by S G Read
‘Why does it make them our friends?’ Trevor asked.
‘Can you actually read?’ Gareth asked.
‘Yes I can. Do you want me to read it to you?’ Trevor answered.
‘No I don’t. That is designed to make the clan members aware that their boss is the cause of all this. All it misses out is that he is a paedophile as well. Well as near as.’
‘What, because he did you!’ Trevor asked.
‘Me and boys younger than me. Girls as well but never as old as I was! Can’t you put that in it?’ The last bit was aimed at Will.
‘He’s the Brains, I was just the bodyguard!’ Will answered.
Gareth turned to Brian. ‘Well can you?’
‘Not from here.’ Brian replied.
‘No obviously not from here but can you put it in. More’s to the point, will you put it in?’ Gareth asked.
‘We need a bit more information. Do you want to tell us what went on; you were obviously caught by Jamal’s men.’ Brian answered.
‘Bring them a chair each.’ Gareth called.
When they were sitting he began.
‘They took me soon after my parents died, I was sixteen then. I met Jamal and he took a shine to me and I thought things would be alright. That night I had to sleep with him and he had me several times. The next night he took a young girl in there, she was about fourteen I think. She screamed for a while and then she was quiet. I was left alone for about a week and then it was my turn again. It went on for some time and I pretended to like it. One day I asked if I could go out with one of the patrols and he said okay. I didn’t have a gun but I was determined to get away. I talked about what Jamal did to me and asked if they wanted to do the same but one man got upset. He was going to shoot me for smearing Jamal’s name. The other man struggled with him; I think he wanted to have me. While they fought, I legged it!
I ran through the streets with them looking for me and hid in a camping shop. I found a baseball bat in there and took it for protection. I hid until they gave up, that was when the dogs attacked. I hit one with the bat and killed it; the rest stopped trying to get me and ate the dead dog. I was bloody hungry so I killed another two dogs and dragged one away while they were still eating the first one. I cut off some meat and cooked it on a camping stove, tasted like, well dog, I suppose! I waited there until the sun came up and then headed back home. They were out looking for me but whenever they came near I hid and did not move, until they had gone. I kept travelling until I crossed the M25 and then I ran back here!’
‘I will set it up on the printer and see what you make of it Gareth.’ Brian answered. ‘But we won’t waste the ones we have already done. I can also contact the other group and let them know about it.’
‘What other group?’ Trevor asked.
‘There is more than one group with us and we don’t like the clan anymore than you do!’ Brian answered.
Will frowned but said nothing.
‘Do we get to meet them?’ Trevor asked.
‘Oh yes but I have to go back and make contact with them.’ Brian answered.
They were taken back to the printers and Brian modified the leaflet and it became a poster. Brian showed it to Gareth, who passed it to his attendant who read it and nodded his head. ‘I like it. Make sure these two make it off our turf in one piece.’
‘What about meeting the other groups?’ Trevor asked.
‘If I was in their shoes I would have said what they said but like them I would have no intention of letting you meet the other groups, well not until the clan are history! Am I right?’ Gareth asked.
‘Spot on.’ Will answered.
‘I’m sorry you said that,’ Trevor replied, ‘but now is as good as time as ever.’
He aimed his gun at Gareth; two more men took Will’s gun again.
‘This is getting to be a habit here.’ Will declared.
‘The clan wants him back as he has been in their little hideout. The reward is the use of the women there and to see the football matches every Saturday.’ Trevor declared. ‘I will get even more in the way of rewards, when they get their hands on you! I heard all about what you did on the M4 Bridge. Killed eight men and stole a girl, one of Jamal’s favourites. They want you and I am sure they will be able to make you tell them where the other groups hang out!’ He turned. ‘Bring them out!’
When they walked out they were surrounded by young men all armed. Trevor had a gun pushed against his head.
‘Just give me an excuse.’ The young man holding the gun whispered.
Two young men appeared behind the two who had disarmed Will and disarmed them. Will picked up his gun.
‘She’ll have to go in for counselling.’ He declared wiping the dust of the rifle.
‘I had you followed Trevor. I knew you were up to no good and I was right.’ Gareth declared. ‘Call me paranoid but there is no way I am going back in there again.’
‘How well can you remember the layout inside and where the women and children are kept?’ Will asked.
‘I did try to find places to hide when it was my turn but they always found me. I think I can draw you a layout of the place and where everyone is.’ Gareth answered.
‘Good. You draw it and Brian will print it off!’ Will declared.
‘I will?’ Brian asked. ‘With what software?’
‘We have computers and all sorts of software.’ Gareth answered. ‘Bring the traitors along, we will show out guests what we do with traitors!’
They returned to the farm, which served as their headquarters and congregated in the biggest room again. The three who had been conspiring to give Gareth back to Jamal were brought inside.
‘Read the charges.’ Gareth ordered.
‘They are charged with high treason against the Town brigade. In so far as, they conspired with the clan to take the leader back into captivity, against his will and therefore condemn all the remaining members to Jamal’s rules.’ Gareth’s assistant read from a rolled piece of A4 paper made to look like a scroll.
