Winters is highly suspicious of how this Nobel Prize level winning discovery actually happened, but no matter; it means blood tests are no longer needed and neither is quarantine in most cases. That means that personnel returning to base can be scanned for infection immediately, and that includes his team.
Winters checks his watch. Alders will be landing anytime now. The rain has all but stopped, so he decides to get out of the Defender to watch their arrival, he opens the driver’s door and starts to get out.
“Stay in your vehicle!” an overzealous Corporal shouts in Winters’ direction.
“Excuse me, Soldier?” Winters replies, taken aback.
“Stay in your vehicle, Sir,” the Corporal repeats angrily, not backing down. “Until the landing party is cleared,” he adds, his rifle starting to turn in Winters’ direction.
Winters pauses for a second, debating to pull up the Corporal for his insubordination. The second passes and Winters lets it slide, getting back into the Defender. He hasn’t the time or inclination to pull him up on it now, since he has more important matters to attend to. On shutting his door, he does roll his window all the way down, however, in part as a show of defiance but mainly so he can get a better look at the Lynx now descending to land.
The Corporal and his rifle have turned back to the LZ, taking no notice of either Winters or his act of defiance.
Slowly and deliberately, Alders brings the Lynx over and down towards his allotted LZ. Noise and wind start to billow through the Defender’s open window, bringing with it rain as the helicopter closes in, Winters ignores all three as he watches. The soldier’s heads that surround the LZ automatically duck, their faces turning away from the barrage as the downdraft reaches its peak and the helicopter nears touchdown.
The Lynx touches down with a jolt. Finally, Alice thinks to herself as she is jarred by the landing, a small price to pay to be almost out of this flying cocoon.
Dixon is up and pulling at the hold’s door handle almost instantly on touchdown, even before Alders has killed the helicopter's engines. Maybe Alice isn’t the only one hiding their dislike of helicopters—or is it the mission that has Dixon eager to exit?
Another wave of relief passes over Alice as the Lynx’s door rolls speedily back and fresh air flows into her; she fills her lungs greedily.
Dixon jumps straight down onto the wet tarmac, but he is stopped in his tracks as he is ordered to ‘halt’ by the agitated Corporal pointing a rifle at him.
“Fuck off, dickhead, I ain’t in the mood.” Dixon barks back at the Corporal.
“Stay where you are Sergeant, or I will fire!” The Corporal ducks lower behind his rifle and takes a step forward, showing he means business.
Perhaps the Corporal doesn’t realise who he is dealing with or perhaps the bit of power he has been given has gone to his head. Under different circumstances, he would know not to fuck with Special Forces, or at least show them a bit of respect. On this occasion, the Corporal has decided to play with fire, risking getting burnt and burnt badly.
Dixon has played before and stays calm, even if he does have a slightly smug look on his face. He knows that his team is not going to let this pass, especially the members of his SBS patrol.
Without noticing, his concentration focused on Dixon, the Corporal is already in the line of sight of two assault rifles. Kim and Collins have their team leader covered from the shadows of the Lynx’s hold.
“Lads,” is all Dixon has to say.
Slowly and deliberately, Kim and Collins stalk out of the shadows, moving gradually forward showing themselves and their trained rifles to the Corporal. The Corporal suddenly wishes he had played this situation very differently. His confidence and aggression visibly wane as he involuntarily takes a step back, surrendering his pride even further.
“Tell them to lower their weapons,” the Corporal shouts with little authority.
“You first, sonny,” Dixon retorts, scratching his chin.
None of the Corporal’s team is showing any sign of wanting any part of this standoff and look nervously on, having zero clues what to do. There will have to be a good reason for the Special Forces operatives to stand down. They can’t have jumped-up regulars bandying around stories of how they faced down two Special Forces patrols, one SBS and the other SAS to boot. None of the men would let that happen and not just because they would never live it down.
“Corporal, lower your weapon; that is an order,” Lieutenant Winters instructs the hapless man, who hasn’t even noticed his arrival at his side.
“But Sir, they have to be screened.”
“I won’t tell you again Corporal, lower your weapon.”
Gradually, the tension eases as the Corporal’s rifle begins to lower, the man’s authority in tatters as well as his pride. Once his rifle’s aim is lowered away from Dixon, his team relax, and their weapons lower also.
“Sergeant,” Winters says to Dixon. “Get your team formed up ready for screening.”
“Screening, Sir?” Dixon asks, confused.
“Yes, Sergeant, it’s the latest method to check that new arrivals haven’t been infected. All it involves is a scan of your eye, nothing to worry about—and the sooner we get it done, the sooner we can let these men get on with their jobs.”
“And a fine job they are doing, Sir.” The unadulterated sarcasm is cutting.
“Nevertheless, let’s get on with it, Sergeant.”
“Yes, Sir,” Dixons replies before telling his team to form up.
“Carry on, Corporal,” Winters instructs the beaten man.
Josh and Alice are ushered to the front of the queue, mainly for Josh’s benefit. Both teams of Special Forces have lost brothers in arms on operations and that is bad enough. To lose your father on the same operation is beyond words and the whole team want to do what little they can for their new comrade.
