Another screech, closer, stops me dead in my tracks, I crouch down, reducing my presence. I’m caught in the open and the nearest cover, a bus shelter, is still meters away past the entrance to the tube station. Only my head moves as I search for the source and the chilling noise. Time passes with no repeat of the noise or sign of movement. My legs straighten and I take another step, desperate to get out of this abhorrent area. Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement near the tube station entrance. An arm reaches into the air from low down on the ground, a head coming up to join it in slow motion. I actually feel sorry for the mangled Rabid whose body is almost obliterated. The young man’s eyes look like they are caught between fierce evil and agonising pain.
A shot to its head ends its torment.
Carefully, I pick my way through the grim path, between the bodies, eager for it to finish. I stay well clear of the tube station entrance where the lights have failed. The darkness inside offers nothing but terror. I’m almost too scared to look into the shadows out of fear of what I might see lurking there, I must, though.
My relief is palpable as I cross the intersection with Spring Street, leaving the mass of bodies behind and finally reaching the cover of the bus shelter. My breathing is heavy when I lean my back against the shelter, my guard still up. I don’t know how much more of this tension I can take; my nerves are nearly shot.
Taking a minute to get my breath back, I reach behind and pull out the fruit water from my pocket. The bottle is damp with the sweat that has soaked through my jeans and the liquid is warm, but gratefully received.
I look at the terrain ahead, and the carnage doesn’t end but it isn’t as bad as the hell I’ve just come through. Praed Street has ended, I notice from the street signs, I’m now on Craven Road. Let’s see how I get on, on this road, I think as I push my back off the bus shelter.
Hold point follows hold point on my never-ending journey. My technique makes it slow going but it's working well. I scan each area until I’m satisfied it's clear, then I make the short hop to the next hold point. Eventually, I see the end of Craven Road approaching. The morning hasn’t got any brighter thanks to the smoke and the sound of Rabids has been intermittent. I’ve had to shoot my rifle four times since leaving Paddington Station behind. Each shot was a kill shot, all of the Rabids half asleep. I’m sure I am closing in on the troops because I can hear the fighting, and the sound of gunshots is drawing nearer.
Bayswater Road is close now, as I reach the end of Craven Road. There is a short side street off to the left that joins onto it. Dark green treetops are visible at the end, as I turn the corner, even through the smoke. The trees are on the outer edge of Hyde Park, one of London’s many green open spaces. I will come out near the opposite end to where I watched the chaos start to unfold on the corner of Hyde Park and Oxford Street. Back when I was happily oblivious, sitting in my towel on my bed, fresh out of the shower, watching the news on television. That seems like a previous life now, but so much has happened since that morning. Emily was next door getting ready for school; now where is she, at Heathrow? I hope so, or somewhere safe at least.
Chapter 16
“We are evacuating.” Colonel Reed announces to his inner circle of cronies. “RAF Heathrow has been compromised and we cannot afford to let the command structure be compromised, especially with Operation Denial continuing and making progress.”
Lieutenant Winters had been expecting the announcement all night. He is not surprised that Colonel Reed has delayed his decision; he doesn’t like to admit defeat. Not that he has now; he will consider this a tactical retreat. Winters did think that the announcement would have been made before now. It was obvious it had been coming all night, despite Colonel Reed’s efforts to retrieve the situation. Perhaps the cold light of morning has cleared the Colonel’s mind.
Winters must be hearing different reports and seeing different data to the Colonel. Operation Denial is certainly continuing but—in his opinion—far from making progress, it’s bogged down and stalled badly. Nonetheless, Winters stands at ease at the back of the forward command area, letting the Colonel and his top brass carry on their delusion, waiting for his next orders.
Josh and his sister Emily are on his mind. He has let them down. He had told Josh he would arrange transport out of here, but he has failed. They are all still holed up in the Terminal 5 building. Transport would have been easy enough to arrange but getting them outside and to it safely had proved beyond him. Twice, Winters had tried to divert the new troops in the building to escort them to the transport, but each time Colonel Reed had demanded more troops for one task or another, and Winters’ troops had been re-tasked.
Now that Colonel Reed has announced the evacuation of the command structure, Winters is struggling to see how he is going to get them to safety at all. Colonel Reed won’t be bothered who is left behind, as long as his chosen few are evacuated safely. Captain Richard’s children certainly won’t be near the top of any priority list for evacuation.
Winters has completely tuned out of Colonel Reed's blabbering; he’s had enough of the fucking idiot. Winters has seen it happening gradually over time, Colonel Reed losing his edge. Ever since this crisis started, he’s been all bluster and bravado, with little or no substance. Reed’s perceived status overrides every decision he makes, and those decisions are becoming more and more atrocious.
“Winters,” Colonel Reed says, but Winters doesn’t respond. “Lieutenant Winters!” Colonel Reed shouts.
“Sorry Sir, yes Sir?”
“Wake up man! Is the transport in position?” Anger flares from Colonel Reed.
“Yes, Sir, two cars and the Defender are in the loading bay ready to go, I have the keys.”
“Let’s move then, Lieutenant.” Colonel Reed demands. Far from remaining to oversee the evacuation of everybody, he is leaving one of his cronies behind to deal with it.
