Catherine looks hard at me. “I wish you would reconsider, Andy.”
“I have done, but I came to the same decision. I’ve got to try and find Josh. I’m sorry.”
She puts her hand on my upper arm. “I will look after Emily.”
“Thank you, and please watch Stacey, she isn’t looking good.”
“I will,” Catherine smiles.
“Dan, don’t wait ten minutes until you come back for the crew. Come as soon as you see me take off, in case the infected manage to get up here. I don’t want to put the crew at risk, okay?”
“Yes, Boss.”
Catherine and I then rejoin the others.
Firstly, I open the holdall Stan salvaged and load up with the remaining ammo and grenades. Then finally, I sit down to take some precious time with Emily. All too quickly, however, in the distance, there are two small objects approaching our position.
Lifting my binoculars and putting them to my face, I see two helicopters approaching and they definitely look like Lynx. It’s time.
“Here come the helicopters.”
Everyone gets up apart from Emily and me. She is waiting for me to stand but instead, I start talking to her. Stacey stands over us, listening.
“Listen, sweetie, you are going to go with Stacey and Catherine, and I am going to get on the other helicopter and meet you there.”
“No, Daddy. I want to come with you,” she says, her eyes filling with tears already.
“I can’t be with you, my love, I’m going in the other helicopter. I’m going to try to find Josh and bring him back with me. I will be as quick as I can and then I’ll meet up with you.”
“Then I will come with you to get Josh too.” Tears are now rolling down her face.
“You can’t, you need to go with the others, so you are safe. I will meet you there, I promise.”
Emily is now sobbing. I pick her up, and she puts her arms around my neck tightly. Stacey is also upset next to us and I put an arm around her.
“I want to come with you, Dad,” she sobs.
“I know you do, but can you be brave for me again so I can go and find your brother?”
Emily doesn’t reply. She has stopped talking and is only crying, deeply into my neck, I feel like crying myself but hold that feeling down.
The two Lynx can be seen clearly now through the smoke haze as they approach us.
“Stacey.” She looks at me. “Should you talk to your mum and dad, phone me or get Dan to radio me. Tell them I will try to get to them from their building, they will have to get to the roof, but only if they can do so safely. Tell them I’ll be in a helicopter and will fly around the building twice so they know it’s me, understand?”
“Yes, Andy, I understand.” A glimmer of hope can be seen in her face.
The two Lynx helicopters swoop in and circle the building, looking for any possible threats and a place to land. The downdraft from the rotors blows against us all, blowing Emily’s hair as the loud noise from the engines accosts our ears.
The roof of the Orion Building has a helipad situated at the right-angled corner of the building, a slightly raised steel platform with a small set of stairs leading up the landing area.
“Is everyone ready?” I shout above the noise.
They are. Stan has the computer in his arms, so we move towards the helipad.
The first Lynx starts its approach, hovering out from the side of the building, moving in closer and closer until it is directly over the big H in the middle of the pad. The force of the downdraft is now severe, trying to blow us back and the sound is overpowering. The Lynx descends and comes to rest in the middle of the helipad.
Dan leads the way up the stairs and onto the pad, and the rest of us follow him up, all ducking slightly as we move forward, my hand holding the back of Emily’s head. The door of the Lynx slides open, revealing a helmeted pilot who waves, beckoning us in. Dan reaches the door first, then he moves to the side and helps Lindsay up into the hold. Stan is next with the computer, followed by Stacey. Before Catherine gets in, she turns to me and kisses my cheek.
“Good luck,” I just about hear her say into my ear.
Emily’s grip around my neck tightens as I go to lift her in. Catherine tries to take her off me, but she won’t release my neck. As upsetting as it is, I have to reach up and force her arms apart, prising her off me. She cries out, “Dad!” with her face full of tears.
All I can do is lean in and kiss her, telling her I love her before I lift her into the hold to Catherine who takes her from me.
I can feel tears welling up in my eyes, forcing their way out as I move back from the Lynx and watch Dan climb in. He is shouting something to me, but I don't register it. He turns, sliding the door shut behind him and then I'm alone. The Lynx starts to power its rotors and I am forced to retreat to the edge of the helipad by the force of the downdraft.
My mind races and my body trembles, a feeling of sickness gripping my stomach as I stand on top of the building trying to come to terms with the task ahead. The feeling of being alone sinks still deeper.
