The colonels eyed each other silently. Long enough so that Maddy felt the need to say something. ‘What? What the hell are you guys thinking?’
‘James … I think … no, I
The Confederate colonel turned to look back across the East River. ‘I believe they might.’ He glanced at Devereau. ‘Particularly if they learn what the British are planning to do.’
‘What?’ Maddy looked from one to the other. ‘What are you two talking about?’
‘An uprising,’ said Devereau.
‘A mutiny,’ added Wainwright.
Both men smiled at the thought of it. ‘It could spread,’ said Devereau. ‘Really, it could spread right along the front line. If someone somewhere dared to make the start of it.’
‘Word would need to get out. You and I, William, we’d need to make absolutely sure the news got out.’
Wainwright grinned suddenly. ‘There is not a regiment, old friend, not a single Confederate regiment, that would not celebrate an end to this damned war!’
‘Oh my God! Is that your plan, then?’ asked Maddy. ‘A popular uprising?’
‘If news spreads among the men,’ said Devereau, ‘that the British plan to deploy eugenic military units again on American soil … yes, good Lord, this could … this could truly take hold. The soldiers on both sides, the general public would be terrified of another Preston Peak massacre!’
‘And if it comes to it,’ added Wainwright, ‘if it came down to it, our men, I’m sure, would fight side by side.’
Maddy thought she saw tears in Devereau’s eyes. ‘My God, James! This could be it, a
‘That’s what needs to be said, old friend. Loud and clear. So everyone can hear it.’ His grin widened. ‘This is the flame to the thatch.’
‘Indeed.’
Maddy looked from one colonel to the other. ‘So is this what we’re doing, then? Starting a revolution?’
They both nodded. ‘And not before time,’ said Devereau.
Maddy hunched her shoulders. ‘OK. So, do you guys need to shake on it or something?’
Wainwright offered his hand and Devereau grasped it. ‘We have much to do, James, and very quickly.’
‘Indeed. I will go back and present this to my men.’
‘As shall I,’ said Devereau.
CHAPTER 56
2001, outside Dead City
The British troops were up and mustering at dawn with the noisy clatter of equipment and belt buckles, the thudding of boots on pressed soil, the barking of parade-ground voices. Liam watched with guarded fascination as they scrambled quickly to assemble into ranks by platoon, by company, until he was looking at three hundred soldiers, rows of red tunics and crisscrossing leather belts shifting gently as chests heaved for breath. White pith helmets in endless ranks, their pointed peaks shadowing the eyes of hardened faces that looked like they’d seen plenty of action.
Liam was impressed by their discipline and efficiency. If they fought half as well as they mustered, he wondered how a war anywhere in this world could last long in the face of such a military machine as the British army.
McManus had confided in them last night that this regiment, the
Speaking of which, he watched the hunter-seekers moving out of the camp at a trot as the last of the tents and camp equipment was being rolled up and stowed into the large saddlebags of the baggage huffaloes. The hunter-seeker that had chatted briefly with McManus last night — ‘George’ — exchanged a polite nod with the captain as his pack moved out last. They broke from a trot into a loping gallop as they spread out in a loose line across the weed-strewn field and finally, several minutes later, disappeared a quarter of a mile away into the dead and overgrown outskirts of the suburban fringe of Baltimore. Liam could just make out a line of backyards, bordered with rotting and leaning picket fences; falling-down shanty homes; abandoned carts; and rusting automobiles of an old-fashioned coach design, their spoked wheels tied to the ground by thick brambles and briar.
McManus issued orders to the junior officers and NCOs before joining Liam and Bob. ‘They should locate the eugenics soon enough. Did you see how quickly they set off? I believe they already have the scent.’
Liam nodded. ‘Are you sure, Captain, they won’t descend into some sort of, well … some sort of
He shook his head. ‘They may be eugenics, but they are also members of the British army. They’ll behave.’ He pulled down the brass mouthpiece from the earpad at the side of his helmet.
‘Captain McManus here … we’ve just sent the hounds in. And we’re now moving out towards the city.’ He gave a crisp nod at the response over the earphone. ‘Yes, sir.’
Up above them, Liam could see the carrier slowly circling high, catching the first dawn rays along its shimmering copper hull. It was seeing the sun a good hour before they were going to feel the warmth of it on their own faces.
‘Right, then,’ said McManus. ‘We’ll get our lads moving in so we’ve less ground to cover once they’ve pinpointed a location.’ He smiled. ‘We’ll find them this morning, don’t you two worry.’
Liam nodded. Given how quickly those baboon-dogs had crossed the hard-scrabble field, he actually felt quite confident they were going to find them. It was whether they were going to find them in one piece that was worrying him.
The walrus-moustached sergeant bellowed for the troops to move out, and section by section they peeled out of their rows to join the back of the lengthening column moving down the broken tarmac of what was once the main road leading into the city.
‘You chaps want to walk or ride?’
‘We’ll walk,’ said Liam.
‘Jolly good,’ he said, tightening the strap of his helmet. ‘Well, no point hanging about, then. It’s only beggars and desk clerks you’ll find at the
CHAPTER 57
2001, Dead City
Sal felt a hand on her shoulder, tugging her insistently. ‘Wake! Now!’ She looked up to see one of Samuel’s pack, one of the ‘apes’. She recognized it as the one that had carried her here the night before last.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘
Sal sat up on her bed, a loosely gathered pile of grubby coal sacks, to see the entire pack awake and hastily scrambling to gather their few possessions. She saw Lincoln sitting up beside her, just as confused and muddled from being so rudely awoken.
‘What the devil’s happening
Samuel padded over. ‘They’re here already! Sholdiersh! They coming! We musht leave!’ He reached down for Sal’s hand.
‘Please!’ She refused to get up. ‘Why don’t you just run! Me and Abraham will go to the soldiers … we’ll tell them we’re OK!’
