trelax\ta\tlittle. \u201cYou\tmisunderstand,\u201d\the\treplied,\tshaking\this\thead.\t\u201cYou\tare\tin\tno\tposition\tto negotiate.\tHurst\thas\ta\tdebt\tto\tpay.\u201d","Tommy\t exchanged\t puzzled\t glances\t with\t Nathan,\t who\t was\t mouthing\t the word\t \u201cdebt\u201d.\t What\t debt\t was\t he\t talking\t about\t and\t who\t was\t this\t mutual\t friend? Perhaps\tthey\thad\tcaptured\tJack\tor\tTerra\tor\teven\tZed.\tHe\topted\tto\tplay\tfor\tmore time,\ttrying\tto\tgather\tmore\tpieces\tof\tthe\tpuzzle. \u201cIf\twe\tsurrender,\twhat\tguarantees\tcan\tyou\tgive\tus\tthat\twe\twill\tbe\tallowed\tto leave\there\tin\tpeace?\u201d \u201cMy\t word\t is\t my\t bond.\u201d\t He\t clapped\t his\t right\t hand\t to\t his\t heart sanctimoniously. \u201cYou\tmentioned\ta\tdebt.\tWhat\tdebt?\u201d \u201cYour\t men\t attacked\t us,\t killed\t my\t men.\t You\t took\t something\t that\t does\t not belong\tto\tyou.\u201d \u201cWe\tknow\tnothing\tabout\tan\tattack.\tI\u2019m\ttelling\tyou,\tit\twasn\u2019t\tus.\u201d The\t man\t wagged\t his\t finger.\t \u201cYou\u2019ve\t had\t your\t three\t questions.\t I\t need\t your decision.\tDo\tI\thave\tyour\tsurrender?\u201d Tommy\t paused,\t remembering\t the\t many\t nights\t they\t had\t played\t poker.\t \u201cPlay the\t man\t opposite\t you,\u201d\t Jack\t would\t say.\t It\t didn\u2019t\t matter\t if\t you\t held\t a\t pair\t of twos.\tTommy\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath\tand\tgambled. \u201cI\tsuggest\tyou\tlook\taround\tyou.\tYou\u2019re\toutnumbered.\tWhoever\tyour\tmutual friend\tis,\tthey\tdid\tnot\ttell\tyou\tthe\twhole\ttruth.\tYour\tmen\thave\twalked\tinto\ta\ttrap. Below\t your\t feet\t is\t a\t network\t of\t tunnels.\t Right\t now,\t a\t small\t army\t is\t readying itself\tto\tfight.\tYou\tcaught\tus\tcold\tonce,\tbut\tit\twon\u2019t\thappen\tagain.\tLast\tchance. Leave\tnow.\tWhat\tdebt\tcould\tpossibly\tbe\tworth\tthis?\u201d \u201cIf\tyou\tknew\twhat\twas\ttaken\u2026\u201d\tHe\tpaused.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tbluffing.\u201d \u201cI\twouldn\u2019t\tcount\ton\tit.\tWhy\tdon\u2019t\tyou\ttell\tus\twhat\tyou\twant\tand\tmaybe\twe can\tcome\tto\tan\tarrangement.\u201d The\tman\tin\tblack\tlaughed.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tgrowing\ttired\tof\tyour\tchildish\tgames.\tEither you\u2019re\t playing\t a\t very\t dangerous\t game,\t or\t you\t really\t have\t no\t idea\t what\t your men\tdid.\u201d\tHe\tlooked\tat\this\tfeet\tand\tthe\thostage\ton\this\tknees,\ta\tgun\tstill\tpressed to\tthe\tside\tof\this\thead.\t\u201cVery\twell.\tYour\tgroup\tbroke\tinto\tthe\thospital\tand\ttook two\t patients,\t Adele\t and\t Stella.\t We\t need\t them\t back.\t They\u2019re\t sick\t and\t need treatment.\t There,\t I\u2019ve\t told\t you\t more\t than\t enough.\t Return\t them\t to\t us immediately\tand\twe\twill\tspare\tthe\trest\tof\tyou.\u201d Tommy\tlooked\taround\tthe\tgroup\tand\tsaw\tonly\tblank\texpressions. \u201cWe\thave\tno\tone\tby\tthose\tnames\there.