She then placed the com-pod carefully at the bottom of the hole and back filled carefully, trying to make the soil look untouched.
With the sun coming up, Piper used the hill as a vantage point. Looking carefully around the area until she was satisfied that she was alone. Then, turning left, she began walking towards the Roblinstrasse. Her mind filled with the thought of someone back in her own time, already digging up the sixty-year-old com-pod. As she drew nearer to the main road, she kept her eyes open for strangers, blissfully unaware that she’d already been spotted and reported to the police.
• • •
Sergeant McKenzie and corporal Donovan stood up to their knees in thick black ash. The wind howled and moaned across the desolated parkland behind them, peppering their backs with debris. Scorched, broken trees littered the area, some rocked listlessly in the strengthening gale. The two men were wearing thick black radiation suits that kept out the coldness of the wind but not the strength. In the blackness of the night both their faces seemed disembodied, hovering above the ground, lit by lights that ringed their helmet’s visors.
They stood in the middle of a giant spider’s web spread out on the ground, woven in thick white tape, secured with long metal spikes. It was a search area that the two men had laid out over the course of the previous week.
“Right Donovan,” said McKenzie leaning on the shovel, “start at one o’clock, do it again, see if anything’s changed.”
McKenzie’s voice crackled with static on Donovan’s headphones. He picked up the metal detector and trudged up the web.
“Why am I doing this again Sarge? I’ve already done it a dozen times and I keep telling you there’s nothing here.”
He sounded petulant, fed up. All he really wanted to do was get back inside HQ, take the bloody suit off and get his breakfast.
“It’s there, or it will be,” said McKenzie, “those are the colonel’s exact words. I’m damned if I understand either, all I know is we have to keep trying.”
Donovan began again, head down, detector swinging from side to side. His whole-body language shouted boredom and irritation. Almost immediately there was a loud ‘ping’, McKenzie heard it as well from where he was standing, he began walking over with the shovel.
“I could swear there was nothing there five minutes ago Sarge. There’s something really creepy going on here.”
CHAPTER 6
Ernst Schneider, Kruminalkommisar for Berlin Direktion 4 sat in his glass office massaging the middle of his chest with one hand, swigging indigestion remedy from a brown bottle with the other. He was a big heavy man with jet black hair and startling blue eyes.
“Bloody croissants,” he muttered to himself, “bloody French.” He concluded, as if it was all their fault. The three pastries he’d picked up on his way into work were taking their revenge. He couldn’t stand the strict diet that his wife had put him on. He kept quiet at home, played the game just to keep the peace. But when he was at work, or anywhere on his own, he cheated.
Gunter Fischer, polizeimeister and Ernst’s righthand man, put his head around the door.
“What?” Said Ernst, belching as he spoke
“Nothing really Boss, could be just part of the silly season, what with all the tension with the Russians. But a bloke’s just rung in from the Friedhof St Mathias graveyard. He was going on about a woman who just appeared out of nowhere.”
“What do you mean? Said Ernst, his forehead cupped in his hand, “She just wandered out from behind some bushes?”
“No, he didn’t mean that,” Gunter sounded frustrated, “I know what you’re thinking. But you told me to report anything that was a bit strange.”
Ernst looked up at the ceiling whilst drumming his fingers rhythmically on his desk, Gunter ignored him.
“Look, I questioned this guy carefully, he said he was out walking his dog before he went to work. He admits himself that it all sounds far-fetched, but he insists that this young woman just popped into being. One minute she wasn’t there, the next she was.”
“What did she do then?”
“She just walked away, looked like she was going hiking,” he said, “he’s quite sure she didn’t see him.”
“Description?”
“African Caribbean, medium height, slim, mid-twenties with black hair.”
“When was this, how long ago?”
“About ten minutes.”
“Have we got a squad car in the area?”
“I’m sure we’ll have one somewhere round there,” said Gunter, scratching his head.
“Get them to look. Stop her and check out her ID. Have we got CCTV in that area? We can’t be too careful, you know as well as I do just how high the terror threat is. Everybody’s jumpy.”
Gunter had pulled out a notebook and was jotting down a list as he backed out of the room. Brushing the limp blond hair out of his eyes, he looked across at his Boss.
“IF there is any CCTV, I’ll get them to download it onto your monitor.”
• • •
Piper looked up from the sat-nav and saw the low wall on either side of the Church gates that she’d been heading for. It was a dull morning, full of rain clouds, driven on by a mild westerly wind, she checked her watch, it was just after 8.00 am
Turning right, she began walking up the side of the busy Roblinstrasse, looking across the road, she could see that the lanes were full of traffic. Commuters making their way to work, mothers on the school run, cars packed with kids. The knowledge of what was about to happen was a heavy burden. She needed to focus, this is all history she kept telling herself, you have a job to do, get it done.
Head down, she concentrated on the mechanics of walking, her priority was to get nearer to the city centre, then she could flag down a Taxi. The mission plan, that she’d thrashed out in Hong Kong, was for her to make for the Hollandstrasse area of the city, which was close to her target, which was Berlin Tegal Airport. It was a well-known area for Student Lodgings and there were lots of apartments in the area. The Secret service agencies from both governments believed this area would give Piper optimum cover.
