The Hurst Chronicles | Book 4 | Harbinger

by Crumby, Robin

  “We will only succeed by working together,” added the professor, inclining his head to the UN scientists listening to the exchange. “We live in an inter-connected world. One country cannot solve this crisis alone.”

  “Perhaps, in the future, we should pay more attention to what’s going on in the natural world,” suggested Gill with a sweep of her hand. “Consult with our colleagues in veterinary science.” The other scientists blinked back at her, waiting for her to continue. “The decline in bird diversity, in China and elsewhere, was the true harbinger of what was to come. The butterfly effect that was felt around the world.”

  Harbinger, thought Zed, there was that word again.

  “Chaos theory is really just a modern twist on what Victorian scientists believed,” added the professor, “that health and disease are influenced by factors as diverse as the weather. The truth is that the natural world shapes advances in immunity just as much as science. We forget at our peril that man is part of a much larger ecosystem. And the whole point of history is to discover these connections so that we may understand the events of our own lifetime and what they tell us about the future.”

  “That’s why Major Donnelly and his associates attempted to alter historical records to suit Phoenix’s desired narrative.” Zed drained his glass and banged it on the table. “That’s when we lose all reference points. That’s what they intended all along.”

  “If it wasn’t for you, Zed, they might actually have succeeded,” congratulated the minister, raising his glass.

  “Oh, I don’t for a moment believe this is over, Minister,” warned Zed, embarrassed by all the attention.

  Tommy appeared at the doorway and coughed to get Zed’s attention, whispering something inaudible to the others. Zed’s eyes lit up. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some visitors to attend to.”

  Gill caught Zed’s eye and grimaced supportively, mouthing ‘good luck’, knowing how nervous Zed would be at seeing his kids again.

  Chapter 62

  In the semi-darkness of the courtyard, in the shadow of the twelve-sided Gun Tower it seemed so quiet, only a stone’s throw from the raucous laughter and music of the marquee. Zed passed a couple consumed by desire, oblivious to his presence. Two oil-filled lanterns swung from hooks on the stone walls to the north-east bastion casting dancing shapes across the ground. He found his children waiting out of sight, beyond the Tudor gate, hand in hand with Terra.

  Throwing his arms wide, he sank to his knees, barely able to contain his emotions, tears streaming down his face. Heather ran towards him, submitting to his embrace. Connor appeared more reticent until Terra encouraged him forward. The boy leaned against his father, arms by his side, with no real conviction.

  “I’m so, so sorry,” sobbed Zed, his voice breaking, “for everything.” He nodded at Terra in gratitude for upholding her end of the bargain, witness to the full spectrum of a father’s joy and despair. The prolonged pain of separation, the longstanding guilt tinged with happiness. He hugged them both tighter, fearing, if he released them, they might prove figments of his imagination, like so many imagined reunions before this one. “I can’t tell you how many times,” he whispered, “I’ve dreamed of this moment.”

  Heather looked down into her father’s swollen eyes, helping him to his feet. “Mum always took your side. She never once blamed you.” His daughter seemed older somehow, mature beyond her thirteen years. A burden placed on her slender shoulders for so long by the pandemic.

  “No, but she had every right. I was stupid and selfish,” he confessed, wiping the moisture from his cheeks. “I should never have left you.”

  “You were trying to protect us. Riley told us what really happened.”

  “But you deserve to hear the truth, from me.”

  “You don’t owe us anything, Dad,”

  “Please, Heather, I need to get this off my chest,” he insisted, nodding vigorously. “You were too young to understand. They tried to frame me, make me a scapegoat. I was too stupid and blind to realise the trap they set. My work had become toxic, before the war. They put pressure on me to find evidence to support the invasion.”

  “Is that why you went to America?”

  “Yes. To protect you, to keep you all safe.”

  “Why didn’t you tell mum the truth? She would have understood.”

  “How could I? I didn’t understand myself until a few weeks ago.”

