The whole time, the battle downstairs continues in earnest; it is diminishing slowly though, as there haven’t been any more explosions in a while and the gunfire is now more sporadic. I haven’t been able to distinguish any human screams lately either; the only ones I have heard have been inhuman, which is ominous. Maybe the girls haven’t noticed, and I don’t mention my observations to them because there isn’t anything good about them.
“Right,” I say, “let’s get as much stacked against it as we can.”
“Andy,” Stacey says, “can we use filing cabinets to make an arch from the door to the wall of the offices?”
I think for a second. “Brilliant idea, Stacey.” She blushes, but it really is.
We use the sack truck again, and it takes four of the heaviest filing cabinets we can find to make the arch. We then fill the gaps between them with different things to make an almost acceptable arch from the door to the wall. Emily seems to enjoy helping to fill the gaps with books and paper files. More cabinets are moved into place around the arch, making the whole barricade as strong as possible. As we start loading other furniture on top to add even more weight, Stan and Dan return and help me with lifting the heavier things.
When finished, we all go and sit in the lounge area to take a breather. I check my phone. It’s 16:15 already, and there is still nothing from Josh but at least I still have some signal.
The sixth floor has gone ominously quiet below us now. We don't discuss the fate of our friends and colleagues down there, however. I think we all know the battle has been lost, but none of us can bring ourselves to say it out loud. We are all quiet as we sit listening to the silence that resonates from below, contemplating what has happened down there and wondering when the beasts will be at our door.
After a while, Catherine and Lindsay go to the kitchen and bring us drinks and some food over. We do eat what they bring but the silence continues to hang like a cloud over us.
As we finish eating, Catherine who is sitting next to me tells me she will be back in a minute; she is just going to get changed into something a bit more practical and I, feeling down and weary, force myself to move also.
I go over to Stan who sits in a chair adjacent to the couches.
“Any idea what happened to the generators?” I ask him.
“No idea, Andy, they are supposed to start automatically if the power to the building fails. They are serviced and tested regularly. The last test was a month or so ago. I have been thinking about it, but I can’t work it out.”
“Sod's law, we couldn’t have predicted it. Where is your M4?” I ask.
“I left it in Tactical, in the panic. I’ll go and get it.”
“Thanks, mate.”
“What are we going to do, Andy?” he asks. “We seem to be stuck up here with the enemy at the gate?”
“I think I have a possible plan. I’ve got to make a phone call to see if it’s viable, which I’m about to do now, then I’ll fill you all in, okay?”
“Yes, of course, I’ll go get the M4.” Stan has a look of some relief as he gets up, but I just hope it isn’t misplaced.
Emily is looking tired again already and is leaning against Stacey, who appears drained. She hasn’t been able to get hold of her parents for an hour or so now and is worried sick. I go over to them and tell them I am just going to make a phone call over by the windows.
Colonel Reed answers almost immediately.
“Colonel, any news on my son, Josh?” I say, getting straight to the point.
“Nothing concrete, I’m afraid, Andy. We haven’t had contact with his battalion for over two hours, they last reported that they were holding out at the Tower of London and were still guarding Tower Bridge, but their lines were scattered. Sorry, it’s not more positive. If I get any further information, I will contact you of course.”
“Thank you for trying, Colonel, please do contact me immediately if you hear anything.” My feelings of disappointment and worry worsen.
“Now, has Sir Malcolm got the files, Andy?” the Colonel asks eagerly.
“Sir Malcolm is dead, Colonel. He has shot himself.”
The Colonel gasps.
“Bloody hell! We needed those files, we were counting on them.” The Colonel sounds quite distraught, though expresses not a word of sadness to hear about Sir Malcolm. It seems the stress is getting to us all, eating away at men’s morals.
“I know where they are, Colonel, but can’t access them.”
“Where are they, Andy?”
“They are here, you just need to come and get them, Colonel and us.”
“What are you talking about? You aren’t making any sense, man.”
“Colonel, the files are either stored on Sir Malcolm’s computer or in his safe. I can give you both but if you want them, the price is getting us out of here and into a safe location out of the infected zone.”
“That’s impossible, Andy. No one is allowed out of the quarantine zone, you know and can understand that.”
“Bullshit, Colonel! I know very well you can get us to a safe area, you will already have a controlled quarantine area set up outside the infected area for personnel deemed worthy. Well, we have just joined that list. If you want the files, that is.” Again, I call the Colonel’s bluff.
“Hold,” the Colonel says, and the line goes quiet.
A minute passes, then another. I didn’t expect an immediate answer; the Colonel will be going up the chain of command for a decision, and I have to admit I’m nervous, waiting for that decision.
The line crackles.
“How sure can you be that the files are there?” the Colonel asks.
“100 percent Colonel. Sir Malcolm didn’t keep work-related files outside the office, he told me that himself numerous times. They are either on his computer or in his safe,” I tell him, overstating my confidence considerably.
“Agreed, then. I can have a Lynx there at 18:00 hours. Can you get to the roof?”
“It won’t be easy, but we will be there; you need to send two helicopters and some C4 though. There are too many of us to fit in one helicopter with a safe.”
