by S G Read
‘What are you doing?’ Jacob asked keeping his voice low.
‘Watching them;’ Richard answered, keeping his voice at the same level. ‘We don’t know if our guns will fire, so I was making sure they stayed put.’
‘We have two pistols which we know will work from the two ladies.’ Kevin whispered and showed him the pistol he was carrying.
‘So what do we do?’ Richard asked.
‘The more we take out the less we have to face when we go after them so I reckon we should take them out!’ Kevin answered.
‘How?’ Richard asked.
‘Does it matter?’ Kevin asked in return. ‘I thought you were all for killing anyone we found who was a member of the clan?’
‘Yes I am but now we are going to raid the camp and get our wives back, it is pointless to get myself killed before we do that!’ Richard answered.
Jacob smiled. ‘So how do we go about sorting this lot out then?’ He asked.
‘Cooey.’ Laura called. It was directed at the men at the roundabout and she stood not ten metres from where the four were hiding.
They raised their guns but seeing it was a middle aged woman they drove over to where she stood.
‘What do you want?’ One of the men in the front of the land rover asked as the four prepared to strike.
‘Are you looking for four men?’ She asked.
‘Why have you seen four men, other than us?’ The same man asked.
‘Oh yes!’ She replied with a smile.
The four opened fire; there was no discussion, no lay down your arms or die! They just fired! The men had no chance to do anything except die. Three did, one still lived when the firing stopped but he was badly injured.
‘Well that worked out alright.’ Laura said smugly. ‘And you, you little toad; you were the one who took that girl from down the street so you deserve all you get.’
‘What shall we do with him?’ Richard asked.
‘Well we know a doctor who will save his life but only if he fills us in on a few details.’ Jacob answered.
They questioned the man where he lay by the jeep making sure they had all the information he had. They did not torture him just persuaded him by kindness. He had a blanket laid over him and they gave him some brandy, until he stopped breathing.
‘So there is a hundred of them.’ Laura declared.
‘No Laura; he said there were but the Kent settlement killed twelve and another twenty are missing down there.’ Hetty corrected. ‘Are they the group we are going to join?’
‘It is.’ Jacob answered. ‘We need to get rid of these where they won’t be found very quickly and their jeep!’
‘Put them up in our attic. I don’t suppose for one minute we will be coming back here and Hetty can drive so we’ll take the jeep with us!’ Laura replied.
The four men looked at her.
‘Sounds good to me;’ Kevin declared. ‘I’m glad these two are on our side!’
The four men were hastily dumped in the attic wrapped in plastic to stop any blood dripping out for some time and then they started out for the Kent settlement.
Clem and James sat in Brian’s car and he drove away. A little jerkily but he had been practising; he even managed to get out of second gear soon after they were out of the gate.
By the time he hit the main road he was in forth gear and doing thirty five miles an hour. They drove around for sometime looking in places where such things might be found. In the end they found both parked in the street. One had been in use but the driver had obviously been dying and had either been carted off to hospital or had wandered off to die somewhere. The other was just parked in the street. It took them over an hour to find the keys for that one! They checked the fuel level and stopped on the way home to fill all three vehicles up with fuel, using the generator in Brian’s car. Then they drove back to the house.
Ray had spent the time tying the four wires going into the first tower up so that they did not end up out of reach. Jethro laid more blocks in the tower but the wall was now as high as it was going to get where it met the tower. As he did no longer have to fit the wall into the tower it speeded things up and by dinner time the tower was nearly as high as it was going to be. Now Jethro used lintels which would form a floor at the top for someone to stand on and used smaller bricks to build up past them. Once he was past the lintels he returned to the bigger concrete blocks for strength.
When the tower was as tall as he wanted it, they laid plywood on the lintels so they could pour concrete on to make the floor. The wires came out in the corner ready for someone to connect but they needed someone who knew what they were doing when it came to the multicore wire. There were two wires coming from the house and two wires to go on to the next tower. They used the cement mixers to make the concrete floor and pulled it up in buckets until it was finished.
Jethro stood back and looked at the tower with its double twin block wall running away from it. Jethro left a one metre gap between the two walls for the guard to walk on to reach the tower. The gap to be filled with rouble with concrete on top.
‘I’ll do the other tower and then we will need the wire to go from one to the other with its’ own supports in between.’ He said in satisfaction.
‘There are a few dogs down there.’ Will said nodding in the direction he was looking. ‘They keep sneaking out of the trees and looking this way, I don’t know what they are up to.’
‘We’ll go in for some lunch now Will.’ Ray answered. ‘If they want to come up here and have a sniff around they can for all I care but if they are still here when we go back out they are in for a surprise.
While they were eating the three others returned with the two cherry picker trucks. The three parked their cars and after making sure the gate were closed and no dogs had come into the yard, they came in to eat as well.
‘Found some.’ Clem said as she flopped into a chair.
‘How was Brian’s driving?’ Ray asked as he was eating.
‘Getting better.’ She answered. ‘I didn’t need to walk in front with the flag this time!’
