The Battle Ground Series: Books 1-3 Page 18

  I lean in, closer to the screens.

  It’s Margie and Dr Richards.

  There’s a shouted conversation going on. Someone out of sight near the farmhouse is shouting at the soldiers, and they’re shouting and gesturing back. I look at the other screens, but the figure is in darkness. There’s no sound with the images, but it is clear that this is an argument.

  There’s a thundering sound from the staircase as someone sprints up the final flight of stairs. I hear a cry as they stumble through the door, and I glance back to see Amy, visor up, shaking her head, one hand over her mouth, one hand reaching out to where Saunders is lying on the floor. Jo follows her through the door and gently takes her elbow, guiding her to his side. Amy kneels and takes his hand in hers. She leans forward and rests her head on his chest, one hand gripping the neck of his T-shirt, shaking him as if she’s trying to wake him. She reaches out and strokes his hair, sobbing quietly.

  I can feel the anger building in my chest, the iceberg sending cold determination through my body. I want to scream and shout, but I need to focus. I need to get everyone away. We’re trapped by our own defences, and we need to get out of this tiny concrete box. I need to understand what’s happening outside.

  Dan steps up and stands beside me, and the others begin to follow him into the room. He points at the images from the farmyard.

  “Is that …?”

  I nod, my fists clenched, watching my friends on the screens. I want to fight back. I want to keep everyone safe. I can’t lose anyone else today.

  “Get the others out.”

  Dan stands, watching me.

  “Get them out!”

  And this time I’m screaming.

  Dan nods, steps over to the door, and cracks it open. There’s no gunfire, no sound of approaching soldiers, so he opens it further and steps outside. The footsteps on the stairs have stopped, and the gatehouse is crowded now, but quiet. No one moves.

  One gunshot. Two. Just outside the bunker. Without thinking, I bring my gun up and aim it at the door.

  “Dan …”

  There’s a cry, quickly stifled, from Amy, then silence. I wave everyone else back as I move to cover the doorway. I’m surprised and grateful when Jake steps up next to me, gun levelled. I think about Dan, outside in the dark, dead or alive. I think about Amy tucking her sketches into Charlie’s bag. I think about Saunders. I think about who might be coming through the door.

  And then he’s back. Dan’s back, his visor up and his face pale, opening the door and beckoning everyone else to leave. He’s holding two extra guns, taken from the guards outside. I let my arms fall to my sides, take a deep breath, and try to stop my hands shaking as I step out of the way, past Saunders and Amy to the screens.

  “How …?” Jake steps over to Dan, lowering his gun.

  “Soft spots on the armour. Took them by surprise, point-blank.” Dan sounds breathless. He points at his shoulder and under his arm, his hands shaking.

  He holds up a gun. “Armour-piercing bullets. Take this, and make sure everyone makes it.” He hands the gun and a spare magazine to Jake, then turns to the rest of us. “Watch your step. Meet up at the lake. Be quick and be quiet!”

  He ushers our companions out of the bunker. There are murmurs of assent as the group leaves the gatehouse and dissolves into the darkness of the forest. I glance at the door, and see Jo helping Amy to walk out into the night. She looks back at Saunders, silent tears staining her face, and my determination grows.

  I concentrate on the feed from the farmyard. On the screens the soldiers are still arguing, and their prisoners are watching, waiting to see what will happen.

  I turn back, to find Dan and Charlie waiting for me, visors raised.

  “What are you doing? Go!”

  They both shake their heads.

  “You’re about to do something stupid, Bex. We’re here to make sure you survive.”

  Confrontation

  Visors down, guns up, we leave the gatehouse. We switch off the lights, crack open the door, and step out into the dark. Two shapes in black armour lie slumped on the ground outside, dropped by Dan’s bullets at point-blank range. I step over them, careful not to trip in the dark. Ahead of us, the farmhouse is a silhouette against the floodlights in the yard, and above us shafts of light shine through the tops of the trees. Against the bright light, the back of the farmhouse is invisible – we can’t tell whether there are guards waiting for us.