‘Witnesses against please state your case.’ Gareth ordered.
Another youth stepped forward; he was younger, probably about James age. ‘Under our leaders instructions I followed Trevor and saw him meet with clan members in secret. I have photos of him to prove it. They met twice and I followed him both times. The second time I was able to hear what was said and reported the conversation directly to Gareth.’
‘What was the outcome?’ Gareth asked.
‘We have men waiting for the clan where they arranged to meet Trevor and we are going to kill them.’ The younger boy answered.
‘Thank you Michael you may step down now.’ Gareth said quietly. ‘We will wait for the report from the fighters who are going to ambush the clan to find out what happened. If the clan do show up, I will take that as definite evidence of your guilt Trevor and I will punish you accordingly.’
They sat there waiting, the suspects chained to one of the wooden beams in the farm house.
Ray walked out after lunch and drove back down to where they were putting the fence up. He could see poles disappearing into the distance.
‘They put up a few poles then.’ He acknowledged.
Jacob nodded. ‘We will need more wire before day is out I think. These gas staple guns do the trick and they are a lot quicker than anything else we have tried.’
‘At this rate we will have it all fenced off before the end of the week.’ Ray declared. ‘Have you seen Will or Brian?’
‘No but the speed Brian drives they may not have got where they were going yet!’ Jacob answered.
Ray nodded. Clem followed him down the road in the lorry. Ray waved to her, James and John, then they were off to get more wire.
Jethro and Tosh were building the next wall to finish what was to be the first sheep field. In there the dogs would not be able to see them or get up close and bark at them, only bark some distance away where there still was wire.
‘We should teach others how to do what we are do
ing as we are doing it, or we could be doing this for the rest of our lives!’ Tosh declared.
‘You have an idea there Tosh; I’ll have words with Ray about it.’
Brian saw the door open and young men poured into the farmhouse, one was carried in.
‘They got Bradley, Gareth.’ The obvious leader of the group announced.
‘Bad?’ Gareth asked.
The leader nodded.
Will walked over to the wounded fighter. ‘It is bad but we have a doctor at our place. We can take him back with us if you like.’
‘What do you think Simon?’ Gareth asked.
The same bespectacled youth who had read the charges walked forward and examined the wound. ‘If he stays here, I think he will die.’
‘Okay, let us get this thing under way.’ Gareth declared. ‘Well Rodney? It is obvious you had a fight with someone, was it the clan?’
‘Yes Gareth, we killed them all.’
‘Case proved I think.’ Gareth answered. ‘Do you have anything to say before sentence is passed?’
‘It was all Trevor’s’ idea Gareth.’ One of the other boys declared.
‘Well Richard. If you had come to me when he suggested it you would be helping me try him and you wouldn’t be in the dock with him!’
Silence fell. Gareth looked round the room. ‘What do the visitors have to say before I pass sentence?’
‘I can guess what the sentence is likely to be.’ Will declared. ‘Once proven a traitor you can never trust them again. We are short of meat down at our place, when you have dealt with them, perhaps we could take some back with us?’ His wink was only seen by Gareth and a few of the others near him.
Horrified looks appeared on all the accused faces.
‘We have freezers up and running.’ Will added.
‘What would you do?’ Gareth asked.
‘Our man would have already done it.’ Will replied.
‘I am not one for violence in any way,’ Brian added, ‘but to betray your friends is the worst of all sins.’
‘He is not our friend. We arrived from London and he let us join his gang as long as we obeyed his rule!’ Trevor declared.
‘Do you think I should have let you take over as their leader?’ Gareth asked. ‘Take him out and get rid of him! You others will have one hundred lashes. After that you have the choice of what you do, be taken to the coast or stay here and keep yourselves on the straight and narrow. You visitors had better go and take Bradley with you. If you can save him, we will be grateful. If you are going to attack the clan we will be quite willing to help.’
They carried the injured Bradley to their car and laid him across the back seat. The posters and leaflets were piled into the boot and Will jumped into the driving seat.
‘I hope you don’t mind old chap.’ He declared. ‘We are in a hurry.’
‘Go for it.’ Brian answered and slid into the passenger seat. ‘The way I drive he would be dead meat when we get there.’
‘Good answer.’ Will retorted.
He drove along as fast as the car would go with Bradley moaning in the back every time Will swerved round a corner. They made it on to the A21 and raced down the road, only having to swerve at roundabouts and on the single track sections of the road.
He passed the new fencing where it stopped ready for the towers to gate off the main road and saw no one. He swung round the junction causing Bradley to moan again and then he was roaring up the road towards the wooden gate. He had to stop and signal, then wait for the gate to open, then he was roaring up the road again. The metal gates opened as he approached them and he drove into the compound, his horn was sounding and he was flashing the lights.
‘Can’t be Brian driving.’ Donna said to Justine and Carrie who were helping her cook. She walked out to see what the fuss was about followed by the other women.
‘Got an injured young man here, he has been shot.’ Will called as he scrambled out of the car.
‘I’ll get Ralph.’ Donna answered and hurried inside.
