“So what do you think, Rob? Evacuate abroad somewhere?” Mutch asked then drank most of his bottle. Adam looked at Robert, the two other men sat still, while Bill accepted another bottle from Mutch. Robert, who had been facing the wall, spun around to face his friends. “No, Mutchy, the airports are overrun by the Black Death; no one in, no one out. Nottingham is starving; so first things first we need to start getting food and lots of it.” Robert sat down as the other men started to voice their opinions.
“And where are we going to get the food from like, eh Rob, ma duck?” asked Greg, one of the men.
Before Robert could answer, Bill chipped in, “Aye, he is right, Rob, where do you intend to get this food? Ring Gordon Ramsay to see if he will gi’ us some? Plus, it will be big trouble if we get caught.”
Robert smirked at Bill’s Gordon Ramsay remark then took a swig from his bottle. “There are lots of places we can borrow food from, lads; the posh folk in The Park, their cupboards must be bulging at the seams. The Asda superstore in West Bridgford; I know it is guarded but there must be a way in — there will be lots of possibilities; we just have to sound them out.”
Mutch nodded in agreement, Bill and Adam looked at each other and Robert knew that whatever he decided to do they would be there alongside him. The other two men seemed unsure and just stared down at their beer bottles. Mutch got some more drinks while Robert and the others bickered over the pros and cons and where they would try first.
*
It was still light outside and back in Sheriff’s home Marion lay fully clothed under her duvet. She pretended to be fast asleep as she had told her uncle she was tired and feeling unwell. It was only just gone eight o’clock when her uncle poked his head in the door to check on her, making sure she hadn’t left as she was always threatening to do.
She listened, holding her breath, as Sheriff made his way back downstairs. She then jumped up, grabbed her phone and purse and slipped on her trainers. She quietly opened the window and slowly shunted down the drainpipe, keeping a lookout for the Black Death as she went. The climb didn’t faze her as in her youth she used to be a bit of a tomboy, climbing trees and walls and stuff with her mates. She wasn’t bad at football either come to that. Her climbing skills were obviously a bit rusty, though, as she let out a muffled yelp after grazing her arm on the pipe. She dropped to the ground, rubbing her sore arm, before checking around her again. She then snuck up to a tree, climbing it, so that she could get high enough to drop over the top of the wall that surrounded the house. As she got to the top of the wall, ready and poised to drop down over the other side to freedom, she heard her uncle shout “Marion” and presumed he had gone to check on her again. She looked at her window to see Sheriff in her window, looking for her.
Marion didn’t wait a second longer and, as she dropped over the house wall, she grimaced from landing heavily on her ankle. After a quick pause she set off once again and as she did she heard her uncle shout to the soldiers, “I want her bringing back alive. Now, go.” She ran towards the main wall around The Park where she could climb a ladder that was used by soldiers as lookout points. She had to figure out how to get by the guards (if there were any around as they did roaming patrols) but she would worry about that when it came. At the wall there was one guard in the distance so she took a deep breath and sneaked towards the ladder, her ankle still hindering her a little. She thought the guard had seen her as he turned his head and her heart thumped. She couldn’t believe her luck when the sound of some shouting from some passing youths filtered over the wall and the guard went to investigate. Marion took a deep breath and scaled the ladders. At the top, she checked it was clear before running as fast as she could in her quest to reach the city.
*
A little later, Robert, Adam and Bill had just left the Dragon and were walking back to their home, which was now a rundown, two bedroom flat on Castle Boulevard. It was a bit tight for space at times with Robert in the small room and Bill and Adam sharing the other but in these hard times it was a better financial arrangement. They walked straight across the city centre and were all deep in thought when a woman, five foot five with long, brunette hair, came running towards them wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and white Adidas trainers. She tripped and fell.
“Please help me,” she yelled as she slipped. Robert immediately went running towards her just as one of the soldiers came round the corner, also slipping on some litter. The woman jumped up with Robert’s help as he grabbed her arm to pull her to her feet.