  We’ve switched our radios to a private channel, just the three of us. We make our way along the path to the back of the house, every step cushioned by the carpet of pine needles. At the back door, I risk using my torch, flashing it quickly left and right to make sure there’s no one waiting in the shadows. Through the window, I can see torch beams moving inside the house, but out here we’re alone.

  Dan moves left, and I move right, along the back of the house. We’re aiming for the yard, at opposite ends of the building. Charlie stays near the back door as our lookout – she hasn’t been trained in using the gun, and while we’ve shown her how to fire it, she won’t be much use in the open.

  I reach the corner of the house, and risk a glance round the corner towards the barn. The end of the house and the side of the barn are in shadow, but I can see the end of the farmyard under the floodlights.

  There’s no one in sight.

  “Sit tight, Charlie.”

  “Be safe, Bex.”

  I step out, keeping close to the wall, and move carefully towards the yard. Through my helmet, I can hear shouting. I crack open my visor and listen.

  Someone is shouting at Margie and Dr Richards, demanding to know where the terrorists are hiding. Dr Richards calmly explains that she doesn’t know what they are talking about. Her voice is steady and clear, and I’m amazed that she can sound so calm, surrounded by soldiers. The shouting begins again, and she replies again, refusing to be intimidated. I realise that this conversation must have been going on for some time, and that the interrogator is barely controlling his anger.

  I reach the end of the farmhouse wall. I need to be able to see into the yard, and I can’t do that from here without putting myself into the light.

  “Dan. Stay in the shadows. I’m going to use the barn for cover.”

  “Understood. Plenty of shadows this end of the yard.”

  “Can you see Margie?”

  “Not yet.”

  I retrace my steps to the back corner of the house, and then use the trees for cover as I skirt round to the back of the barn. There’s a little light here, but I’m still in shadow, and I can see into the yard.

  Dr Richards is on her knees, a soldier in fatigues behind her with a gun in one hand, and the other hand on her shoulder. Margie is kneeling close by, hands behind her back, a soldier standing guard.

  I can hear shouting, and I can see a shadow on the ground as someone paces round the yard, shouting his questions.

  He steps past Margie, into the light. It’s Commander Bracken.

  “Bex! Are you seeing this?” Dan sounds breathless.

  “Yes.” My throat is tight. I watch the Commander step over to Margie and pull her head back by her hair.

  “Do you know where they are?”

  Margie doesn’t move. Dr Richards stares straight ahead.

  My heart is thumping.

  “Where are the other soldiers?” I whisper. I can only see a small part of the yard, but I can’t see anyone else. There are people inside the farmhouse, but no more guards.

  “There’s a couple at the front of the barn, but that’s it. Four, that I can see, plus Commander Bracken.”

  I look back, into the trees, but I can’t see anyone else.

  Then there’s the noise of an engine, approaching on the drive.

  “Get away from the driveway, Dan. We’ve got company.”

  “I’m already moving.” I can hear from his voice that he’s running.

  The engine noise gets louder. Commander Bracken drops Margie’s hair, an
d waves over the two guards from the front of the barn. They’re wearing black armour, like the troops I saw in town. Like the armour I’m wearing. He sends one to the driveway, and one into the house, then stands in front of Dr Richards, as if he expects her to break down and tell him everything. She stares past him, saying nothing.

  The engine noise grows to a roar, and then dies. At the far end of the yard, behind the troop carriers, the guard walks up to what looks like a small fuel tanker.

  I want to storm the yard. I want to grab Dr Richards and Margie while the guards are distracted. I want to put my gun to Commander Bracken’s head.

  The door to the farmhouse opens, and a line of guards files out, all wearing black armour. I count ten, plus the one who went inside to fetch them.

  “Nothing, Sir,” says the first guard.

  “You’ve searched?”

  “Everywhere. There’s no one here.”

  The Commander leans down and grabs Dr Richards by her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

  “Anything to say?”