“Two? Well, there is no way I can spare two and why the C4?”
“Two Lynx at 18:00 hours. That is the deal. I’m not leaving anyone behind, and we need the C4 to free the safe from the floor so one of the helicopters will have to wait while we do that, so make sure it is well fuelled,” I insist.
The Colonel again puts me on hold, but this time only for a few seconds.
“Okay, Andy. Agreed, be on the roof at 18:00 hours. Don’t keep them waiting, and you’d better be right about the information.”
“We will be there, Colonel.”
“Oh, and Andy? Well played.”
The line goes dead—but that went better than I could have hoped for. We need to get moving, however, and figure out the best way to get onto the roof because the stairs aren’t an option. I already have an idea though.
By the time my conversation with the Colonel is over, both Stan and Catherine, who is now dressed in jeans, t-shirt and Converse trainers, are back with the group. That’s ideal as I can tell everyone at once.
Walking back to the group, everyone is looking at me in anticipation; they have obviously guessed the importance of the call I’ve just made. My face must be giving away my relief, because I can see all their faces change, a look of hope crossing them. On my way, I pick up the holdall from the floor.
“Good news,” I start, “we are getting out of here if all goes to plan. The army is sending two helicopters to pick us up from the roof at six o’clock, it’s just gone five-fifteen now,” I tell them, looking at my watch. “So, we need to prepare and get onto the roof as quickly as we can.”
There are sighs of relief from everyone and some smiles, including from myself. Emily, still half asleep, even gains some energy and smiles broadly at me.
“How did you manage that?” Catherine asks.
“We have something they want. Sir Malcol
m’s files, which I managed to convince them are definitely either on his computer or in his safe.”
She looks confused. “How on earth are we going to get onto the roof, if we can’t use the stairs?”
Dan answers this question. “We break through the ceiling, right, Boss?”
“Right, Dan, I suggest we do that above the safe so we can winch it up from one of the helicopters. Now we aren’t out of this yet; there are risks. The door to the roof should be locked and secure and the roof should be clear, but we can’t be sure. So, I will climb up onto the roof through a window to make sure it is safe before we make the hole.”
“Dad, I don’t want you climbing out of the window! Why have you got to go?” Emily says upset, her voice cracking. I fear she will turn hysterical and lose us time.
“He hasn’t, Emily, I’m going to go,” Dan says quickly. “No arguments, Boss.”
“Okay. mate, thanks.”
Putting the holdall down and unzipping it, I take out the small-sized body armour for Emily and a fresh one for me, which I put on deliberately for everyone to see. Emily gives me a quizzical look.
“There are enough body armours here for everyone, and everyone needs to put one on, no exceptions. Anyone not wearing their armour or not wearing it the correct way will be left behind. I will not repeat this, so do it now. I’ve got a special small one for you, Emily. Stan, can you sort everyone else out, please, while I help Emily? And can you get the backpack from the kitchen for me, for us to take?”
Emily soon has her armour on. It is still way too big for her, but it will do. “You look like a soldier now,” I joke to her. “Now you stay with Stacey while I go with Dan to help him get out of the window, is that alright?”
“Yes, Dad, as long as you don’t go out there.”
“I won’t, sweetie,” I tell her and kiss the top of her head.
“Ready, Dan?”
“Yep; let’s go.”
“Catherine, can you help us for a minute please?” I need to tell her something.
I grab my M4 and the three of us go through to Sir Malcolm’s office, as Dan goes straight over to the windows looking for the best climbing position.
“Dan, hold on a minute; I need to talk to you too, quickly.”
Dan comes over and Catherine turns to look at me.
“I need to ask you both a big favour. I’m not coming with you to the safe area, I’m going to find Josh and I need you two to look after Emily for me until I get back. Will you do that for me?”
“Are you completely mad?” Catherine snaps at me. “Don’t you mean if you get back and that’s a big if! He could be anywhere. He is almost certainly right in the middle of this hell and I’m sorry to say it Andy, but that is…if he is even still alive!”
“I know the dangers, Catherine, and the odds. But he is my son and I’ve got to try and find him, it’s as simple as that. Now we haven’t got time to argue this; the decision is made, so will you look after Emily for me, or not? She is going to be extremely upset when I go?”
Catherine’s face calms. “You know I will, Andy, but it should be you looking after her. I’m not paid to be a glorified babysitter.” I pick up the irritation in her voice but thank her anyway, as if I didn’t hear her caustic words.
“What’s your plan?” Dan asks.
“When the first helicopter leaves with you all, instead of getting the safe, I’ll commandeer the second. Get the pilot out and take it to find Josh. So, after ten minutes you need to tell your pilot to turn around and pick up the other pilot.”
“Sounds like a good plan, I’m in,” Dan says. I do love this guy.
“No, Dan. This isn’t on you; it’s my call and I can’t put you in that kind of danger because of me, and that is final.”
“Boss.”
“No, Dan,” I insist. “Now we are running out of time, let’s get moving.”