The soldier ran to Robert whose instincts kicked in and he hit the soldier with his fist, knocking him to the ground. “Are you all right?” he asked her.
She brushed herself down and smiled at Robert. “Yes…thank you, my name is Marion, by the way,” she said.
“Hi, I am Robert.” Robert gazed at Marion. Women didn’t normally turn his head at first sight; it was more about personality with him, but Marion was different as there was no doubting her prettiness. Robert just felt that there was something about her. He could tell she was a strong character and believed her to be a caring human being; like himself. He could see she was cut and bruised and a little scared and he found himself just wanting to help and protect her. He normally wasn’t someone who would jump into a situation without knowing the facts, especially where the Black Death was concerned, but her worried face and smile had won him over and convinced him to help.
Robert was about to introduce Bill and Adam when Marion said, “There are some more on my tail; quick, follow me. I think I know where we can hide.” And they could hear the soldiers’ shouts as they all ran off.
They ran down a narrow street with the soldiers not far behind. By the boarded up NatWest bank they ran and past Saint Peter’s church to Saint Mary’s church. Robert couldn’t believe he was running away from soldiers with his and his mates’ lives in danger all over a woman he had just met and didn’t know anything about. His head was telling him to get a grip and get out of this situation; while his heart was telling him to help her. As they made their way past the Galleries of Justice Museum, then to the church it was obvious Robert’s heart had won.
“Quick, this way,” Marion said, pulling at Robert’s arm. They went round the back of the church and Marion frantically knocked on the door. The time was now 8.35 p.m. and it was still quite light outside.
*
Frank Tuck scurried towards the sound of constant banging on the church door; he looked through a spy hole to see a woman he had known from a child. Marion used to attend church regularly as a child but after she went to university and moved to London her visits had become few and far between. Behind her stood three men who seemed to be looking out for something or someone. Marion banged again and Tuck noticed for the first time how scared she looked, which prompted him to slowly open the door. “Marion? Is that you? What is wrong?”
“Father Tuck, please, we are in danger; please help.” Frank Tuck cast his eyes over the party; Tuck observed one of the three men, sporting a green hoodie and a goatee, was cautiously looking all around.
“Quick, this way,” uttered Tuck. They all ran in the church; Tuck nodded at the man with a guitar strapped to his back, who helped Tuck bolt the doors.
“Quiet,” whispered Tuck as he looked through the spy hole once more. He could see soldiers standing at the front of the church, deciding which way to go. Then, suddenly, the soldiers, which there were now five of, ran off.
Tuck turned to the group of rebels. “They have gone. Marion, can you explain what is going on and who are these fellows?”
Before Marion could answer the man in the green hoodie pushed forward with his hand outstretched. “I am Robert Hood, Sir, and this is Bill Scarlett and Adam Dale.” They all shook hands then turned to look at Marion for an explanation.
She cleared her throat and with a solemn look to Robert croaked, “I am sorry, Father, and I am also sorry, Robert, Adam, Bill for getting you all tangled in my mess.” Marion bowed her head.
Tuck clasped her hands and smiled. “My dear, you are safe here and will always be welcome, I know it has been difficult to attend, with you living away. But at least you have attended, not like some, mentioning no names.” Tuck looked at the three heroes who all looked at each other before sheepishly shrugging their shoulders at Tuck.
Robert stepped forward. “Please excuse my bluntness, Marion, but what is this mess you have gotten into? Can we help at all?” Adam and Bill nodded.
Marion smiled at Robert. “Thanks, I am sorry, but I have placed you all in grave danger. You see, my uncle is the MP Ian Sheriff. I live with him; he has been keeping me locked up, but the worst of it is he seems to endorse Prince in what he is doing to our country. He won’t listen. Prince has him eating out of his hand. I couldn’t take it any more so I escaped.” She started weeping.