The crack of tyres catching the kerb pulled her out of her thoughts, she could hear an engine purring behind her. Suddenly feeling tense, mind racing, she supressed the desire to run and forced herself to keep walking at a steady pace. The loud peal of a siren, only a few feet away, made her jump, she turned her head to look behind her. A black BMW police car was pulling off the road at the side of her. Piper’s eyes were drawn to the classic radiator on the front of the car, back in her own time, people would pay a fortune for one of those at an auction sale. She looked into the car, two policemen were looking back at her, the one on the passenger side was waving for her to stop.
Piper’s heart sank as her mind raced, why would they want to stop her? What had given her away? She’d been so careful when she’d buried the com-pod, certain that no one had seen her, if they searched her now and found all her equipment, then it was all over before she’d even begun. Thankfully, her training kicked in, a little voice in her head was telling her that she had nothing to lose, if she let them take her now, her fate was sealed, she would die in the morning, along with thousands of others. So, in the end, there were no other options, she had two basic choices, fight or flight and she’d already made her choice. It amused her a little as she looked around the area, there was nowhere to run to anyway.
Pulling her shoulders back, she half closed her eyes, forcing herself to concentrate on the techniques that she’d struggled so hard to master. Her fluttering heart began to calm and beat at a steady rate, the tense, taught muscles in her body started to relax as she supplied them with well oxygenated blood. Hands at her side, fists clenched, balanced on the balls of her feet, she felt poised and ready. Smiling broadly at the Policemen and maintaining good eye contact, she watched them climb stiffly out of their car.
“Hello officers, can I help you?” She asked, her German, was of course perfect.
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��Well that depends miss,” the taller of the two was looking at her rucksack, “if you’ll just show us what you’ve got in your bag, then I’m sure that there’ll be no reason to detain you any longer.”
“What’s the problem officer,” Piper asked, her face expressionless, “I’m just out walking, that’s not a crime, yet is it?”
Piper was watching both men carefully, the smaller one came around and stood at the other side of her, his thumbs stuck in his gun belt. They’d managed to flank her, she altered her stance slightly to compensate, making them both equidistant. The radio on the smaller man’s shoulder crackled into life, he turned his head to speak.
“Subject apprehended, performing checks,” he returned his attention back to her, “I’d like to see your ID papers please,” he said, holding out his hand.
Piper slid the rucksack off her back slowly, trying not to spook the two men. The police were still unsure of her and had nervously stepped back a pace, their eyes on the bag. The smaller officer, had not yet seen any reason to draw his weapon, but she noticed that his hand was resting on the butt of his pistol.
She now had a snapshot of the positions and distances of both men in her mind, what came next was the finale to many years of demanding work. Piper moved like the supreme athlete that she was, her speed was breath taking. Using the rucksack as a fulcrum, she spun, her left foot was a blur, as it caught the taller man in his throat, she then followed with a vicious back kick hitting the smaller in the groin. He screamed in agony as he collapsed, writhing on the ground, the other Policeman was beyond speech, trying to breathe was the only thing on his mind.
The car door was still open and the engine running. Piper bent over both men and took their guns from them, then she walked around the back of the car and opened the boot. Rush hour traffic was heavy on the road, curious drivers were slowing down as they passed, but soon sped off when they saw the police on the ground and the guns in her hands. She knew that all these spectators would be calling the emergency services and it wouldn’t be long before reinforcements arrived.
Piper kicked both men with the toe of her boot, not too hard, just enough to get their attention.
“Both of you, in the trunk,” she said, harshly
They both looked up at her opened mouthed, realising for the first time that she was armed.
“Now,” she shouted, aiming a pistol at each of their heads.
Reluctantly they got to their knees, then, pulling themselves up, they rolled clumsily into the boot. Piper slammed the lid down and got into the car, it was automatic, she pushed the lever into drive. For a moment, she rested her head on the steering wheel and closed her eyes, summing up her progress so far, the mission was in tatters, the police were after her and she had no plan B. She shrugged, shaking her head, she switched on the blue lights and siren and floored the accelerator.
• • •
Gunter was back, he burst into Ernst’s office without knocking, his face flushed with excitement.
“Sir,” he blurted out, “there’s been a development with that girl we were looking for.”
Ernst frowned.
“I organised a car to look for her like you told me to. Then the patrol stopped a girl answering the description.”
“Yes, so what?” Ernst was getting annoyed, “are they bringing her in for questioning?”
“No, not exactly Boss, the switchboard’s red hot with calls, it’s like every driver in Berlin is calling us. From what they are all saying it seems like there’s been a scuffle, or a fight, anyway, the two Policemen were laying in the road. Next thing you know, our friend has taken both their guns and made them climb into the trunk of their own car. The last thing that I heard, was that she’s stolen the squad car and is now driving at full tilt across Berlin, closely followed by just about every squad car that we’ve got.”
Ernst was on his feet, moving quickly round his desk and heading for the door.