  “She was so angry, so sad. I just wish you’d told her. She blamed herself, but never you. Now we know, don’t we Connor?” The boy sniffed in response, repeatedly clenching his fists.

  Zed noticed his son’s reticence, the inner conflict he himself suffered from, getting down on his knees once again. “Listen, Connor, you have every reason to hate your Dad. I should have been there for you, not put work before family. I can’t imagine what you’ve both been through.”

  “We never stopped loving you, Dad,” added Heather, her hand on Connor’s shoulder.

  “Leaving was the coward’s way out. I know that now.”

  Connor’s eyes flared with recrimination, as if he still blamed his father. Until now, Terra had kept a respectful distance, but seeing Connor’s refusal prompted her to intervene, massaging his rigid shoulders.

  “Give your Dad a break, eh?” she encouraged. “Even parents make mistakes. We all do stupid stuff we regret. Where would we be if we didn’t forgive each other?”

  “It’s going to be different now, I promise,” reassured Zed.

  “Your Dad’s right,” added Terra. “You belong here. With your family. I know I said you could choose.”

  Terra squeezed his arm, but the boy remained tense, unforgiving. Not for the first time, Zed realised the emotional distance between them. It would take time. Riley could help find an outlet for his anger, even rediscover his voice. Without warning, Connor wrenched himself free of Terra’s grasp. “What happens when you go away again?” muttered Connor under his breath. “You’ll leave us behind, like all the other times.” Zed blinked back, lost for words, silenced by the fire in the little boy’s eyes.

  “Listen. From now on, whatever happens, we’ll stay together. You, me and Heather. Right here at the castle.”

  Terra inclined her head, encouraging Zed. “Give him time,” she whispered, “he’s been through a lot.”

  Connor punched her in the kidney, hard enough to make her wince. “I told you. I’m not a kid any more. I don’t like people talking about me.”

  “Sorry, you’re quite right,” soothed Terra, trying to lighten the mood, ignoring the boy’s violence. “Connor’s done a lot of growing up in the last few weeks. Wait till your dad hears all the stories about catching trout and stalking deer.”

  “Really?” asked Zed in mock astonishment. “Since when did you like fishing?” He ruffled the boy’s hair, as Connor visibly softened, nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. “If you like I can ask Sam to take us out on the Nipper. Best day’s fishing you’ll ever have, I promise.”

  “You see?” encouraged Terra. “You’ll love it here. Just give it a chance. Will you do that for me, please?”

  Connor relented, allowing himself to be drawn into his father’s arms. Zed held him tightly, reluctant to let go. When Zed lifted his eyes again, Terra was staring at them, head tilted, perhaps in triumph, tinged with envy. He reached out and took Terra’s hand in his. “Thank you. For bringing them back to me.” In that instant, Zed saw beyond Terra’s mask, glimpsing lonely and vulnerable woman, revelling in the role she played in their reunion.

  “It’s the least I could do,” she whispered in a faltering voice, “after everything that’s happened.”

  “Will you stay for a while?”

  “No, I should be getting back. Too many memories here,” she said taking in the familiar stone walls, perhaps remembering the night of the attack and her part in Jack’s murder. “Too many ghosts.”

  “Things weren’t always bad, you know. Once upon a time, we made a good team.” He half-smile
d, noticing her unspoken remorse.

  “I have a new life now. With Briggs. Someone needs to keep him on the straight and narrow. For everyone’s sake.” She laughed, staring off into the darkness. “You know, you were right about Briggs. He did know my brother.”

  “In my world, you learn to trust your instincts. I knew there was something the Colonel wasn’t telling me. There had to be a connection. The Colonel knew all along.” Zed nodded, plagued by a lingering doubt. “I could never figure it out.”

  “It was a coincidence really. My brother helped Briggs’s family with a personal injury claim, pro bono. Got him compensation from the Army.” Zed was lost in thought for a second, trying to make sense of this seemingly random piece of information. Another piece to fit into the giant jigsaw puzzle in his head. “Briggs owed Stephen a debt of gratitude,” she continued.

