“Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps not. We’ll drop anchor in thirty minutes and take a boat to shore. Most of the men will stay here with The Hatchet, but we’ll remain in radio contact.”
Maddy pointed towards the blue and grey helicopter perched on the rear deck of the ship. “Can’t we use that to get where we need to?”
Tosco shook his head. “We don’t have a lot of fuel. I figure it’ll be more useful pulling us out of a fire than taking us into one. If we need rescuing, someone will fly the bird to come get us. We also have the big guns on deck if we need to bring forth Armageddon.”
“We’re a little late on that.”
Tosco smirked. “Yeah, you might say we missed the boat.”
“You Americans aren’t famed for your clever sense of humour.”
“Hey! We made Frasier. That’s like the smartest comedy ever.” He started singing in an unexpected baritone. “Tossed salad and scrambled eggs.”
“I was always more into Friends, but I withdraw my comment. Thank you, Tosco. Thank you for doing this.”
“James, please.”
She put a hand on his arm and squeezed. “Thank you, James.”
“I’ll let you know when everything’s ready. Go visit the latrine, grab a bite to eat, and wrap up warm.”
She saluted. “Yes, Commander.”
“I’m an outlaw now. Captain will do.”
Maddy chuckled and leant over the railing, staring out at the north of England, wondering how many people were still alive out there.
Please, let it be thousands, all armed to the teeth and fearless.
And let them be good.
The Hatchet dropped anchor thirty minutes later just as Tosco promised. The frigate lurched slightly, but you could’ve missed it if you weren’t paying attention. Maddy had peed, eaten a protein bar, and was now togged in a thick US Coast Guard parka a friendly sailor had given her. She was warm, but she would’ve liked a pair of gloves.
Tosco waited for her in the launch bay, standing beside a large dinghy with an outboard motor. He handed her a weapon, telling her it was a “P229R-DAK. Forty-cal. Full clip in the grip, but no spares. Don’t fire unless your life depends on it.”
Maddy had trained with guns at Portsmouth, but this nondescript handgun was a new one for her. She eyed the slide and checked the safety. Then she shoved it muzzle first into the waistband of her jeans. “Thanks.”
“James! I want to come. You can’t leave me here.” Alice appeared in the launch bay, looking as pissed off as teens were supposed to. Her blonde hair was tied up in a short bun, and she wore an oversized parka like the one Maddy had on.
Tosco turned to the girl and sighed. “I’m not going to change my mind, Alice. It’s too dangerous.”
“I can do dangerous. What I can’t do is being cooped up on this boat for days. I want to come.”
“I promised your father I would keep you alive. Once I know it’s safe, I’ll send for you. Your days aboard a boat are coming to an end, I promise.”
Alice looked like she might hiss at him, but she kept calm. “Be quick, or I’ll jump overboard and you’ll never see me again.”
Tosco rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
“It’s the end of the world. I’m allowed to be dramatic.”
“Good point.” Tosco wrapped his arms around the girl and they embraced like father and daughter, which was heartbreaking in a way. Maddy wondered if Guy would have been happy or sad that his junior officer had taken his place in more ways than one.
Alice left, and Tosco waved a hand at several men standing near the dinghy – as well as a single blonde woman who had a long, thin scar on her left cheek. “Our embarkation team,” Tosco explained. “The best The Hatchet can spare. You’ve likely already met.”
Maddy nodded hello to each person. She recognised them all, having spent the last two days on board with them, but she hadn’t exchanged words. Too wrapped up in her own grief and anger.
I should have made more of an effort. These people are risking their lives for me.
No one chatted as they climbed aboard the dinghy, all serious, all professional. Maddy felt ashamed that they were being forced to leave their safety. There could be a hundred thousand demons on the coast, ready to tear them apart as soon as they landed.
Tosco sat himself down at the front of the dinghy, while Maddy sat between a man and the other female on the team. They exchanged glances but said nothing. The launch bay doors opened. The sea spray flew in and battered their faces.
“Okay,” Tosco yelled over the howling gust, “launch!”
Four more sailors appeared and grabbed handles on either side of the dinghy. They heaved the tiny boat forward, shoving it down the steel ramp that led right into the sea. The movement began slowly, but the dinghy picked up speed, sliding faster and faster.
And then it splashed down.
The boat ducked beneath the waves for a second, only just staying afloat. Then it leapt up and surged forward as the pilot gunned the motor. They sped away from The Hatchet, rising and dropping as the frigid grey sea rolled back and forth. It was exhilarating in a way Maddy was no longer used to – she was having fun. It felt wrong, but also liberating.
She sat and enjoyed the ride until they reached a small rocky beach where they tied the dinghy to a large section of driftwood before covering it in seaweed and branches, which was probably unnecessary, but Tosco said it would make him feel better. By the time they finished, it looked like a disgusting sea creature had washed ashore.
“Okay,” said Tosco, “I brought a compass just in case, but the plan is to follow the roads. We’re close enough that we should find signs pointing to this forest. You have them in the UK, right? Signs for tourist attractions, et cetera?”
Maddy nodded. “I think they’re brown. Wouldn’t it be