“I don’t like the sound of this Gunter,” he said, looking anxious, which was unusual for the seemingly un-flappable police chief, “this has got all the hallmarks of a professional, probably just back from Syria or Afghanistan. Sounds to me that she’s had all this worked out for months, probably following a terrorist masterplan. She’s certainly not stupid, is she? She knows full well that she’s bulletproof whilst she’s driving that car, that’s why she stole it. Who’s going to give the order to shoot at her, whilst our own people are prisoners in the car? Have you broadcast a bulletin on the vehicle? I need to be sure that everybody’s got their eyes peeled, foot patrols as well as cars.”
“Yes Boss, I had it broadcast before I came to see you.”
“Well get back down to the radio room and warn them, hot pursuit, but no shooting unless I give the word. She knows where she’s going Gunter, she’s got an agenda, could be a suicide attack. Any CCTV yet?”
“Yes Sir, should be on your monitor now.”
Ernst returned to his desk and switched on the small screen. A rather grey, grainy image of Piper with her rucksack on her back was stood looking back at him.
“What a pretty girl,” Ernst muttered, then raised his voice to catch Gunter as he left the office, “are you sure that this is the same woman that attacked the two police officers?”
“Yes Sir,” Gunter replied, “positive Sir.”
“Then get this picture released to all the TV networks and the social media sites. I want her classed as a code 1, you know the blurb, terrorist, armed and dangerous, not to be approached, ring this number, etc, etc.”
CHAPTER 7
President Powell was in the Oval Office when she received the news of Pipers arrival.
“Does Beijing know?” was her first question.
“The text was delivered simultaneously Madam President,” Mike Lovatt, her director of communications, replied, “I assure you that the Chinese are fully aware of the success of this mission.”
She turned her back on him and looked out of the window.
“Thanks Mike, now get me the Chief of Staff, I need to talk to him now.”
Mike nodded, picked up his folder from her desk and left through the outer door. Frank Lister, her tall, lean and grey Chief of Staff walked in. The president smiled as she turned towards him, his entrance was almost seamless, like he was using a revolving door.
“I was waiting outside Clara,” he said, “I thought you might want to see me when you got the news.”
“How long have we got Frank?” She paused, “before it all begins.”
He could feel the tension in the room, it was almost palpable. He knew that she was dreading what was about to happen, he’d been told that she was having difficulty eating and sleeping, he could see it now, etched on her face.
“It’s all a bit complicated because of the time difference between here and Europe, but I’ll give it a go. The Time Pod will automatically return to its launch site at 7pm local time on the 11th April Clara, that is with or without Captain Reed. We won’t know if she’s alive or dead until we open the Sphere which will be 1am tomorrow, our time.
“So, you’re saying it’ll all change at 1am, is everybody still confident that this will work?”
“That’s what I’ve been told. It’s the basic theory behind the Chronos technology, any changes made in the past will not manifest themselves until the agent who has caused those changes returns to their own space and time. That means that the Pilot must return alive and well for all the changes to work. We’ve run all the computer models, enacted every scenario, the best brains on the planet are still cautiously optimistic about the outcome.”
“Don’t forget we’ll be in Naples by then,” said Clara, “we’re leaving within the hour for the meeting with the allied leaders to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the European war. That should give us a front row view of whatever happens in the north.”
“Well that’s right Clara, but don’t forget, despite all the computer models and optimistic forecasts this is still a very long shot, the
re’s so much that could still go wrong. We know the technology works because she’s arrived, but that’s only the beginning. Captain Reed, now must somehow get through to Berlin Tegal Airport on her own, wait until it’s dark, blow up Flight BTA 635 while it’s still empty and on the ground. Then, whilst the whole of the Berlin police force is out looking for her, get back to the Sphere alive well before 7pm, or it leaves without her. If she does all that, which is one hell of a big ask, then and only then, will everything change.”
“Thanks Frank, I don’t know if I feel better or worse now. How are things going on around those Northern cities? Is everything ready?”
“Yes, Madam President, everything is ready and has been for the last month. Each of the bombed-out cities is ringed with tents, just in case they’re needed. There are at least three large field Hospitals and more than a thousand men and women in each area.”
Clara Powell spun her chair around to look back out across the lawns. Her voice was soft when she spoke.
“When the word gets out about what we’ve done, or attempted to do, all hell will breakout.”
Frank leaned forward, his knuckles on the desk.
“Clara, I’m speaking to you as an old friend, when I say you’ve got to snap out of this depression. I know you hate everything about what we’re doing and that it goes against your deep religious faith. But if we can carry it off successfully, it will be classed as the most incredible achievement in history.”
She turned to face him and smiled.
“You’re a good friend Frank, but I can’t seem to get over what we’re doing, it’s downright sinful, we’re playing at God. Where did we get the audacity to think that we had the right to resurrect millions of people who’ve been dead for sixty years.”
“I know,” said Frank, looking uncomfortable, “everyone feels a little edgy about this. But just think of all those people who had their lives cut short. Those thousands of babies and children who will at last be able fulfil their potential and to live out their lives as they were meant to.”
Soul Taker Page 7