  “I’ve told you. There’s no one else here.” Cool, calm, controlled. He lets go, and turns to the guards.

  “Stage Two. Get set up.”

  The guards run past the troop carriers to the tanker, out of sight.

  “Dan! Where are you?”

  “I’m in the shadows, Bex. I’m trying to see what they’re doing.”

  The Commander is pacing again.

  There’s a shout from behind the house, back in the woods.

  “There’s activity here.” Charlie’s voice, sounding nervous.

  “What’s happening?”

  “There are people coming, along the path from the bunker.”

  “Get into the trees, Charlie! Go! Now!” Dan’s voice.

  “Going.”

  “Dan, talk to me. What can you see?”

  “Not much. I’m right back in the trees. There’s a pipe coming from the back of the tanker – like a fireman’s hose. They’re adding new sections to it, and they’re bringing it this way.”

  “Stay down. Keep out of sight. Charlie – are you safe?”

  “In the trees. I don’t think anyone saw me. There’s a crowd of people coming your way.”

  I retreat towards the far end of the barn, keeping low and staying out of sight.

  There’s movement along the wall of the farmhouse, and a line of soldiers in black armour jogs into the floodlit yard. Twenty or so soldiers, helmets on, guns on their backs. One of them flips his visor up, and speaks to Commander Bracken. It’s too quiet for me to hear, but the Commander nods, and sends him over to the tanker.

  The other soldiers gather next to the farmhouse. I risk stepping out from the barn to get a better view of the yard.

  Nineteen or twenty soldiers in armour. Two in fatigues, plus the Commander. Two prisoners. And the team at the tanker.

  Can I do it? Can I get into the yard and shoot the soldiers in fatigues? I think it through. I know I can get in, but I’m equally sure that I can’t get out again. Whatever I do in the yard, that’s it for me, and probably for Margie and Dr Richards as well.

  I tap my fist against the barn, as hard as I dare. We’ve missed our chance. I’ve screwed up again.

  “Oh, god!” It’s Charlie. I crouch down against the wall. “Are you OK? Are you OK? Oh, god – talk to me!”

  “Charlie? What’s happening?”

  “Sorry – Bex, I’ve found someone. I’ve found the guard from the bunker.”

  Saunders’ partner on the night shift. She keeps talking to the guard, and I can’t hear his response.

  “Charlie?”

  “He’s hurt. He says they forced their way into the gatehouse, and demanded to know what was behind the shutter. But he wouldn’t tell them. They cut the power, but they didn’t know that the gatehouse has battery backup. They were surprised to find anyone there.”

  I’m breathing fast, and all I can see is Saunders, lying on the gatehouse floor.

  “He was waiting for them with one of Will’s rifles, but the bullets just bounced off their armour. They asked about the shutter, and when he wouldn’t talk they shot him, they shot Saunders, and they left. The guard made it outside, but he had to hide in the trees. There were soldiers walking up and down the path with torches and crates.” There’s a pause, while she whispers something to the guard.

  “He’s bleeding, Bex. It’s bad.”

  “Where were the soldiers going?” I wait while she relays the question.

  “He doesn’t know. Somewhere back in the woods. I think they’re the group who just came back.”

  Soldiers in the woods. The tanker. Commander Bracken’s frustration. What’s his plan? What’s Stage Two?

  “Dan. Can you get to Charlie?”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Stay out of sight. What’s happening at the tanker?”

  “They’re adding more sections to the hose. They’re bringing it round to the back of the house.”

  For a moment I imagine them flooding the house with petrol and burning it down – but what would that achieve? And what’s in the woods? Are they targeting the lake? For a minute I panic that everyone who escaped with us will be caught as they wait for us to arrive. I didn’t think the soldiers would get that far. I close my eyes, breathe deeply, and concentrate.

  And then all the lights in the house come on at once. It’s dazzling, and suddenly there’s no shadow on this side of the barn. I edge my way round the corner, and crouch against the back wall. I can’t see anything happening in the yard, and neither can Dan. We’re cut off from Margie and Dr Richards, and I can’t see what the soldiers are doing.

