York seem like a tactical prelude.'
'Barges,' Paula told them. 'That's what poor Eddie, murdered in Monk's Alley, was showing us in his crude drawing. A barge. Tell us then,' she invited Tweed, 'about the timing.'
'I am sure it will be between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Say 5.30 p.m.'
'Oh, my God!' Paula gasped. 'Rush hour…'
'Exactly,' Tweed agreed. 'At that time each bridge is crammed with traffic – cars, buses, coaches transporting schoolchildren home from the various exhibitions I hear that they will be visiting, so the casualties would run into many thousands – the key to the al-Qa'eda plan. A spectacular atrocity on the largest scale they have achieved anywhere so far.'
He waited. A deathly silence had gripped his audience. They had grasped how much was at stake. Beaurain decided a little reassurance was called for.
'So we realize how vital it is to destroy those barges one by one before they reach their targets. Which we will do.'
'Monica.' Tweed called out, 'please pass round photocopies of the device drawn by Commissaire Beaurain with Paula's help. Also pass round photocopies of the picture Newman took from the hospital when the barge tilted, giving a clear view down inside the main hatch.'
He sipped a glass of water, still standing, while everyone examined the pictures. Paula stood up, moved from one person to another, explaining anything they were not clear on. The tension in his office was subsiding. Now everyone realized what was involved, their expressions became more determined, grimmer. Tweed found this reaction very satisfactory.
'I've grasped it,' Harry Butler called out in a calm voice. 'But what about the traffic on the bridges?'
'I wondered when someone would ask that question. There will not be any traffic on the bridges. There won't be any driving along the Embankment on either side of the river. In a moment Superintendent Buchanan will explain what he has planned. The SAS will be the key element in this operation. A large force will be based along the embankment.'
'Then what do we do?' Nield called out.
'You will also be situated at key points on the embankment. So that the SAS do not shoot you the special clothes you wore once before are waiting in the basement. The black clothing with a large 'S' in white on the back. To identify you to the SAS. When I use the word 'Embankment' I refer to the left bank looking downriver. Newman will place you later. That is why Harry has assembled a formidable armoury in the basement.'
'Our targets, please,' asked Nield. 'The barges?'
'No. Not the barges. We know the al-Qa'eda cell numbers at least thirty men, probably more. They will start out on board the barges. But when the dogfight starts – and when it does it will be ferocious – I expect men from the barges to try to reach the embankment. Possibly in motorized dinghies. They will be your targets.'
'Some of them suicide bombers?' suggested Paula.
'All of them suicide bombers, I suspect. You have to kill them before they get close to you. I checked with the SAS contact. 'Take no prisoners?' I asked. 'Of course,' he replied.'
'Good,' said Newman.
'I now come to the worst part,' Tweed said. He paused. It was not something he liked to say but it had to be revealed. 'Earlier I named six bridges. The SAS can only save five of them with the resources at their command. One bridge must be allowed to go. That is Albert Bridge.'
There were gasps. Tweed looked very serous. He waited for the question he knew must come.
'But what about all the people who live near Albert Bridge?' Paula protested. 'Cheyne Walk and other areas nearby. Pieces of the blown bridge may hit their buildings.'
'I agree. I would now like to vacate the platform to Superintendent Buchanan. Among other factors he will explain how he is dealing with that problem. Roy, it is all yours.'
He left his desk and sidled his way to the chair Buchanan had vacated to occupy the chair behind the desk. Like Tweed he remained standing as he spoke, tersely in his clipped voice.
All residents near Albert Bridge were being evacuated. They were told a major gas explosion was expected, were being transferred to a number of hotels. He had already stopped the movement of traffic along either embankment, giving the same reason. A major gas explosion. His anti-terrorist squad would occupy the right bank, on the opposite side of the river to the SAS and the SIS. His men would be heavily armed. They would shoot to kill.
Traffic could move along the Strand, past Trafalgar Square and along the Mall. It would mean gridlock on a vast scale and many would not be able to return home that night. Where it was possible traffic would be diverted downriver to Blackfriars, Southwark, London and Tower Bridges and the Rotherhithe Tunnel. So some would get home, albeit rather late.
'What if one of the barges breaks through and reaches Blackfriars?' called out Nield.
'No barge will break through. If necessary it will be sunk by the SAS, using advanced missile launchers. Once this al-Qa'eda cell has been liquidated we can start guiding the traffic back over all bridges.' He paused. 'Except for Albert Bridge.'
He then answered a number of relevant questions before returning to his seat. Tweed stood up to occupy his desk seat when Harry also stood up, his voice powerful.
'Now, you useless lot, down to the basement with me to collect your weapons and ammo. You may get some sleep while you're waiting on the Embankment so we have stockpiled cushions. Don't ever think we don't look after you.'
'One more vital question,' Paula called out in a commanding voice which froze everyone where they were. 'Since Albert Bridge will also be closed to traffic, won't this al-Qa'eda scum notice the absence of traffic from the very start?'
'Good question,' Buchanan replied, standing still. 'Which is why we have arranged for a trustworthy firm dealing with old cars destined for the crusher to transport them on to Albert Bridge, placed on the upriver side. After that they'll be too busy concentrating on their evil work to notice anything odd elsewhere.'
As men filed out, following Harry, Tweed turned to Beaurain. He kept his voice low.
'Jules, I would appreciate it if you were by my side on the embankment. To start with we shall probably be perched on a statue's plinth to get a good view.'
'My pleasure…'
As they were speaking, and before anyone had left the office, Buchanan called out in his clear voice.
'Two more things and then I'll shut up. One, you will all be in radio contact with each other. Equipment waiting in the basement. Two, the BBC, all TV and radio stations, have been told not to broadcast any news bulletins after midday. They will play music, explaining this is due to a technical fault. Al-Qa'eda may well have small TV sets and radio on board the barges. I have sent policemen everywhere to make sure these instructions are carried out. Now I really will shut up.. .'
Soon the only people left in the office were Tweed, Beaurain, Monica and Paula. Paula went close to Tweed, whispered.
'You must be tired. You must get sleep here before the SAS contact arrives back at noon.'
'Never felt more alert.'
43
At Dick's wharf Ali had checked the control rooms at the stern of each of the six barges twice. When the convoy sailed on its last voyage he would be on barge number five, the barge which would destroy Chelsea Bridge. He would be in constant radio communication with all the other barges. He also had a small TV set in the control room of that barge. He would see the BBC broadcast the frightful destruction he would wreak.
Bridges smashed, the Thames full of cars and other traffic which had fallen into the river, crammed with people -either already dead or the few who would drown. It would be high tide. For years North London would be severed from the south. But it was the thousands of casualties he looked forward most to seeing.
He descended to the interior where all his cell was assembled. They were kneeling on their prayer-mats,