Tuck held her. Marion had always seemed to respect and have a fondness for Tuck as he had always been on hand over the years to give her advice, but more importantly it was he who had helped her cope with her parents’ death. Tuck in turn also felt protective over her and wanted to make sure she was looked after. “There, there, don’t cry, Marion; I’ll have to clean the floor,” Tuck quipped, bringing a smile to Marion’s face. Tuck wasn’t bothered about the predicament he could find himself in by helping her as he knew Sheriff had become a deluded man who only listened to Prince. Marion needed someone to watch out for her, and Tuck was more than happy to step up to the plate.
*
Robert stood was studying Tuck’ and straight away felt like he was someone to be trusted; it was obvious how much he really cared for Marion.
Robert couldn’t believe that just by being a good person and helping a woman in need he had put him and his friends in a dangerous situation. He gave a sigh. No good in crying over spilt beer, he thought. They were in this mess and now they had to find their way out of it. However, Robert could sense that the situation wouldn’t be sitting well with his two companions as it had all happened so fast and without them having much of a say. His suspicions were confirmed when Bill finally piped up, yelling in exasperation, “Well, that’s great — the firing squad.”
“If we’re lucky,” quipped Adam. Adam and Bill, Robert knew, were happy to have helped Marion, as that was the type of guys they were, but because they had been trying to go undetected by Prince’s regime and live a quiet life for so long they were now obviously worried about being out in the open and hunted. They both now saw how much trouble their act of kindness towards Marion would bring for them.
Robert quickly stepped in to extinguish his friends’ sarcastic quips and doubts as they were not helpful to anybody. “All right, lads, enough of that. The war of Prince is coming anyway; sooner or later we would have been in it, what’s a few more days matter?” Robert grinned at Marion as their eyes locked together.
He thought that she was the prettiest thing he had ever set his eyes upon with her gorgeous, sweet, appealing smile. Everything about her seemed to captivate him and he admired her strength of character; even when she was crying he felt a pang in his heart for her. He felt deeply puzzled as he was very attracted to her and he was normally so clear and level headed, liking to focus on the task at hand. He could have stared at her all night but a loud bang on the door broke their gaze. He intentionally looked away from her so that he could concentrate on the matter of the Black Death hunting them.
“Open up this door, now,” raged a soldier.
“Quick, all of you follow me,” uttered Tuck and led them to a hidden passage that led to the vast underground caves that ran through Nottingham. “You all go; I will give them a false trail. Marion, where will you go?” said Tuck as he led them to the entrance. Marion shrugged her shoulders.
“She will be safe with us, Father,” said Robert with a smile.
“Take care of her, Robert, and of yourselves; I will find you. Now go — go.” And they all went down the tunnel, which would have been pitch black if not for the torch that Tuck had handed to Bill. It was cold and damp but they followed the directions that Tuck had hurriedly given them to lead them underneath the Galleries of Justice, which used to be a court house, prisons and workhouses in days gone by, but it was now a tourist attraction and museum. The cave came out at the backyard of the galleries and just a few yards from there was an old church that had been renovated into a pub called the Pitcher and Piano, which was still in use by the wealthy.
“What’s your plan, Rob?” said Adam, checking over his shoulder.
“We will hide her at Mutchy’s; come on.” Then, from behind a wall at the side of the Pitcher and Piano, just in front of the contemporary Nottingham art gallery museum, came two soldiers. One stepped back to shoot as Adam smacked him with his guitar; Robert and Bill jumped on the other.
“Marion, run; the Dragon, go,” yelled Robert as he snapped one soldier’s neck. Bill took out his blade and stabbed the other. They were about to go in pursuit of Marion, who was at the crossroads on Weekday Cross, when they came under fire from about twenty soldiers who were stood at the top of Weekday Cross. Marion’s screams filled Nottingham’s murky air as two soldiers dragged her to a Land Rover jeep to be returned to Sheriff.
