Flynn stepped in to help Tawny, they repositioned the crowbar and pulled together. A metallic snap followed as the gate lock broke. The prisoners pushed the gate open and emerged into the square. Rose started giving out the spare handguns they had brought with them. A few prisoners emerged from the canteen and rushed towards the exercise yard, recognising familiar faces.
Mercy shook her head and looked at Tawny and Rose, “There’s no time for reunions… we’ve got to get these people out of here before the roof guards start noticing. Brody has bought us some time with that diversion but our luck could change at any moment. I’ll go ahead and draw more tropes away from you lot. You guys rally the prisoners, there’ll be more coming out of the main blocks, Seth’s in there, freeing them—”
Flynn shook his head, “No, Mercy stay with us, we stand a better chance together—”
Mercy was already walking away, her mind on the massed tropes ahead. She moved along the side of the horde and reached the inner fence gates. She squeezed her way into the crowd and allowed herself to be swept up in the maelstrom.
Breathe, just breathe and keep upright. If you fall you’re dead—
Mercy passed through the inner gates. A minute later she was through the outer gates. The pressure lessened once she was outside. She leaned against the fence and glanced back, into the prison square. More prisoners had emerged from the exercise yard and the canteen.
So far, so good. No shooting from the prison roof—
Mercy watched the mass of tropes stagger towards the burning fuel tanker, a hundred yards away.
Get to the head of the horde and lead them on. I wish I had the ghetto blaster and the music. I’ll have to improvise—
Mercy kept to the road edge and ran along the side of the horde until she reached the burning tanker. The smoke stung her eyes. She saw a group of horsemen further down the road, keeping their distance.
Looks like Brody’s men. What are they doing way out there?
Mercy reached up to her ear for the radio’s earpiece.
Dammit, it’s gone—
She reached down for the radio on her belt. It was missing.
Shit, must have lost it in the horde—
The growl of a diesel engine came from the trees along the roadside twenty yards away.
What the hell—?
A Lenco BearCat armored vehicle pulled out of the trees and swung onto the road to face the horsemen. It stopped, its engine idling.
Sonofabitch. It’s going to attack Brody’s people—
Mercy ran towards the rear of the vehicle. The horsemen held their ground, jeering at the vehicle. Its engine coughed, black smoke belched from the exhaust.
It’s burning oil, there’s something wrong with it, maybe it’s been damaged. If I can reach it I might be able to do something—
Mercy ran to the rear of the vehicle and jumped onto the running board. She placed her foot on the door handle and pulled herself up using the roof rail. A metallic clank came from the top of the vehicle.
Hatch opening—
Mercy hauled herself onto the roof. The hatch was open, a militia man had his back to her. He was bringing an M72 LAW anti-armor weapon to his shoulder, aiming at Brody’s riders in the distance.
For fuck’s sake. No, you don’t get to do that shit—
Mercy pulled out her silenced Glock 17 and shot four rounds at the militia man. Three of her rounds missed, her last round clipped the rim of the hatch deflecting upwards and into the base of the man’s skull. His body fell through the hatch together with the unused LAW. The BearCat shuddered, its engine roaring, it moved forwards, gathering speed. Mercy jerked backwards, almost falling from the roof. She grabbed the roof rail with both hands letting her Glock 17 fall to the road below.
Goddammit—
A hand reached up from inside the BearCat and slammed the hatch shut. Mercy regained her balance, her mind spinning. She clambered forwards across the BearCat’s roof.
The bastard’s going to ram Brody’s men. He’s gonna deny them the road, he’ll block our way and wait for reinforcements. Wait, he’s going slow. Engine trouble? A frag rolled down the bonnet might work—
Mercy’s hand went to her webbing.
Shit, no frags, dammit—
Her fingers brushed against a road flare.
Flare, that might work—
Mercy crawled to the front of the roof and peered down onto the windscreen.
Jam it under the riot shield, it might blind the driver—
Mercy lit the road flare and pushed it under the driver’s side of the metal windscreen guard. The BearCat slowed. She lit a second road flare and shoved it under the same section. The BearCat veered to the left.
He can’t see, he’s losing control—
The BearCat tyres left the road and caught the lip of a culvert.
He’s going over—
Mercy jumped off the moving vehicle. The BearCat rolled over the embankment. Mercy’s feet struck tarmac, she rolled with the fall, shielding her head. She came to a stop on the other side of the road, her eyes closed.
Any moment now—
She gritted her teeth in anticipation of the searing pain from broken bones.
Nothing. Am I good—?
Mercy blinked, opened her eyes and stared at the long grass, inches from her face. Gunfire erupted nearby followed by an explosion. She curled into a ball and waited.
No more. Christ, no more—
Crunching gravel. Men’s boots. A hand reached down to her. Mercy blinked and looked up.
“You kicked ass back there, nice moves Dawes,” Brody’s lined face grinned down at her. “Come on, let’s get out of here. That truck’s finished, the rest of my men are helping the prisoners. We’re going to the rendezvous point. We’ve got a horse here for you… if you feel up to it—”
If you feel up to it—
Mercy latched onto Brody’s words. Her body ached. She moved her arms then her legs and sat