‘Ho ho, how very droll!’ Brian said wittily and sat down. ‘I think it was all the others cars on the road which put me off, now it’s a doddle and if I smash up one car I can just take another!’
‘What do, no did you do when the world was still functioning?’ Will asked.
‘Me I am a computer nerd. I can make a computer sit up and beg if you wanted me to!’ Brian answered.
‘Wiring as well?’ Ray asked his ears pricking up.
‘Yes, I can network as well.’
‘We want some sort of communication on the towers we are putting up, can you do that?’ Ray asked.
‘I can put web cams in the towers if you want them, that way you can see who is talking to you!’ Brian offered. ‘As long as you get the gear and we have power on the tower.’
‘We are putting power to them so that they can make themselves a warm drink while they are up there, although if we don’t get any more people here the towers will probably be unmanned!’
‘Better to put the wiring in place for later, we are bound to have a few babies with all these young ladies around.’ Brian replied.
‘I’ve not be described as a young lady for sometime!’ Donna declared.
‘I’ve never been described as any sort of lady.’ Clem added. ‘What are we on this afternoon Ray?’
‘James and you are on East Anglia lookout. You know what you are looking for and how many. Any difference you don’t make contact, just come back and get us!’ Ray answered.
‘Okay. But surely they have only got to drive here from East Anglia? They should have been here yesterday!’ Ralph declared.
‘They do have to make sure they don’t run into the clan.’ Will argued. ‘It’s no good them turning up here dead!’
‘But they wouldn’t turn up if they were dead!’ Ralphy replied quizzically.
‘A figure of speech Ralphy.’ Will explained. ‘It means they are
no good to us if they are dead!’
‘Oh I see. Daddy wants them to get here quickly so that we can go and get mummy.’
‘Well the men who are coming have lost their wives as well, so when we have enough men and a plan, we will go in and get everyone’s mothers or wives!’ Ray replied. ‘Is there any news from the Welsh settlement?’
‘They had their meeting and they have decided to send some men here to fight the clan but they have not said how many or when.’ Ralphy answered.
‘In that case, while you are laying bricks with Brian and Ralph as your guards Jethro, Will and I will take turns in digging footings for the next wall and tower.’
‘I want to take a look-see over the wall before we go back out there Ray.’ Will warned him.
‘Use one of the new hoists.’ Clem retorted.
‘I could at that, couldn’t I?’ Will replied.
After lunch Clem drove one off the hoists over to the wall and chose to ride up with him. The dogs were there in numbers. It looked all too much like an ambush!
‘Are they getting cleverer?’ Clem asked.
‘It looks like they might be; see what you can do with the Kalashnikov. While I pick a few off with the Baby.’ Will answered.
As soon as they started firing the dogs ran for it, by now they knew what gunfire was. Clem sprayed bullets at the fleeing dogs who did not stay together but ran for the trees separately. Will picked off three before they reached the trees where as Clem hit one after firing a lot more bullets.
‘That didn’t work out too well.’ She complained.
‘Four dead dogs will make them think.’ Will replied. ‘Come on we’ll go out while they are running away.’
‘I’ve got to go and meet the East Anglian crowd with James.’ Clem answered as Will lowered the cradle.
Clem and James drove off and the people who were working on the towers went round to the end of the wall. They drove both hoists round so that they could use one as a lift and one form the lookout. The cement mixer was soon going.
Jacob drove the first car, Kevin the second, Hetty had insisted that Laura bring their old car and she was driving the jeep with Richard riding shotgun. They took a roundabout route to keep away from London but travelled west as they were doing it. Hey hit the M2 which was deserted. They stooped at a local shop in between the M2 and the M20 for supplies and to have refreshments. The door was open so they immediately went into a defensive mode. They drew their guns, after the fight with the clan, they did know their guns worked! They found two men in side armed with clubs.
‘Who are you?’ Kevin asked with his pistol pointing one of the men.
‘Who are you?’ The man retorted.
‘Me, I’m Kevin Duke.’ Kevin answered noting the clubs they carried and the lack of guns. ‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Tosh Baker; this is Barry Carter. We were after food and anything else we can find.’
‘So are we; just make sure the clan doesn’t lay hands upon you. You either join them or die.’ Kevin answered.
Laura bustled past him. ‘We are here to get food not pass the time of day.’ She said as she passed Tosh. ‘Don’t you have a gun?’
‘No.’ Tosh admitted.
She pulled her pistol out of her pocket and held it out. ‘Be careful it’s loaded!’ She replied and walked on after he had taken it.
All three men looked at her as she went about collecting tins to make a meal. Kevin shrugged, walked over and held out his hand. They all shook hands and two of the other men came in to do the same; while one stood guard with Hetty.
‘Are you from East Anglia?’ Barry asked.
‘Yes why?’ Kevin answered.
‘We heard you on our radio.’
‘Why didn’t you talk to us then?’ Jacob asked.
‘We can only listen.’ Barry explained. ‘We are trying to get to the same meeting point that you are heading for. We have seen other men, heavily armed. Shot one man just to get his daughter and carry her off. Where you are going sounds like the place for us as well.’