  With the lights comes the sound of a boiler, kicking in as the power returns. Someone has restored power to the farmhouse. Have they powered up the bunker as well? Can they move the shutter? Or are they planning on using something else?

  I remember the silence that woke me. The ringing in my ears where the sound of the ventilation system should be.

  “Charlie! Where’s the intake for the ventilation system? Where does the bunker get its air?”

  She repeats my question for the guard.

  “Out in the woods. Near the lake.”

  So they’ve found the bunker. They think we’re all inside, and they’re going to poison the air.

  I almost laugh out loud. All this time and effort, to poison an empty bunker. And I realise they didn’t know the bunker was here. They thought the farmhouse was the base – no wonder they’ve searched it so thoroughly. Dr Richards and Margie must have been in the farmhouse when they raided it, sleeping there while Will and the guards are away. It must have been a surprise to find Saunders and the guard, with their bank of screens, watching everything they were doing. While we were getting out, they were looking for clues, and they must have found the ventilation pipes. Figured out that there’s a bunker under the gatehouse.

  I realise that the commander wasn’t asking for information from his prisoners. He was pushing them for a confession. That would make a death sentence inevitable for both of them.

  The armour trackers will have confirmed everything. The signals disappeared when we brought them here, and then reappeared in the barn overnight. They must have realised the armour was being stored somewhere that blocked the signals.

  And now they’re getting ready to gas us all in our sleep.

  Let them. We don’t need to stop them. We need to get our friends back.

  I lean carefully round the side of the barn. The prisoners are on their feet, hands behind their backs. The guards are holding them still, gripping their arms. Commander Bracken is talking with one of the soldiers in armour, gesturing towards the vehicles and the tanker. The other soldiers are standing in small groups, visors up, waiting for orders.

  If I can get myself into the yard, I’ll be able to get close to the guards. They probably won’t notice another suit of armour, and if I can get close enough, I can grab one of the prisoners. Maybe both. After that, I’m
relying on confusion to protect us while we get away.

  I don’t have time to think this through. I’ve got one chance.

  “Dan – you know that stupid thing I’m going to do? I’m doing it now. Get yourselves to the lake – I’ll meet you there.”

  “Bex –“

  “Go! I’ll see you there.”

  I pull my visor down and stand up. I can feel the adrenaline pushing me to run, pushing me to act without hesitating. I slow my breathing, and force myself to walk round the barn, and out into the yard.

  I’m right. No one sees me. I’m behind the guards, and no one is looking in my direction. I slow my pace to a brisk walk, and approach the first guard. I reach out as I pass, and take Dr Richards from him. I take her arm in my hand and I walk past. He lets go in surprise, and I keep walking. Dr Richards struggles in my grasp, I slip my arm through hers, and she looks at me in surprise. She can’t see me through the visor. I transfer my gun to the hand on her side, walk over to the other guard, and I’m about to grab Margie when the first guard shouts.

  In slow motion, I see my hand reaching out, closing round Margie’s arm – but her arm moves. The guard pulls her away, and my fist closes on nothing. Dr Richards shouts as the guard throws Margie to the ground and turns his gun towards me. I look behind me. Commander Bracken is running towards us, and the other guard is raising his gun.

  The Commander is shouting orders, pointing past me at the tanker crew. As I turn back I see the soldiers in armour dropping their visors and reaching for something at their waists. There’s activity at the back of the tanker. The guards are shouting, and running with the Commander towards the troop carriers. Margie crawls to her feet, tripping as she tries to stand, and Dr Richards twists out of my grip and runs to help her.

  Everyone is running to the vehicles, and I’m still trying to understand what’s happening. Someone has turned a tap at the back of the tanker, and there’s a spreading puddle of liquid on the ground. Tendrils of grey mist are creeping across the farmyard from the driveway. Margie is coughing and trying to run. Dr Richards pulls her sweater up over her mouth and nose and pulls Margie with her. The guards catch up with them and pull them towards the troop carriers.