“Yes, Sir.” Winters turns about-face, ready to lead the chosen few down to the loading bay on the ground floor.
Lieutenant Winters picks up his satchel and makes his way through the command room and towards the exit. An idea to get Josh and Emily out is forming in his mind. He feels sick as the thought develops, and he feels the blood rush from his head. There is a possibility, but it is going to be high risk. If it goes wrong, he will pay dearly and if he goes through with it and it works, he will pay too. He has to act now if he is going to go ahead.
“Private Moody, receiving over,” Winter says into his radio as he leads them out of the command room.
“Receiving, over,” Private Moody answers.
“Private, the top brass are on their way down, vacate the loading bay.”
“Sir, are you sure?”
“Yes, that is an order, thank you Private.”
“Yes, Sir.”
A short burst of gunfire sounds out from inside the building somewhere, as they all march down the corridor after Lieutenant Winters. Concerned, pompous voices are raised behind Winters. There is no concern for the safety of the thousands of personnel in the Terminal 5 building, not to mention the untold numbers outside the building and beyond. These cretinous men are only concerned for themselves. This is the moment that Winters decides that he is going to go through with his risky plan to get Josh, Emily and the others out, come what may.
“Move it, Winters!” Colonel Reed presses, on his shoulder. A tone of fear is in Colonel Reed's voice and Winters wonders whether the Colonel realises it.
The men stomp down the corridor, bunching up behind Winters in their eagerness to vacate the building. Winters does increase the speed of his walk as more gunfire vibrates through the walls of the building; he doesn’t want to run out of time. He turns the corner, closing in on the lifts where Sam left him to go with Major Rees.
Winters looks at the faces of the ten high-ranking officers, including Colonel Reed, as they gather around waiting for the lifts to arrive. All of them have a look of concern on their faces, concern for their own wellbeing. Winte
rs has a feeling of disdain for each and every one of the officers; he knows them all very well; after all, they were all hand-picked by Colonel Reed. ‘Yes Men’, only here to solidify Reed’s position not because they are the right men for the job. Some of the officers are looking quite frightened, giving away their soft underbellies at the first sign of danger.
The first lift ‘pings’ its arrival, its door sliding open. Winters checks the digital panel above the second lift and sees that it is close, only two floors away.
“Stop dawdling, man,” Colonel Reed scolds Winters as he barges him into the first lift.
Winters bites his lip and he is pushed to the back of the stainless-steel lift’s interior. He is jammed between the back of the lift and Colonel Reed’s shoulders.
“That’s enough, the rest of you, get the next one!” Colonel Reed barks.
Winters takes the chance to run through his plan as the lift descends. Butterflies circle his stomach and his palms sweat as he finalises it in his head. He doesn’t rush to get out of the lift as it reaches ground level and the doors slide open. He ignores Reed's rantings as he slowly and deliberately bends down to pick up his satchel, that he had intentionally dropped to the floor.
Exiting the lift, he glances at the digital panel above and sees that the second lift is about to arrive.
“Get a move on, Winters, what is wrong with you?” Colonel Reed asks.
“Sorry, Sir, this way,” Winters replies as the lift doors to the second lift open to reveal the rest of the officers.
Taking the lead again, Winters shows the officers the way to the loading bay that is positioned on the side south wall of the Terminal 5 building. The loading bay, that is used by suppliers to bring goods into the building, is a long walk from their current position, down wide corridors.
Winters doesn’t delay now; his stride is long and quick, out in front. Gunfire and the sound of fighting echoes into the corridor, the noise is much louder now that they are on ground level. Various doors and adjoining corridors sweep past as Winters goes. The doors all have signs mounted on them with a number and the name of the shop or restaurant that the doors access. They are the back doors to the retail outlets of Terminal 5, where the goods arriving at the loading bay are brought to resupply the outlets.
The five-to-ten-minute walk is nearing its completion. Winters can see the end of the corridor and the loading bay is just next to it. His nerves heighten at the prospect of reaching it.
“Are we nearly there, Winters?” Colonel Reed asks breathlessly from behind.
“Yes Sir, just down the end here.”
Winters turns the corner and sees the side access door to the loading bay. He slows his pace down slightly to prepare himself.
“Here we are, Sir,” Winter informs the Colonel as he reaches the door.
“Good, get the door open, Winters.”
The officers bunch up again, waiting for the door to open. Winters keys in the access code for the door and pulls it open. He blocks the door with his body for a second and then moves inside. He is checking to ensure everything is as it should be, and it is. The two cars and the Defender stand waiting to carry the officers away and to safety. The journey away from the building when they drive outside will be risky. The infected are all around the building, including the long roller shutter at the front of the loading bay that Winters is standing next to. The cars are on the other side of the loading bay, a short walk away. Apart from the cars, the loading bay is empty; there are no personnel and Private Moody has left as ordered.
Colonel Reed and the other officers push past Winters. Desperate to get to their transport, they head straight for the cars. Colonel Reed making a beeline for his beloved Land Rover Defender.
Winters watches them reach the cars and start to pull on the door handles. None of the doors open however, all the cars are locked. The officers protest at the delay and look around in confusion.
