'Done.' I held out my hand. He ignored it and walked past me, checking his weapon and barking orders.
By the time we'd got to the end of the alley, the snatchers and their hostages had made their way into the school. They made the kids carry in the bodies of the men I'd killed.
The wall that ran across the front of the school compound stretched down the sides too, but I'd glimpsed a wire mesh fence at the rear of the building. Ferguson and I broke cover, scurrying out of the alley and down the side of the school, staying in the shelter of the wall.
When we reached the corner I took out the wire cutters and within moments we had slipped into a playground. We darted from slide to roundabout to climbing frame until we reached the outbuildings.
There was no sign of movement at the rear of the school; everything would be happening in the front playground and the main hall, I guessed. We quietly tried all the doors and windows we could find. They were all locked, but time and neglect were on our side. I pushed one window gently and the whole frame came free and fell into the school. I gasped, waiting for a crash, but there was none. I peered inside and saw that it had landed on a mouldy blue crash mat. Ferguson and I climbed inside and found ourselves in a room full of soft foam wedges, mats and seats.
I clambered over the wet, squishy foam and cracked the door open. There was nobody in the corridor, so I headed into the school proper, with Ferguson close behind me. This part of the building had been left to rot, unlike the area around the main hall, which had obviously been inhabited since The Cull. We moved through the eerie, mildewed corridors stepping carefully to avoid the lino tiles which had curled upwards and made loud cracking noises if we trod on them. We came to a pair of swing doors and I peered through a frosted glass panel and saw movement very close. It took a moment to work out that there were two men standing just on the other side of the door. It looked like they were guarding a room.
I turned to Ferguson and indicated that he should look. He took my place just as there were sounds of movement in the corridor beyond. I could hear muffled shouts and then a gunshot. In sudden panic I lurched forward, gun at the ready, but he spun and put his hand on my chest and shook his head firmly.
We stood there for a moment, me desperate to see what was going on, he resolutely holding me back. He didn't see my hand slowly move towards the knife in my belt.
He held up his hand, releasing me and whispered: 'We go around, through the window.'
I considered for a moment, then nodded. So we went back the way we had come, back across the foam and out into the playground. Then we skirted the buildings until we were outside the room that was being guarded. I was surprised how calm I was when we reached it. Someone had been shooting in there, so there was every chance that Dad, Jane or Tariq was lying dead. I felt nothing but a fixed certainty that, even if one of them was dead, my gun and my knife would help me make it better.
I peeked over the window ledge and saw Dad and Tariq sitting on a camp bed, looking grim. I tapped on the glass lightly. Tariq jumped in surprise, but Dad just turned and smiled. They came to the window.
'Brace the frame,' I whispered, miming how they should hold the window steady.
They looked confused, but nodded. Then Ferguson and I took up positions at either side of the window and pushed. We were in luck. The frame slowly slid forward and oozed out of the brickwork, entire. Dad and Tariq took the weight, carried it inside and laid it on the bed.
'Where's Jane?' I asked when they returned to the window.
'Just took her to the hall,' replied Dad.
I reached into my pack, took out two Brownings and handed them to Dad and Tariq.
'Then let's go get her.'
Dad shook his head. 'No. There are too many of them.' I made to protest, but he waved me quiet. 'And there are children in there.'
'We can't just let them drive off with her, for fuck's sake.'
'We have to,' replied Dad firmly.
'You could shoot them all and rescue her yourself,' said the voice in my head. I actually considered it for a moment.
'How many men in total?' asked Ferguson.
'Fifteen at least. It's some kind of armed convoy, collecting kids from staging posts like this across the country and shipping them into London.'
Ferguson nodded. 'They're more organised than we'd thought.'
'Then let's kill them all, release the kids and go home.'
Dad gave me an exasperated look. 'Lee…' but he broke off when we heard voices at the door. Without a word, he and Tariq scuttled to the door and took up positions either side. Ferguson and I ducked down below the window ledge.
I heard the door open then a brief scuffle and a groan, then the door closed again. I looked up to see Tariq holding his gun barrel in the mouth of a spotty little man in a dark green hoodie.
'Sod this,' I muttered, and climbed into the room. Ferguson followed me.
I pulled my knife out as soon as my feet hit lino, stepped forward and laid the blade across the captive's throat. Tariq removed the gun.
'You're here to kill us, right?' said Dad.
The terrified man nodded.
Instantly, Dad aimed his gun at the wall and let off two rounds.
'Now strip,' he said. The terrified man undid the zip on his hoodie. 'Quickly!'
'Good idea,' I said, as I began unbuttoning my own coat. 'I'll take his place and follow them back.'
Dad shook his head. 'No way, son. You're coming with me.'
'But I'm the right height and build,' I protested. 'Neither of you are.'
Dad looked past me, over my shoulder. 'But I am,' I heard Ferguson say, in response to my father's piercing gaze.
'Oh come on, we're going to trust this guy over me?'
'Yes,' said Dad firmly. 'I think your judgment is a little off.'
'What the fuck is that supposed to mean?' I replied.
'I think maybe he's seen me,' whispered Mac.
But Dad wasn't going to get into this now, and our captive was down to his underpants.
'If I get away with this, I'll stick with them until they reach wherever their base is, then I'll try and sneak away, head back to Nottingham,' said Ferguson as he hastily pulled on a crusty pair of smelly combats. 'You should join my men in the road and head there yourselves.'
'And if you don't come back?' I asked peevishly. 'If they rumble you the second you walk out of this room?'
'Then there'll be plenty of guys to take my place.'
We heard a distant car horn.
'They're wondering where he is,' said Tariq.
Ferguson pulled the hood over his head and headed for the door.
'Head North via Hemel Hempstead,' says Dad as Ferguson makes to leave. 'Look for us there.'
'Will do,' he replies.
'Good luck,' I said as he turned the handle. He didn't acknowledge me at all.
We waited a minute, but we heard no shots and no commotion. Dad left the room and came back a moment later.
'All clear.'
I ran into the playground just in time to see the trucks turning the corner at the end of the road. The engines faded away and silence reigned. Jane was gone.
I stood there for a moment, then I began walking purposefully to the gate. I would find my sniper rifle and go after her. Anyone who got in my way would die. Simple as that.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. I stopped but didn't turn around, afraid of what I might do.
'Lee.' It was Dad.
'I'm going after her.'
