Carefully, I pick my way through the grim path, between the bodies, eager for it to finish. I stay well clear of the tube station entrance where the lights have failed. The darkness inside offers nothing but terror. I’m almost too scared to look into the shadows out of fear of what I might see lurking there, I must, though.
My relief is palpable as I cross the intersection with Spring Street, leaving the mass of bodies behind and finally reaching the cover of the bus shelter. My breathing is heavy when I lean my back against the shelter, my guard still up. I don’t know how much more of this tension I can take; my nerves are nearly shot.
Taking a minute to get my breath back, I reach behind and pull out the fruit water from my pocket. The bottle is damp with the sweat that has soaked through my jeans and the liquid is warm, but gratefully received.
I look at the terrain ahead, and the carnage doesn’t end but it isn’t as bad as the hell I’ve just come through. Praed Street has ended, I notice from the street signs, I’m now on Craven Road. Let’s see how I get on, on this road, I think as I push my back off the bus shelter.
Hold point follows hold point on my never-ending journey. My technique makes it slow going but it's working well. I scan each area until I’m satisfied it's clear, then I make the short hop to the next hold point. Eventually, I see the end of Craven Road approaching. The morning hasn’t got any brighter thanks to the smoke and the sound of Rabids has been intermittent. I’ve had to shoot my rifle four times since leaving Paddington Station behind. Each shot was a kill shot, all of the Rabids half asleep. I’m sure I am closing in on the troops because I can hear the fighting, and the sound of gunshots is drawing nearer.
Bayswater Road is close now, as I reach the end of Craven Road. There is a short side street off to the left that joins onto it. Dark green treetops are visible at the end, as I turn the corner, even through the smoke. The trees are on the outer edge of Hyde Park, one of London’s many green open spaces. I will come out near the opposite end to where I watched the chaos start to unfold on the corner of Hyde Park and Oxford Street. Back when I was happily oblivious, sitting in my towel on my bed, fresh out of the shower, watching the news on television. That seems like a previous life now, but so much has happened since that morning. Emily was next door getting ready for school; now where is she, at Heathrow? I hope so, or somewhere safe at least.
Chapter 16
“We are evacuating.” Colonel Reed announces to his inner circle of cronies. “RAF Heathrow has been compromised and we cannot afford to let the command structure be compromised, especially with Operation Denial continuing and making progress.”
Lieutenant Winters had been expecting the announcement all night. He is not surprised that Colonel Reed has delayed his decision; he doesn’t like to admit defeat. Not that he has now; he will consider this a tactical retreat. Winters did think that the announcement would have been made before now. It was obvious it had been coming all night, despite Colonel Reed’s efforts to retrieve the situation. Perhaps the cold light of morning has cleared the Colonel’s mind.
Winters must be hearing different reports and seeing different data to the Colonel. Operation Denial is certainly continuing but—in his opinion—far from making progress, it’s bogged down and stalled badly. Nonetheless, Winters stands at ease at the back of the forward command area, letting the Colonel and his top brass carry on their delusion, waiting for his next orders.
Josh and his sister Emily are on his mind. He has let them down. He had told Josh he would arrange transport out of here, but he has failed. They are all still holed up in the Terminal 5 building. Transport would have been easy enough to arrange but getting them outside and to it safely had proved beyond him. Twice, Winters had tried to divert the new troops in the building to escort them to the transport, but each time Colonel Reed had demanded more troops for one task or another, and Winters’ troops had been re-tasked.
Now that Colonel Reed has announced the evacuation of the command structure, Winters is struggling to see how he is going to get them to safety at all. Colonel Reed won’t be bothered who is left behind, as long as his chosen few are evacuated safely. Captain Richard’s children certainly won’t be near the top of any priority list for evacuation.
Winters has completely tuned out of Colonel Reed's blabbering; he’s had enough of the fucking idiot. Winters has seen it happening gradually over time, Colonel Reed losing his edge. Ever since this crisis started, he’s been all bluster and bravado, with little or no substance. Reed’s perceived status overrides every decision he makes, and those decisions are becoming more and more atrocious.
“Winters,” Colonel Reed says, but Winters doesn’t respond. “Lieutenant Winters!” Colonel Reed shouts.
“Sorry Sir, yes Sir?”
“Wake up man! Is the transport in position?” Anger flares from Colonel Reed.
“Yes, Sir, two cars and the Defender are in the loading bay ready to go, I have the keys.”
“Let’s move then, Lieutenant.” Colonel Reed demands. Far from remaining to oversee the evacuation of everybody, he is leaving one of his cronies behind to deal with it.
“Yes, Sir.” Winters turns about-face, ready to lead the chosen few down to the loading bay on the ground floor.
Lieutenant Winters picks up his satchel and makes his way through the command room and towards the exit. An idea to get Josh and Emily out is forming in his mind. He feels sick