Justine nipped inside and came out with a chair.
‘Sit him on this and carry him inside.’ She ordered.
Will and Brian did as they were told and carried Bradley inside lying back in the chair which they carried at a forty five degree angle backwards to make sure he did not fall forward. Ralph came limping down the stairs and looked at the wound.
‘I’ll sew it up and take out the bullet but he will need blood.’ Ralph declared. ‘It will have to be plasma, as we do not know his blood type and I have no way of finding that out.’
‘Were do we get plasma from?’ Will asked.
‘A hospital.’ Ralph answered. ‘It may not be any good and might kill him but he will die without it, so I will have to give it a try.’
‘Looks like we are going out again.’ Will said as they carried Bradley upstairs on the chair.
‘Lay him on this table.’ Ralph said as he thrust everything which had been on it on to the floor. ‘It is all there is available.’
They lifted Bradley out of the chair and lay him on the table.
‘Donna I need you.’ Ralph called raising his voice. ‘You two find plasma if you can.’ He added at a lower level.
As Will and Brian went out, Donna came in. The other two cooks were left to cook dinner on their own! Will ran outside followed by Brian and they were on their way. Lulu stopped what she was doing and walked into the kitchen.
‘Need a hand girls?’ She asked and donned an apron.
Again no one saw Will race out of the compound and up the road. The gate opened as they approached it and they drove through without stopping. Felicity drove up from the compound to watch the gate close then drove back to continue with her teaching.
Again no one saw them race up the main road, slew round and head south. There were several small hospitals around but would a small hospital have plasma?
The first hospital was no good, as was the second and Will decided to head to Hastings where there was a big hospital. Brian asked him to try one more on the way and they screeched to a halt in front of it. The front door was open so they went inside with their guns drawn to be confronted with several dogs. They fired as the dogs attacked and dogs fell dead but some still bit both men. They sat there bleeding after the dogs were all dead.
‘Good idea Brian.’ Will complained.
‘It will be if we find some plasma!’ Brian answered and clawed his way to his feet. ‘Bloody dogs!’
Will did the same and they started a search. When they found some bandages they used them to stop their bleeding, in one vault they found plasma.
‘Is it any good?’ Will asked.
‘I have no idea but after what we went through there is no way I am leaving it here!’ Brian answered and carried all he could carry to the car.
Will followed suit and they were soon headed back to the settlement. As they approached the gate opened and they passed Clem sitting in her car near the gate. Will waved and drove on. She watched the gate close and followed. The compound gates were open and they drove straight inside.
Ralph met them by the door and looked at the plasma.
‘Is it any good?’ Brian asked.
‘Ask me again in the morning. I have taken the bullet out and sewn up what damage I could see. Now he needs blood and rest, I hope plasma will do.’ Ralph walked off.
Will walked into the television room and flopped in an empty chair. Brian did the same.
‘I don’t think my driving will ever be the same again.’ Brian said from where he sat.
‘How do you mean?’ Will asked.
‘I enjoyed that last trip, apart from the dogs that is!’ He answered from the next chair.
‘You mean we might see smoking tyres from you in the future?’
‘It’s possible but not from a standing start like you did.’ Brian answered.
‘I was in a hurry.’
‘I just hope he lives, after all that effort.’ Brian declared.
&nbs
p; When light faded all the workers came back to the compound to eat. The latest arrivals, Jake, Jeremy and their wives had now moved into the first house, which now had electricity.
‘At least they can get up as early as they want over there.’ Clem said gratefully as she watched a film later that evening.
‘Did you know that we now have posts round the area I marked as far as where the main road exits our area?’ Ray asked.
‘No. That’s good isn’t it?’
‘Yes it is; it is also the sign of hard work and early starts.’ Ray answered.
‘I don’t mind getting up early for a while to finish the fence. I think it is important you know!’ Clem declared. ‘I also know that when it is up I won’t have any more to do with it because I can’t lay bricks.’
‘I told Tosh that you and James would be along tomorrow to learn.’ Ray answered. ‘We need all the brick layers we can get.’
‘You are joking!’ Clem declared.
‘Not at all. I am an old dog but I will be standing right next to you learning. There is a lot of wall and a lot of towers to be built if my plan to make this place safe from outside influences, well anyone who don’t happen to have a tank! If you can’t do it, at least you tried.’
‘Anything you can do, I can do better!’ Clem retorted. ‘If I can lift the ruddy things!’
‘If we all have a go at everything, we will find out who can do what. Now as I will be up early I am going to bed.’
‘I suppose I ought to and this is the third time I have seen this film.’
When the sun came up all the workers were up and eating breakfast. The children were still in bed, except Evelyn, this was the first time she had been allowed up and she was making the most of it. In the hall she came face to face with Blue. The people watching were prepared for anything but what actually happened. She threw her arms round his neck and gave him a big cuddle as if to say thank you for saving me. She stayed there for some time then they both walked off together.
‘Well I never did.’ Donna declared. ‘I never thought I would see that.’
‘No.’ Lulu said from behind her. ‘I hope she doesn’t try to do that to any other dogs she meets!’
