The heavy metal gate to the entrance will be closed before our arrival. Dan will be there in position ready to open it for us when we get there, I hope!
“Right, girls, we are getting close to work and it looks like some of the nasty people will be outside when we get there, I’m afraid. So, when I tell you to get down, I want you to put your heads down as far as you can, as close to your knees as you can, is that understood?”
Both of the girls say yes.
“Okay, girls, try now, so you know what to do when I say its time.”
Both girls immediately put their heads down.
“Very good,” I encourage.
Emily starts to sob.
“Emily, it’s okay. Remember, do as I say, and we will be alright; are you going to be a brave girl for me?”
“I will be Dad, I didn’t mean to cry, it just happened.”
“I know, sweetie, it doesn’t matter. It is frightening. I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
I see her wiping away her tears in my rear-view mirror.
This time, at the end of the road we turn left onto the Edgeware Road, this larger main road having a thin haze of smoke in the air which must have travelled in the breeze down from the fires farther in the city centre. Even this main road that would normally be packed with traffic going into the city is abandoned; obviously, everyone in this part of the city is taking this situation very seriously and are all holed up inside, taking whatever precautions they can to stay safe.
As we travel down the road, in front of us cutting across the sky and raised on its massive concrete stilts is the A40 Westway, the six-lane trunk road connecting the M4 motorway to London from the West. The road is busy, but not with the normal heavy London traffic, but with military hardware and troops. The raised road has various troop carriers, military buses, military lorries and other smaller military vehicles sitting on it. There are also various civilian-looking lorries and other vehicles. Along with the variety of vehicles, there are soldiers on foot, some marching towards the city whilst others are taking up defensive positions and snipers can also be seen through the railings, scanning their zones.
The snipers look too far apart to be completely effective; my guess is that they have been stretched further than they should be because of the colossal area they have to cover. I would also guess we have a sniper checking us out now, but I seriously doubt whether we are the type of target he is looking for, so I expect no action.
There are no shots being fired from the soldiers on this side of the flyover which is a good sign, as there are obviously no contacts this side yet. Let’s hope the same is true on the other side, where we are heading.
As we come closer to the flyover, I decide to see if I can gain any intel from the sniper I have spotted positioned above and in front of us; he is aiming his rifle directly down our road. I stop the car in the middle of the road a fair distance away from the flyover, ensuring a good line of sight. Opening the glove box and grabbing the pair of Steiner binoculars, I tell the girls to stay where they are and jump out of the car.
As soon as I get out, the sound of gunshots is everywhere and suddenly seems right on top of us, even though I instinctively know it’s not. The shooters are still some distance away, at least on the other side of the flyover, so I shut and lock the door behind me.
Lifting the binoculars to my face with my left hand, I raise my right and signal to the sniper, asking him to report. He immediately signals back that there are no contacts in my vicinity. He then signals to ask my intentions and I point down the road, telling him I intend to move beyond the flyover. The sniper signals back, strongly recommending against this, then indicating there are multiple hostiles beyond his position.
Suddenly, the sniper's partner and watcher next to him moves his mouth, speaking to the sniper. The sniper immediately breaks our contact, swivels his rifle down to the left and shoots; so, just as I’m thinking we have time on our side yet, it looks like hostiles have just made it to this side of the flyover!
The sniper’s rifle, after dispatching its target, is back on me. I signal that I understand but am proceeding. He lifts his radio to his mouth. I lower my binoculars and unlock the car.
A door to one of the houses suddenly opens on the opposite side of the street. Before I think about it my Sig is in my hand and pointing directly at a woman holding a crying baby in her arms.
The dark-haired, petrified woman shouts at me. “Where are you going, please take us with you?”
“I’m sorry I can’t,” is all I can reply to her, then sliding the Sig home, I open the car door, get in, and start the engine.
“What were you doing?” Stacey asks.
“I was speaking to a soldier ahead on the flyover to see what is happening.”
“And?”
“And it is going to get bumpy from here on, so I want you both to be ready to get down. Understood?”
“Yes, Andy, we are ready, aren’t we, Emily?”
“We are, Dad, but what did that woman want at that house, with the baby?”
“She wanted to come with us, but we can’t take them. Now be ready to do as I say, girls.”
I’m sure the sniper was radioing, informing his command to expect us to drive