Robert grabbed a gun from the body of one of the soldiers they had just killed, Bill got the other, and they returned fire, dropping two of the enemy, but there were too many more of them to fight. It was getting on for ten o’clock now and night was drawing in; the streets were vaguely empty apart from a few people looking for food. A couple got caught in the gunfire, but Robert and the others couldn’t get to them to see if they were alive or dead (even though one of them seemed to be moving) as the gunfire was too fierce.
“Quick, come on,” yelled Rob. They ran down the steps at the side of the Pitcher and Piano leading onto Cliff Road, once a vibrant bustling street it was now rundown with only a handful of occupants hiding out there. They all watched in fear as Robert, Adam and Bill made their way across Canal Street towards the river.
Down at the river they made their way towards the arches under the bridges and abandoned buildings; the soldiers still giving chase. They hid behind a wall and exchanged fire with a few of the soldiers, but more came and on Robert’s orders they split up to give them a better chance of escape.
Robert ran towards the Jury Inn Hotel that was on the river bank. As he went around the corner two soldiers were in front of him and he shot one to the ground with his handgun, using his last bullet. The other soldier was charging towards him so Robert threw his gun at the soldier, which hit him on the right shoulder, forcing him to stop in his tracks for a few seconds. They engaged in combat with the machete swords that the Black Death carry with Robert hastily grabbing a machete from the soldier he had just killed. Robert had just knocked his enemy to the ground when —
“Freeze, scum; drop your weapon. Hands in the air, hands in the air.” Two soldiers with guns pointed at Robert were stood in front of him. Robert dropped the machete and raised his hands. One of the soldiers smacked him on the head with the butt of his gun, forcing him to drop to the ground. They put cuffs on him and led him away.
They had been walking up the river for a good few minutes now and a dazed Robert was weighing up his situation when a shout of “Aaahh” came from behind him and one soldier was thrown in the river and the other one fell to the ground, his head smashed in by some unseen weapon. Robert fell back. He looked up to see a big figure standing over him. “I can’t leave you for five minutes, Bob.”
“Ha, Little Don. Thanks.” Shots were fired as a couple more soldiers came on the scene.
“Quick, Bob, come on,” yelled Don as he pulled Robert up with one hand. A couple of men appeared from nowhere to aid them. Robert was wary of them at first as he didn’t know whether they were friend or foe until one of the men said, “Quick, Don, hurry.” They then made their way to some underground caves that you could access from an old warehouse along the river.
As they entered Robert was faced with a smiling
Bill. “Rob, are ya okay?”
“Bill, Adam, thank God; what happened?”
“Some of these chaps helped us and brought us here.” Robert turned to the three men.
“Hi, thanks a lot, my name’s Robert,” he said with his hand out.
“No problem, man. Winston.”
“That’s okay, mate. I’m Neil.”
“You’re all right, pal, no worries. Greg.”
Neil was in his thirties and an ex-policeman who didn’t want to join Prince. Winston was about twenty-two and was a black Jamaican who used to be a fireman, while Greg was a rather scruffy, undernourished fifty year old. Robert turned to the men and Don. “Thanks again.”
Don patted Robert on the shoulder. “No worries, man; now stand still.” And they freed him from his handcuffs with an old rusty hacksaw.
“What about the soldiers?” asked Adam.
“You’re safe down here,” uttered Neil.
“Yeah the soldiers and Sheriff know that some homeless have taken refuge in the arches and caves, but they don’t know the full layout of the caves yet,” said Winston.
Don wiped his brow with his hand then said, “Prince has ordered us to be left at the moment, that is the word from the decent police that are left, apparently Prince and his scum are setting up a prisoner camp at Wollaton Park. His plan is to make use of those people that he considers useful while God only knows what they would do with people that do not play cricket.”
Robert threw down the cuffs. “But what about the people up there? There are children among them.”
Champagne & Lemonade Page 18
