Before Glen could respond, Greg grabbed his attention, pointing towards the end of the High Street in the direction of the petrol station. A military Land Rover came into view, halted, and Rolly and Plato quickly debussed, skirmished away from the vehicle, and took up a defensive position either side of the road.
“Romeo, Papa, this is November. You can stop playing at soldiers and join us.”
“Roger that,” responded Plato.
Both jumped back in and roared down the street to join the rest of the troop.
Grouped around the land Rover, fifty metres away from the building where they had rescued the two women, the lads soon had a brew going, and Plato put his culinary skills to good use warming up some tins of chilli con carne along with powdered mash.
“Not the most thrilling of meals,” laughed Plato, “but it’ll fill a gap.”
“This is great. Better than my mum’s cooking,” piped up Patrick.
Andrew cuffed the lad playfully. “You never used to complain about her cottage pie coated in grated cheese, did you?”
“I suppose not.” Patrick’s face reddened.
“Where will you take your families to next?” asked Rolly.
Andrew and Tom looked at each other before Tom answered. “We’ll continue with our plans.”
“And they are?”
Tom looked at Andrew again, almost seeking approval to open up to these strangers. Seeing no objections, Tom continued. “Exmoor National Park. There’s fresh water, and trees we can use to build a home and for fuel when needed.”
“What about the towns?” asked Plato.
“Potentially full of people like the ones we’ve just encountered. There’ll be no food, no fuel for heating, and it’s likely that disease will be rife.”
“We have to protect our children from animals like those.” Lucy indicated the bodies lined up along the kerbside, clothing draped over their faces so that the staring eyes weren’t visible to the women and the two children.
“I’m sure there are some communities of a like mind out there. It’s better you stick with larger groups. Better chance of survival,” advised Glen as he got up out of a foldable director’s chair and picked up the pan to spoon more chilli onto the children’s clean plates.
“Where are you soldiers going? Do you have a commander?”
“Well, Tom,” replied Glen, “we have no idea who’s in charge. So, me and the lads are heading for London to see if we can find out.”
“Go via Chilmark. There’s supposed to be an RGC there,” Rolly suggested to Tom.
“RGC?”
“Regional Government Centre, Tom. If it’s survived, that is.”
Mary yawned.
“We need to get the children set up for the night,” Lucy advised the men.
“Yes, of course. Why don’t you stay close to us for tonight?” counselled Glen. “You can get a decent night’s kip, and we can go our separate ways in the morning.”
“We’d appreciate that.” Andrew thanked them. “Our wives and children in particular could do with a worry-free night.”
“Right then, we’ll finish our food, then follow us to the other side of the road. We’ll go back to where we stopped overnight.”
Food was finished, tea drank, and their stuff packed away. Plato helped the families top up their Land Rover from a small reservoir of diesel at the bottom of the large fuel tanks, topping their own up at the same time, impressed with Tom’s makeshift pump.
Glen saw Maddie climb painfully into the back of their Land Rover, helped by her husband Andrew. Glen walked over to him and pulled him aside. “She OK? Stupid question, I know.”
Although sadness was reflected in his eyes, Andrew’s response was positive. “It’s the world we live in now. She’ll get over it. She has to. At least we’re alive, thanks to you and your men. We need to be strong for our children. They’re our future.”
Glen nodded. “People are going to need each other much more than they realise. Not something I’d considered up until now.”
“Come with us,” a spur of the moment invitation from Andrew.
“No, but thanks for the offer. Our destiny lies elsewhere. No idea what or where, but… ” Glen patted Andrew’s shoulder. “Anyway, enough reflection. Let’s go and get settled down for the night.”
CHAPTER 21
The radio crackled just as they arrived at the Land Rover, and Sergeant Major Saunders grabbed the handset.
“Two-Zero, this is Two-Zero-Delta. Over.”
“This is Two-Zero-Alpha. Go ahead. Over.”
Scott could hear the roar of the Land Rover in the background as Corporal Brodie responded. “Tangoes. Approximately figures two-four, five klicks north of Two-Zero-Charlie’s location.”
“We’ve got company, sir.” The CSM passed the handset to Major Redfern.
“Two-Zero-Delta, this is Two-Zero. What are the Tangoes doing? Over.”
“It looks like they’re setting up camp. We came across a pickup truck doing a recce of the area. Over.”
“Did they see you?”
“Negative.”
“Your location now?”
“Found a piece of high ground to their south. Keeping watch. Over.”
“Mix and weapons?”
“A dozen adult males, seven females and a few kids. Weapons… I can see four or five shotguns. Wait… ”
The two men talked while they waited for Delta to continue.
“If they recce too far out, they’re bound to come across the warehouse, sir.”
“That’s my worry too. Once Delta have finished with their update, we’ll get over there.”
“Two-Zero. Their recce was a bit close then. Yes, five shotguns, probably two hunting rifles, and we’ve seen at least three SA80s. Nothing heavier. Over.”
“Vehicles?”
“Ah… Wrangler Jeep, two pickups, one on patrol, a couple of minibuses, Luton van and an old civvy Land Rover.”
“Roger that. Maintain watch. We’re moving to Charlie. Over.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Out to you. Hello, Zero, this is Two-Zero. Over.”
Silence.
“Come on, answer!” cursed Alan.
“Zero, this is Two-Zero. Over.”
“Go ahead. Over.”
Alan recognised the colonel’s, now brigadier’s, voice.
“Two-Zero. We have armed Tangoes north of Two-Zero-Charlie. Over.”
“Hostile?”
“Not so far, sir. We’re heading that way shortly.”
“Numbers?”
“Twenty-plus. Mix of males, females and children. Heavily armed.”
“Your recommendations?”
“Withdraw our support from the town. The plods can handle that. But you’ll need to warn the Superintendent. Then reinforce Charlie. Over.”
“What about the RGC and feeding station?”
“Keep feeding station covered, but I’ll take four men from the RGC. You need to lock down, sir.”
“Understood. I’ll speak to Superintendent Collins and have four men on standby to support you. We’re locking down now. Keep me posted. Out.”
Alan updated the soldiers guarding the feeding station, warning them to be on their guard. “Let’s go then.”
“Sir.”
“I’ll contact the others on the way.”
Scott turned the key, and the Land Rover roared into life. Dropping into gear, the vehicle pulled out of the car park and sped off west.
“RGC first?”