Josh, to his credit, is standing tall and does so as his eye is scanned by another member of the newly timid welcoming committee. Suddenly, please and thank you are the orders of the day. The overzealous Corporal stands to the side with his tail between his legs, thinking of excuses to save face with his men when his ordeal is finally over.
Dixon stands at the back of the queue, still scratching his chin and eyeing the Corporal, prolonging his suffering for as long as possible.
Josh passes the screening and walks over to Winters.
“How are you holding up?” Winters asks him.
“I’m not sure; to be honest, it’s a head fuck and I’m not getting my head around it.”
“It’s early days, Josh, and for what it’s worth, your Dad got you and your sister to safety which is what he wanted. Also, for what it’s worth, he didn’t have a choice but to do this mission. He did it to try and keep you safe, so don’t hold it against him and don’t feel guilty about it either because I didn’t know him long but I do know he would do it all again.
I know it might be too soon for me to be saying that, but I don’t know if I’ll get another chance.
You don’t have any obligations to this fight now, Josh. You’ve played your part and I’ll make sure you are out. You’ve got your sister to look after now, so leave the rest to somebody else, that’s what your Dad would want. Is that what you want?”
“That’s my priority now, although I don’t know how to keep her safe from this,” Josh tells Winters.
“I’m not sure I can tell you either. If it were me, I’d get as far away from here as possible, across the sea if I could, but that will be easier said than done, I know.”
“Do you know where my sister is now?”
“Yes, they are in the First-Class lounge, I’ll make arrangements for you to be taken there.”
“Thanks, I’ve got some plans and decisions to make.”
“Yes, and I’m sure you’ll make the right ones,” Winters encourages.
“Thanks, I hope you’re right.”
Alice gets through screening and joins them to wait for the rest of the t
eam. She doesn’t disturb the two men talking. Hopefully, Winters has found the words she couldn’t quite find. Josh looks as well as can be expected, better even, considering.
Downey, with his unwanted package—the holdall—follows Josh and Alice to screening. Winters waits patiently as Downey has his details tapped into the phone and he watches as Downey has the phone held up to his eye. The miraculous new App zooms right in on the eyeball, scanning for evidence that the owner of the eyeball is infected. The App takes its time scanning before it snaps a picture of the eye and eventually ‘CLEAR’ pops up in green across the screen.
“Clear,” the operator of the phone announces, and Downey moves past to join Josh, Alice and Winters.
As soon as he reaches them, he lifts the holdall up, presenting it to Winters, eager to relieve himself of the burden.
Winters gives the holdall a look of disdain, as if to say, is this what the grief’s been over? He then lifts his arm and takes the handles of the bag off Downey.
“Thanks,” Winters says.
“Your welcome to it, Sir, I just hope it was worth the cost.”
“You and me both Corporal, you and me both.”
Winters takes the holdall over to the Discovery, opens the back door and places it onto the back seat. He closes the door and turns in the direction of the Corporal in charge of the screening team.
“What is your name, Corporal?” Winters asks the embarrassed man.
“Harris, Sir.”
“You have a job to do, Harris. That doesn’t mean you have to be a prick while you are doing it. Your comrades returning to base have been through enough shit without you adding to it. You can operate a tight security detail and do it civilly until it is time not to, understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“If you don’t think you can handle that, just say the word and I’ll have you reassigned to another detail.”
“I can handle it, Sir I don’t know what came over me Sir, I apologise, Sir.”
“Good, it is a very tense time, but we all have to hold it together, so carry on.”
Winters salutes Corporal Harris casually as he turns away from him, and Corporal Harris returns the salute with vigour, standing to attention as he does.
Finally, Dixon receives the all-clear from the mobile phone that was stuck in his face and he joins the rest of the team, complaining and mumbling to himself.
“What are our orders now, Sir?” Dixon asks Winters.
“Mission complete, Sergeant; the cost has been great, too great and our thoughts are with the team members who haven’t returned. Captain Richards, Dan and Wing Commander Buck.” There is a moment of silence before Winters continues. “I have to get the holdall to Command so this is where we part ways. I have no further orders to give you, so get transport over to Terminal 5, fill your bellies and rest up, we will know where you are. Thank you, everyone.”
Winters salutes the team, and they return it before Winters makes his way towards the Defender. On the way, he stops as he reaches Josh.
“Again, I’m sorry for your loss, Josh; my thoughts are with you and your sister and if there is anything I can do, get in contact with me, here, take my number.”
“Thank you, Sir, I will.”
The two men shake hands and then Winters makes his way over to his ride, while Josh saves his new contact into his phone.
“Right, let’s get this show on the road, I need some chow. Where’s my new friend?” Dixon announces as the driver’s door of the Defender closes.