\u201d \u201cIn\tthat\tcase,\tyou\thave\tnothing\tleft\tto\tbargain\twith.\tIf\tyou\trefuse\tto\tsurrender, then\tyou\twill\tface\tthe\tconsequences.\u201d In\tthe\tsilence\tthat\tfollowed,\tTommy\tand\tNathan\tconferred\tquietly\tand\tpassed a\t message\t up\t the\t stairs\t to\t Jamie\t on\t the\t rooftop.\t They\t had\t a\t surprise\t or\t two\t up their\tsleeve.","Two\trifle\tshots\tshattered\tthe\tsilence.\tJackson\twas\thit\tin\tthe\tshoulder\tand\tthe other\tprisoner\tin\tthe\tleg.\tBoth\tmen\tcollapsed\tand\tlay\tgasping\ton\tthe\tground.\tThe man\t in\t black\t stepped\t back,\t suddenly\t exposed,\t his\t cheek\t splattered\t with\t blood. Calmly,\t he\t took\t a\t handkerchief\t from\t a\t breast\t pocket,\t shook\t it\t open\t and\t wiped the\tspots\taway,\tinspecting\tthe\tstains. \u201cI\t take\t it\t that\u2019s\t a\t no\t then.\t On\t your\t head\t be\t it.\u201d\t Shaking\t his\t head\t in disappointment,\t he\t slowly\t walked\t backwards\t out\t of\t the\t gate,\t lingering\t for\t a second\tto\tstare\tup\tat\tTommy\tbefore\tdisappearing\tout\tof\tsight. **** In\tthe\touter\tcourtyard,\tnear\tthe\tmain\tgate,\tCopper\thad\trounded\tup\thalf\ta\tdozen prisoners,\t faces\t pressed\t against\t the\t brick\t wall.\t They\t were\t shoeless,\t unarmed, defenceless,\t at\t the\t mercy\t of\t their\t captors.\t Several\t of\t the\t women\t were\t sobbing, pleading\tfor\ttheir\tlives.\tCopper\tlooked\taway,\tavoiding\teye\tcontact,\tforcing\ttheir heads\tback,\tknowing\twhat\twas\tcoming\tnext. His\t boss\t walked\t down\t the\t line,\t studying\t their\t faces\t without\t a\t flicker\t of empathy.\t\u201cKill\tthem\tall,\u201d\the\tcommanded. Copper\t heard\t the\t order\t but\t delayed\t a\t few\t seconds,\t remaining\t rooted\t to\t the spot.\t He\t processed\t the\t words\t but\t a\t shadow\t of\t his\t former\t self\t seemed\t to\t reject them\t as\t nonsensical.\t Since\t when\t had\t he\t grown\t a\t conscience?\t The\t moment\t of doubt\tpassed.\tCopper\tnodded\tand\trelayed\tthe\torder\tto\this\tmen,\this\tface\tcalm\tand emotionless.\t They\t raised\t their\t weapons\t and\t fired\t until\t their\t magazines\t were empty\tand\tno\tone\twas\tleft\tstanding,\tbodies\tjerking\tand\ttwitching\ton\tthe\tground. Copper\tturned\this\thead\ttowards\tthe\tman\tin\tblack. \u201cWhat\t about\t the\t rest\t of\t them?\t What\t are\t your\t orders,\t sir?\u201d\t asked\t Copper,\t an unusual\tedge\tto\this\tdeference. \u201cBurn\tit\tdown.\tSmoke\tthem\tout,\tthose\tlittle\tpiglets\tin\ttheir\thouse\tof\tstone.\u201d \u201cYes,\t sir.\u201d\t Copper\t gathered\t up\t a\t work\t party\t and\t set\t off\t to\t the\t campfire\t still smouldering\tin\tthe\tdistance.\tThey\tgrabbed\tfirewood\tand\tpiled\tit\thigh\tinside\tthe canteen,\t storerooms\t and\t living\t quarters\t that\t lined\t the\t castle\t walls\t and\t set\t them alight.