“Winters!” Colonel Reed shouts, looking back at him. “Open the bloody doors; where are the keys, WINTERS!”
It is now that Winters executes his plan. His fear and anticipation peak as his head turns from the gaggle of protesting officers to the wall on the left. His hand comes up and he presses the bright green button next to the roller shutter. The roller shutter jumps into life immediately. This is not an old juddering shutter, but a nice smooth quick one. Fresh air blows under the shutter as it rises nice and quickly. The air is carrying the loud screeches of the infected as they go into a frenzy, excited by the new movement and the light streaming out of the loading bay.
Adrenaline pumps through Winters. His head turns back to the officers as they realise what is happening and go into a panic. Some bolt back towards him and the safety of the door, terror etched across their faces. Others draw their sidearms to defend themselves, whilst others freeze in sheer panic and fear.
The first beast is through the gap before the roller shutter has risen even a meter, the creature throwing itself under the edge of the shutter before it springs to its feet to attack the nearest piece of new meat. Shots ring out around the loading bay from the officers who have pistols in their hands as they try to kill the intruder. They miss and the creature lands on its prey, biting down into it. More beasts quickly follow the first one under and the feeding frenzy goes to a new level. The officers running at Winters are taken down as they are hit sideways off their feet screaming at the top of their lungs. And teeth sink into them, their eyes pleading at Winters to help them.
Winters is unrelenting, however. His hand drops from the green button to press the button below it. The roller shutter goes into reverse and the door starts to close, just before it has reached two meters up. There are more than enough creatures inside to deal with Reed and his cronies.
Across the bay, Winters looks for Colonel Reed. He is backed up against the side of his black Defender with his arms outstretched. A creature has him pinned back as he tries to stop the creature's teeth from biting into his neck or face. For a moment, Winters thinks the once-mighty Colonel might succeed in stopping the creature from feeding on him.
The beast changes its tactics though, turns its head and sinks its teeth into Reed's arm. Colonel Reeds face instantly changes from fighting determination, to shock and to fear as he realises he has finally lost.
Winters has seen enough and not a moment too soon. Down on the floor, a creature’s eyes meet his as it looks up from the red-stained bleeding body below it. Winters doesn’t hesitate, and quickly backs out through the side door, pulling its handle as he goes. The door swings shut just in time for the beast to slam into the closed door.
Head spinning and body trembling, Winters has to drop to his knees before he passes out, the second time he has had to take action recently to stop himself fainting. He drops further down, forward, onto his forearms bringing his head down to get blood into it.
His curled-up position works, and he feels the arteries in his neck pump fresh blood to his brain, taking oxygen with it and the spinning slows. Feeling better, he rises back up to his knees and stays there, contemplating what he has done.
He has just slaughtered a big proportion of the military’s highest officers and the command structure of Operation Denial. Does he feel guilty? Yes, but for the loss of life, not because they were officers. The military will be better off and more effective without those men; he has no doubt about that. Many in the higher ranks of the military would thank him for taking Colonel Reed and his web of lies, deceit and bribery out of the game.
As for Operation Denial? Winters will communicate the unfortunate turn of events up the chain. Nobody is irreplaceable and a new command structure will soon be in place to take control of the operation. A structure that perhaps will actually improve results; they can’t get much worse.
As his wits return, Winters hears the screaming coming from beyond the door behind him as the slaughter continues. He may be mistaken, but he thinks he hears the rasping voice of Colonel Reed shouting, “WINTERS!”
Winter has no remorse for Colonel Reed. Some of the other officers that Reed had suckered into playing his game, maybe, but the Colonel, no. Reed has sacrificed countless troops today, desperately trying to cling on to his power and would have continued to do so, without a second thought—and that is just today. When he thinks back to all the operations in places like Afghanistan and Iraq in which Reed has tried to play God, Winters shivers. Some—no, most—of the operations were ill-thought-out and planned by Reed and his go-to tactic to rescue the situation and try to save face was more often than not to throw more troops into the lost cause. Reed had gallons of blood on his hands, was well past his sell-by date and today got his comeuppance.
As he gets to his feet, Winters contains no sorrow in him for the slaughter of Reed. If anything, he feels sorry for the infected beasts who are going to have him to contend with now.
Recovered, Winters starts the long walk back to the lift area to get back up to the command room and get on the phone to military command. He needs to make sure they know that the temporary command structure in place for Operation Denial, while Colonel Reed is relocating, will have to cope until they find a new commander to take charge of the operation—because Colonel Reed will not be doing it.
Once he has made that call, Winters can put into operation phase two of his plans to get Josh, Emily and the others out of harm’s way. Phase two is just as fraught with danger as the start was, if not more so.
An explosion rocks the wall of the corridor on Winters’ right, the doors to the outlets rattle in their frames. Urgency grips Winters and he picks up his pace, starts to jog and then to run up the long passageway. Nobody will be going anywhere if the infected get inside the building.
The two lifts are in Winters’ sights as the gunfire continues. As he gets to them, he slaps his finger on the call button and gets his phone out.
Capital Falling Trilogy Box Set [Books 1-3] Page 63