Corporal Harris hasn’t moved from his spot, although he has been joined by the other members of his squad. He knows that he should be sorting the new arrivals out and he will, but he’s just building up to it. He doesn’t get the chance to stall any longer, however, because his nemesis is walking in his direction. Harris finds himself trembling a little as the tall, rugged-looking Special Forces Sergeant with the scar across his face approaches. To his credit, Harris manages to pull himself together and moves off his spot to meet him head-on.
The Sergeant doesn’t slow down as they meet, and Harris thinks he is about to be in a fight.
“Ahh, there you are, Corporal,” the Sergeant says as he moves around to Harris’s side and throws his arm over his shoulder as if they were best of friends. Harris is both relieved and confused. “What do you say we forget about all this bad feeling, mate, and put that misunderstanding behind us. Life is too short, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely, Sir,” Harris stumbles.
“Good, good, so you think you can help us with a lift over to Terminal 5?”
“Absolutely,” Harris again stumbles,” I was just going to sort that out, Sir.”
“Excellent, what’s your name, Corporal?”
“Harris, Sir.”
“Okay, Harris, let’s get moving shall we, I’m starving?”
“Yes, Sir, we have a minibus lined up over there,” Harris says, pointing.
Harris is now standing in front of all the new arrivals and he is unsure how he got there. Thankfully, the Sergeant has taken his arm from off Harris’s shoulder and stands beside him, waiting for Harris to sort them out.
“Flight Lieutenant Alders?” Harris asks, already knowing who he is due to his pilot’s uniform.
“Yes, Corporal?”
“I have orders for you to return to your squadron, Sir. Do you need transport, Sir?”
“Great, no rest for the wicked. No, Corporal, I can walk from here.”
“Thank you, Sir. Everyone else, if you can get into that minibus, you will be driven over to Terminal 5.”
Alders says his goodbyes, paying particular attention to Alice and Josh before walking off in the direction of the terminal building next to the landing zone.
The rest of the team load onto the minibus, leaving Harris behind.
Chapter 3
The drive to Terminal 5 is uneventful, although there’s some banter between the Special Forces lads. Their normal post-mission buzz is heavily tempered by the losses inflicted. Voices are kept low and the jokes are small and kept to a minimum, out of respect.
“How are you holding up?” Alice asks Josh. They sit together at the front of the minibus.
“I’d be better if people stopped asking how I was holding up,” Josh tries to joke.
“I’m sorry, my American insensitivity again.”
“Don’t worry, I was only joking. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I’m more concerned with what and how I am going to tell Emily; she is going to be devastated.”
“It won’t be easy, that’s for sure, but have you any idea what to tell her?”
“I think I will tell her it was an accident, that he was killed in crossfire in the battle. She will ask more questions, so I will say that he was shot in the chest, died instantly and didn’t suffer. What do you think?”
“That will sound believable to her and save her as much heartache as possible, I think you should go with that.”
“I am not looking forward to it. And then there is Dan. I will have to tell Emily that news as well,” Josh says, his head dropping slightly.
“I know,” Alice says. She feels a strong urge to put her arm around Josh and to pull him into her, to comfort him. But she doesn’t, as she doesn’t know if she should. All she manages is to put her hand onto his back and rub it as you would a sick child. She instantly feels pathetic and pulls her hand away.
Josh looks up to her for a brief moment, their eyes meeting in the dim light. He appears young as if he were a boy and so vulnerable. Again, the urge to take him in her arms returns and again, she shies away from it and all she manages is a forced, tight-lipped smile, hopeless.
The volume of banter from the lads behind her rises for a second before they shut it down. Alice tries to convince herself that the men’s presence is stopping her comforting Josh properly, but she knows she is kidding herself.
“I’ll be alright,” Josh mumbles and the moment passes, unlike Alice’s feeling of uselessness.
Josh doesn’t dwell on the moment he and Alice just had, and it leaves his thoughts immediately. He is too caught up in being reunited with Emily and the sense of trepidation at seeing her.
Josh and his Dad were close, very close—and when he can, he will grieve. He knows it is going to affect him terribly but right now, Josh can’t allow that. He has to be strong for Emily and only hopes he has some of his Dad’s strength to be able to handle it.
Josh is also concerned about Catherine hearing the news. He knows that his Dad and Catherine were close, but he isn’t sure exactly how far their relationship had gone. His Dad played his cards very close to his chest on that. Josh knows he struggled with the relationship, any relationship because he was afraid that Emily would feel threatened by it. Emily struggled badly when her mum left, and it was made worse by the fact that her Dad wasn’t as familiar to her as other fathers and daughters may be. Her father had spent so much time away from her, as that was the nature of his work.
Catherine had fallen for his Dad a long time ago. Josh was sure of that—and it was only a matter of time before it would have been reciprocated if it hadn’t already. Catherine had been patient and waited. She was an amazing woman and knew the delicate situation with Emily. Josh could see Catherine thought the world of her.
Josh has his story straight in his head to tell Emily. But telling Catherine the same story is a different matter; he will play that by ear. This is going be the toughest thing Josh has ever had to do, but as his Dad would, he will meet it head-on.
Capital Falling (Book 3): Resurgence Page 2