the building and quickly deployed to defensive positions.
The Frenchman was out of breath but he managed a grin as he huddled down at the side of the building. ‘Now
‘What are you doing here?’ Stratton asked as he cleared his jammed weapon.
‘I couldn’t leave you here alone.’
Stratton stared at Victor, unsure of his sincerity.
Victor shrugged. ‘Plus hundreds more Neravistas moved in to cover the perimeter. I don’t think they want anyone to get out of here alive.’
‘Don’t get too settled. You have more running to do . . . David!’ Stratton called out, heading to the other side of the building.
A mortar shell landed close by and everyone hit the dirt as shrapnel splattered around. One of the rebels dropped to the ground, holding his face as blood flowed through his fingers. Someone went to help him.
‘They’re preparing to attack!’ David shouted back.
Machine-gun fire came up the slope, raking the defensive position. Stratton hurried, crouching, to the corner to take a look for himself.
Victor followed. ‘Tell me what’s going on.’
‘I think the cliffs may be our only way out of here,’ Stratton said. ‘But if we just try and run for it these guys’ll cut us down before we get there.’
‘Is this another one of those plans where you know the aim but not how to get there?’ Victor asked.
‘Yeah, one of those,’ Stratton agreed.
‘I’m beginning to hate that kind of plan.’
David handed his canvas bag to one of the young rebels and pointed to Stratton. He fired a burst from his machine gun to cover the man as he sprinted across the gap. The other gunner did the same. The young rebel slid to the ground beside Stratton and handed him the bag.
Stratton looked inside. It contained two claymore mines with all their accessories. His mind raced at the possibilities. ‘This is good,’ he muttered, emptying the bag and sorting through the extras that included the standard trip wires and trigger devices.
After a brief survey of the terrain he unwound part of a wire spool and fixed the end to the corner of the building low to the ground. ‘Stay here,’ he said to Victor as he put the contents back into the canvas bag. ‘Don’t let anyone touch the wire,’ he ordered, placing the spool over the end of his gun barrel and setting off towards David’s position, the spool unwinding as he ran.
Stratton flung himself down beside David and the other gunner and set about preparing the claymore. ‘Both of you get ready to move to the high ground at the other side of the corral.’
‘What are we doing?’ David asked as he fired bursts from his machine gun.
‘Running as fast as we can. I suggest you get yourself a lighter gun,’ Stratton advised as he screwed the detonator into the mine. He put a hand on the shoulder of the other gunner, who turned to look at him. ‘I want you to clip as many ammo belts together as you can.’
The young gunner looked at David.
‘Do it,’ David ordered and the young rebel quickly set about the task.
‘Give me a burst,’ Stratton requested and David obliged.
While David fired, Stratton leaned over the front of the sandbags and, holding the mine, pushed the forks that protruded from its base firmly into the ground. It took him several tense seconds to ensure the device was properly wired before he dropped back behind the sandbags.
‘How many have you done?’ he asked the young rebel who was clipping ammo belts together and laying them in loops so that they could feed the M60 easily.
‘Five, six hundred rounds.’
‘That’s good. Join your friend. And keep away from the wire. Go!’
The rebel ran across the gap to the stables. Stratton prepared the second claymore and when it was ready gathered himself for another sprint. ‘Keep their heads down for another minute.’
David obeyed as Stratton pushed off to the corral fence and round to the far side of it. He knelt down and, aiming the mine at the top of the hill, he shoved the forks into the ground and rested the spool of wire beside it. ‘Victor,’ he shouted. ‘Here!’
Victor ran over to him from the stables.
‘Look down there,’ Stratton said, pointing towards the cliffs.
Victor looked where Stratton was pointing as he gulped in some air. Just as he did so a mortar shell landed nearby and they hugged the ground as they were showered in dirt.
‘Louisa’s down there,’ Stratton continued, spitting dirt from his mouth. ‘That’s where you’re going. A dozen or so riders are heading that way and you’re going to take them out. If you can get their horses you might be able to punch your way through the perimeter.’
‘I see,’ Victor said, trying to evaluate all the possibilities and dangers. ‘Sebastian?’ he asked, suddenly wondering where his leader was.
Stratton shook his head. ‘It’s your only hope,’ Stratton said. ‘Stay spread out on your way down, keep shooting and moving and you’ll get there.’
‘And you?’
‘I’m going to buy you the time.’
‘You’re going to stay here so we can escape? You’ll die.’
‘I’ll give you the start you need . . . But I’ll still beat you to the bottom.’
‘How long a start?’
‘You should be halfway down the hill before I follow.’
‘Not even I’m that slow.’
‘You want to bet?’
Victor looked around. ‘You have a horse?’
‘No.’
Victor was confused. ‘You don’t have anything to bet with.’
‘A life of servitude to the other, whoever loses.’
‘If you survive and I beat you to the bottom you’ll be my manservant for life?’
‘And vice versa.’
‘Done.’
‘Go get the others and be ready to move on my say.’
Victor ran to the stables and Stratton headed back to David.
‘They’re mustering to charge,’ David said as he arrived. ‘They have numbers.’
‘Let’s not disappoint them, then.’
‘How do you always seem so confident?’
‘It’s a trick . . . you ready?’
‘Yes.’ David nodded.
‘Go to the other side of the stables and lay down a blanket of fire, everything you’ve got. I need the Neravistas on that side to stall before they join the assault.Then, on my signal, you go.Victor knows where to head for.’
‘I understand.’
‘Good luck.’
David was about to go when he paused to hold out his hand.
‘Get out of here,’ Stratton said without taking it. ‘I’ll see you later.’
David got the message and ran.
Stratton went back to the M60, dragged a sandbag off the wall and placed it over the barrel to hold the gun in position. He checked the long length of ammo belts that the young rebel had prepared and ensured that they were folded in layers. He snapped a length of wire from the spool, threaded it through the trigger and around the trigger guard and drew the wire tight, pulling the trigger close to the guard.The weapon began to fire as he twisted the wire tight. The extended belt of ammunition was sucked into the weapon, the spent clips and casings ejecting into
