“We take that pick-up,” Kim answers, reining himself in a bit and pointing to a dated red pick-up truck with fire written on its door.
“We aren’t all going to fit in that,” Dixon replies.
“Us four will. Two in the front and two in the tail; we draw the Rabids away so the rest can escape?” Downey suggests.
“Umm,” Dixon sounds. That plan isn’tbad, he thinks to himself. It could work. What other options are there anyway? He is struggling to think of another and looks around at the other people, congregated a couple of meters away from them. The military personnel have their weapons and it would give them all a fair chance of escaping if his patrol drew the Rabids away. There aren’t any safe options, and the pick-up could be overrun as soon as it gets outside. If they stay inside the hangar, they are all doomed for sure; there are no other exits and Dixon has somewhere he needs to be.
“Okay, listen up,” Dixon says. “We are going with Downey’s plan. We take the pick-up and draw them fuckers outside away from the hangar. Downey, check that the pick-up is good to go. Kim, see if there are any other useful weapons around. Collins, get those people over here.”
“Where are we going to go, boss?” Collins asks.
“I’m going back to Terminal 5. Josh, his sister Emily and Alice are there. I intend to make sure they are alright, but that’s just me, if any of you need to be somewhere else then that’s fine, just drop me off.”
“What do you mean, desert?” Kim asks.
“I did not say that, soldier.”
“What do you mean then?” Kim persists.
“I mean that I am going back to Terminal 5. This base is compromised; you might want to leave, go back to base in Poole or wherever you want.”
“Well, the command room is in Terminal 5, so it sounds like as good a place as any,” Collins says, and the other two nod in agreement.
“That’s settled then, let’s get ready,” Dixon says.
The three men turn to head off to their tasks. Dixon waits, ready to speak to the rest of the people in the hangar, who Collins has started to roundup.
Dixon feels a kind of obligation to look out for Andy’s two children. He may have only known him for a few hours, but Dixon liked the man and they fought together; he now considers him a brother in arms, especially as he gave his life covering their retreat. Dixon is then forced to admit to himself that he is going back for Emily, really. That’s the least he can do for Andy. Josh and Alice are big enough to look out for themselves, so misplaced or not, he is going to look out for Emily.
The engine of the pick-up starts on the second attempt and Dixon hears Downey give the engine a few revs to make doubly sure it’s turning over properly. The reversing lights come on as Downey starts to manoeuvre it into position. Dixon’s attention is then taken over by the group of people Collins has finally managed to bring over.
“What’s going on?” a middle-aged man asks. He is the highest-ranking of the military in the group and as a Staff Sergeant, he actually outranks Sergeant Dixon.
“We have got to get out of here; the building is on fire and it is only a matter of time before the fire spreads into this hangar—and I don’t need to tell you what will happen then. So, we have come up with a plan,” Dixon says.
“And what makes you think that is your decision, Sergeant? I am the highest-ranking person here and we were just discussing options.”
“Okay, Sir, what did you come up with?” Dixon asks.
“Well, we haven’t yet,” the Staff Sergeant says sheepishly. “Tell me your plan and I will make the decision then.”
Dixon rolls his eyes. “Sir, with no disrespect. This is the plan that we are going to carry out, and it isn’t up for discussion. This is a combat situation and me and my team are best placed to deal with it. We haven’t the time to fanny about, Sir.”
The Staff Sergeant’s eyes drop, and Dixon knows the Staff Sergeant has deferred to him, so he presses home his advantage. “My team are going to create a diversion to allow you to all escape. We are going to drive that pick-up out of the roller shutter to draw all the Rabids—sorry, infected people—to it and away from the hangar. Once the area outside is clear, you all need to get out as quickly as possible. Go left outside and get into one of the buildings farther down where hopefully you will find safety. Agreed, Sir?”
The Staff Sergeant looks unsure for a moment and looks around at the people beside him, who look even more unsure than he does.
“Sir?” Dixon asks again.
“Yes, Sergeant, that sounds acceptable,” he eventually says.
“Very good, Sir. Wait until we are clear, and the infected people have taken the bait, Sir. Don’t move too soon, Sir, and have your weapons ready, in case you need them.”
“Okay, understood Sergeant.”
“With your permission, I will get my team ready, Sir.”
“Carry on, Sergeant.”
Dixon leaves the group before anyone changes their minds. He heads over to the pick-up, which has been parked facing one of the roller shutter doors a few meters away, ready to go.
“Downey, you’re driving. Collins, you’re shotgun and Kim, you have the pleasure of keeping me company in the tail. Is everyone kitted up?”
“Yes, Boss and we have found some more ammo, so here’s your kit,” Downey says, passing Dixon his rifle first.
“Thank you, Downey,” Dixon says as he attaches the rifle to its harness at the front of his body. “As soon as the roller shutter is open enough, Kim and I will throw a spread of grenades under it, to clear the immediate threat. Then full throttle to get us out of here, understood?”
“You got it, Boss,” Downey replies with a smile on his face.
“Don’t