\tIn\ta\tfew\tminutes\tthe\twhole\tplace\twent\tup\tlike\ta\ttinderbox.","Chapter\tForty-eight Sam\t supported\t Jack\t the\t last\t few\t yards\t from\t Osborne\t House\t through\t the\t long grass\tto\tthe\thelicopter\tas\tits\tengines\twent\tinto\ttheir\tstart-up\tcycle\tand\tthe\trotors began\t to\t turn.\t The\t airmen\t hauled\t the\t wounded\t man\t through,\t laid\t him\t flat\t and strapped\t his\t legs\t and\t torso\t down\t tight,\t before\t taking\t a\t pair\t of\t surgical\t scissors and\t cutting\t the\t material\t of\t his\t blue\t woollen\t jumper,\t exposing\t the\t injury\t to\t his shoulder.\t He\t made\t Jack\t comfortable\t for\t the\t journey,\t setting\t up\t a\t drip\t and stabilising\tthe\twound\tbefore\ttake-off. The\t painkillers\t were\t numbing\t his\t senses\t but\t he\t noticed\t Sam\t was\t in\t some distress.\t He\t guessed\t he\t was\t still\t thinking\t about\t Terra\t and\t what\t could\t have happened\t to\t her.\t She\t was\t like\t a\t mother\t to\t Sam.\t The\t American\t had\t said\t they would\t take\t her\t back\t to\t a\t convict\t camp\t near\t Newport,\t but\t how\t did\t they\t really know? Sam\twas\tshown\tto\ta\tjump\tseat\tjust\tbehind\tthe\tpilot,\tfacing\tbackwards.\tWhen Peterson\t and\t the\t two\t other\t navy\t personnel\t were\t safely\t inside,\t the\t airman\t gave the\tnod\tand\tthe\ttwo\tSeal\tteam\tmembers\twho\thad\tbeen\tcovering\tthe\taircraft\tleft their\tkneeling\tpositions\tand\tdouble-timed\tit\tto\tthe\taircraft,\tclipped\tinto\tthe\tsafety harnesses\t and\t sat\t on\t the\t floor\t sill,\t their\t feet\t dangling\t free,\t weapons\t poised\t and ready.\tPeterson\thanded\tJack\twhat\tlooked\tlike\ta\tlarge\tpair\tof\theadphones\twith\ta microphone\tattached.\tHe\tweighed\tthe\theadset,\tturning\tit\tover\tin\this\thands\tbefore putting\t it\t on.\t The\t cabin\t was\t suddenly\t silent,\t the\t noise\t of\t the\t engine\t almost eliminated\tand\the\tcould\thear\tPeterson\ttalking\tto\tthe\tpilot,\trelaying\ta\tmessage\tto the\tChester\twith\tan\tupdate\ton\ttheir\tstatus\tand\tdue\twarning\tthat\tthey\twould\tbe\ton deck\tin\tless\tthan\tfifteen\tminutes. The\t helicopter,\t a\t MH-60R\t Seahawk,\t achieved\t full\t power\t and\t with\t a\t gentle tug\ton\tthe\tstick\tlifted\toff\tinto\tthe\tnight\tsky.\tIts\tnavigation\tlights\tremained\toff\tas it\tbanked\tround\ta\tfew\tmetres\tabove\tthe\ttree\ttops,\tstaying\tlow,\tfollowing\tthe\triver valley\t that\t led\t straight\t downhill\t back\t to\t the\t open\t water\t of\t the\t Solent.\t Peterson spoke\t rapidly\t into\t the\t radio,\t though\t the\t military\t jargon\t was\t hard\t to\t follow. Outside\t it\t was\t pitch\t black.\t Jack\t craned\t his\t neck\t to\t peer\t out\t of\t the\t right\t side\t of the\t aircraft.\t The\t pilot\u2019s\t night-vision\t goggles\t allowed\t him\t to\t see\t in\t complete darkness.\tJack\tcould\tjust\tmake\tout\ttreetops\tand\tthe\tsweep\tof\tfields\tand\tfarmland as\tthey\theaded\tback\tout\tto\tsea."]