We soon find the best route for Dan to climb; it should be quite straightforward taking into account he will be free-climbing eight floors up, including the ground floor. Catherine goes back out to the others, shutting the door behind her, off to warn them that there’ll be some gunfire and explosions when we break through, so they don’t worry too much.
“Once you’re satisfied it’s secure up there, let me know and I’ll blow a hole through. A grenade should do the trick. Oh, and make sure you stand back.”
“Thanks, Boss, I’ll make sure,” he laughs.
We both move back from the window that Dan is going to climb out of, and I aim my rifle into the corner of the glass and shoot. The corner is the most effective point to break a window’s glass as it doesn’t flex as much as in the middle. The first shot shatters the glass completely, but it doesn’t fall out. We go over and as Dan crashes the butt of his rifle through the shattered glass, it caves outwards, falling like rain down onto to the ground below. Air breezes onto our faces and the smell of burning and smoke is strong from the numerous fires gripping the city.
“Be careful out there, Dan. Check your footing.”
Okay, I’ve got this. I’ll be on the radio ASAP, Boss.”
Dan then climbs out, his M4 on his back. And I have complete confidence and no doubt that I will be hearing from him in no time.
As soon as he is out, I get on top of the sideboard that contains the safe and start ripping down the suspended ceiling directly above the safe in preparation for breaching through to the roof with the grenade. Thankfully, there are no surprises above the suspended ceiling, and I find it clear apart from a few wires. And while the ceiling above looks solid, it won’t be a match for the grenade. There is a recess between the wall and the ceiling which will be an ideal place for me to put the grenade once I’ve pulled the pin. I’m just waiting for Dan to give me the go ahead. I can’t see him now so that can’t be far off.
I jump back down and go pick up the body armour left on the floor earlier and transfer the equipment from it into my fresh one, keeping a grenade in my hand.
A loud screech comes from somewhere and a few seconds later, there is a massive bang, sounding like it’s coming from behind the wall at the back of the office. Quickly opening the office door, I immediately see that everyone is on their feet and coming toward me.
“They are trying to get through the stair door!” Catherine shouts toward me.
Shit, shooting the glass and all the noise I have been making must have stirred them, alerting them to our presence up here. The door is locked and barricaded; surely; there is no way the Rabids are going to get through it before we have flown out of here?
“The door will hold,” I reply.
They stop when they reach me, all looking worried. Emily goes to come over to me, but I tell her to stop and wait with Stacey.
“Andy, over,” my radio sounds.
“Receiving over.”
“The roof is secure, good to go, over.”
“Copy that, clear the area.”
This is it!
“Wait here, everyone. I’ll be back in a second, then there will be an explosion, so be prepared for it,” I tell them, showing them the grenade in my hand to make my point.
Running back into the office and jumping back on top of the sideboard above the safe, I immediately pull the pin on the grenade and place it in the recess, turn, jump back down and run back out, pulling the office door shut behind me. Moments pass, then an explosion hits. I fucking hope I see daylight up there when I open the door again.
Through the dust, sunbeams are piercing through from all around but, thank God, some of them are coming from a fresh hole in the ceiling; it isn’t big but it’s big enough.
“Move, everybody.”
We move through the dust and over to the opening above. I grab a coffee table on the way and put it on top of the sideboard under the opening, to help us climb through. The noise coming from behind the wall at the back of the office is now severe. There is no mistaking that the enemies that have just slaughtered the people I left downstairs, are now targeting
us.
“Catherine, you’re first,” I tell her.
She climbs easily onto the sideboard using my shoulder to steady and push herself up while I hold the coffee table so it doesn’t slip. Dan’s face is at the opening and he helps to pull her through the hole and up onto the roof. Stacey is next, then Lindsay, and then I get onto the sideboard. Stan picks up Emily and passes her to me and I lift her up to Dan, telling her how brave she is.
I jump down and Stan gets up, passing the holdall that he thankfully brought with him up to Dan.
“Wait there, Stan, I nearly forgot the bloody computer!”
The computer tower is under Sir Malcolm’s desk but as I go to pull it out, I see it is locked to the floor by a steel housing with a dial-coded padlock locking it, for fuck’s sake!
The banging is constant and heavy coming from the stair door, getting worse all the time. I could be wrong, but it sounds like there is a cracking noise every time they hit the door. Is the lock giving way? I pull out my Sig, aim at the padlock and shoot. The lock disintegrates, the housing opens easily and I rip all the wires out from the back of the computer.
After passing the computer to Stan, I rush over to the office door and close it, but there is no way to lock it without Sir Malcolm's key. I push and pull Sir Malcolm’s desk over against the door, then stack stuff up on top of the desk to the door handle so it can’t be pushed down. This measure won’t keep anyone out for long, certainly not an army of Rabids, but it is better than nothing and could buy us some valuable extra time if they do break through onto this floor.
Climbing through the hole, the feeling of the evening sun on my face feels good, and Emily comes straight over to me as I stand. She wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly. Sending my daughter away and leaving her will be heartbreaking, but Josh is out there somewhere.
Capital Falling Trilogy Box Set [Books 1-3] Page 15