‘You are welcome to come with us,’ Jacob replied, ‘but it is a bit worrying, if you could hear where we are meeting you then the clan might have heard as well! We will have to be very careful.’
They cooked a meal on the portable stove Hetty brought with her; as soon as the food was ready more people appeared.
‘This is my wife Clare, my daughter Tilly, and my son Justin. She is my wife’s sister Amelia.’ Tosh said as they appeared. ‘This is Carol, Barry’s wife and their daughter Justine.’
‘You are all welcome to join us and share out food.’ Jacob said when he saw them all. ‘I hope you have a car?’
‘We do but it is a bit low on petrol.’ Barry answered.
‘We can fill it up for you,’ Kevin announced, ‘but we do have some room in our cars.’
They decided to leave their car and fill up the vehicles the others were driving, to save time; they all wanted to get to the rendezvous!
Jethro started on the second tower, linking in the wall as he built it. At seven blocks high he stopped. The blocks were heavy and he thought that was high enough for building while the mortar on the lower ones were still wet. The dogs had stayed away all the time but they could see them now and then sniffing the air. They could smell the dead dogs and they were all hungry.
James and Clem drove to a little lane and parked. From there they could approach the roundabout without being seen and watch it as they had before. They crept through the trees and settled down to wait and watch but other eyes were watching as well.
‘Did you see movement over there?’ One man whispered to the man next to him.
‘Yes. Two young people moving about. I’d better tell Colin.’
He slipped out of his hiding place, past the other waiting clan members and hurried to Colin who was in charge.
‘There are two young people over there, one’s a girl. She might be the one we want Colin.’
‘Show me.’
They returned to the clan members hiding place.
‘See over there. They are waiting for someone.’
‘So they are.’ Colin answered. ‘We’ll take them and leave the rest to meet whoever is coming to meet them. I think that is the girl Jamal has the hots for.’
‘She’s a bit young.’ The man who had first spotted them noted. ‘Hardly anything of her.’
‘Jamal wants her and he is the boss.’ Colin retorted. ‘Send four men to creep up on them, slowly mind, we don’t want any needless shooting. If she gets killed so does the man who kills her!’
‘What about the boy with her?’ The man who had first spotted them asked.
‘He’ll go for the games. He’s young and strong.’ Colin answered. ‘He will give us a bit of entertainment!’
‘So we can’t kill either one?’ The same man asked.
‘No but when the others arrive you can kill them!’ Colin answered.
‘Good; I like killing people!’
‘We can also get the boy to tell us where their hideout is and you can go in and kill all of them!’ Colin added.
Four men crept up on the unsuspecting Clem and James. The men worked their way behind them then crept through the trees to take them prisoner.
Jacob led the others, driving fast. They passed the M20 and travelled on until they met the A21. They followed the A1 then turned left; later on they turned into a smaller road. The roundabout was on this road but partway along the road they stopped. After looking about they drove off the road into a clump of bushes and parked. The women were left to guard the vehicles, the children and each other while the men went on to see what was happening at the junction.
The first Clem knew about the men creeping up on them was when she was grabbed by two men, James had the same treatment. She had no chance to work her charms or to distract them as they dragged them both back to where the others were waiting.
‘Well done you four, Jamal will be pleased. Tie them up and make sure they do
not get away while we sort out the visitors. When we have dealt with them we will find out where the rest of them are and deal with them as well.’ Colin declared.
‘We will tell you nothing!’ Clem hissed.
‘Maybe you won’t but he will after a little friendly persuasion!’ Colin assured her.
They tied them up with cable ties, tighter than they wanted them and threw them in the back of a jeep for safe keeping. One man was left to guard them.
‘Oops.’ Clem said when they were alone.
‘Can you get your hands free?’ James asked. ‘I don’t fancy being tortured.’
‘No chance unless I chew my hand off and I can’t get my teeth round there even if I did want to do it!’ Clem answered. ‘What about yours?’
‘No chance. What about a knife?’
‘They took mine.’ Clem complained.
‘I have a penknife in my pocket if you can get your hand in there.’ James replied.
Clem slid closer. ‘You don’t have any holes in your pockets, do you?’ She asked before she slid her hand in.
‘No! Why?’
‘It doesn’t matter.’ She slid her hand in his pocket and felt around for a while to find the penknife.
‘Oh.’ James said suddenly.
‘What?’ Clem asked, stopping her search.
‘Nothing;’ James insisted. ‘Get the knife.’
She continued to feel about until she found it.
‘Good, now cut my hands free.’ James ordered. ‘They are going to kill the men who are coming here to meet us.’
Clem fought and opened the knife then sawed at the plastic ties which held his hands. ‘It’s not very sharp!’ She complained.
‘Keep going.’ James hissed.
The man outside looked in through the window. It was not a clean window but he still saw enough and opened the door.
‘I think I need to have that.’ He said and held his hand out for the knife.
Clem twisted her body and stuck the knife into his hand. He yelled out in pain and withdrew his hand. Clem sawed at James bonds frantically, knowing the man would soon be back for vengeance. The plastic gave way as the man lunged forward and James did all he could, he head butted him. James fell down pole axed but the man just shook his head.