  “What about Kelly? Did Briggs say anything?”

  “Only that he ran some taxi service for the Colonel, picking up terror suspects and delivering them for interrogation.”

  Zed blinked back at her. “How does that relate to Doctor Kelly?”

  “Briggs picked Kelly up the night he died. Drove him to RAF Brize Norton.”

  “That airfield is not far from Kelly’s village. Brize Norton operated dozens of rendition flights,” said Zed, nodding thoughtfully. “Did Briggs say he drove Kelly home again?”

  “No. It was a one-way trip. He doesn’t know what happened afterwards.”

  “Then the Colonel may be the only one who knows the truth.”

  “The truth about what?” asked a voice from the shadows. The colonel stepped into the light, hands thrust into his pockets.

  Zed wondered how long he had listened before revealing himself. “Briggs admitted driving Kelly to Brize Norton the night he died.”

  “Did he now?” The colonel stared up into the night sky as if searching for a suitable response, seemingly reluctant to divulge any further details in front of the children.

  Terra took the hint. “Heather, Connor, why don’t we go grab something to eat before they clear everything away?”

  “I’ll come and find you before I leave,” added Terra as they turned to leave.

  As soon as they were out of earshot, Zed resumed his questioning. “Then it’s true, Briggs worked for you?”

  “Look, Briggs is a self-confessed patriot. He may not care about much, but, in the end, he risked his entire operation to serve the wider interests of the country.”

  “The man’s a sociopath,” countered Zed. “How on earth did you persuade him to help you?”

  “I can’t take the credit. SO15 recruited him.” The colonel let out a deep sigh, feigning relief at unburdening himself of the truth. Zed had seen this same act before. “Briggs was serving twelve years for armed robbery in Belmarsh Prison. He claimed spending time with convicted terrorists pushed him over the edge.” The colonel’s micro movement caught Zed’s eye, as if betraying the lie.

  “What did Briggs get out of this arrangement?” probed Zed, already knowing the answer.

  “The security services turned a blind eye to his criminality. Focused our energies on his rivals.”

  “Then how did he end up in Parkhurst?” If the colonel knew he was walking into a trap, he certainly gave nothing away.

  “Our tolerance only stretched so far. He took one too many liberties.”

  “Funny, that’s not what he said,” claimed Terra, taking her lead from Zed. “He said you double crossed him, framed him for something he didn’t do?”

  “Is that what he told you?” The colonel laughed, trying to pass it off as a lie. “Her Majesty’s prisons are full of men who swear they’re innocent. Look, I interceded on his behalf but, unfortunately, minds were already made up.”

  “How quickly good deeds are forgotten,” sighed Zed. “So what really happened that night?”

  The colonel carefully considered his response, inclining his head. “We’ve been over this too many times. Don’t you think the Hutton enquiry would have surfaced anything untoward?”

  “Colonel, we both know, the enquiry was a whitewash, a sham,” insisted Zed.

  “Kelly committed suicide. It’s the only rational explanation.”

  “No one believes that, Colonel. If I can prove Kelly was at Brize Norton that night, then how did his body end up in the woods near his house?”

  “Maybe Donnelly had something to do with it. Who knows? Like I told you before, don’t waste your energy on something that remains unknowable. The photos, even the coroner’s report, everything was sealed to protect the family from media intrusion.” He paused, noticing Zed’s exhaustion. “Look, why don’t we pick this up again tomorrow? It’s been a long night. You’re tired. God knows, we’re all tired. Once the UN inspectors get access to Porton, I’ll make sure you get answers to all these questions. None of us will rest until Donnelly’s accomplices are brought to justice.”

  “Colonel, it’s time we learned the truth. The debt must be repaid.”

  “We’ve both been in this business long enough to know that you can’t attach any form of moral accounting to the past. Judging the actions of those who fought on either side by the standards of today rarely work. What’s done is done. If I were you, I’d focus on the future, that’s where hope lies. Put the past to bed.”

  “Once again, history is written by the victors? You may be able to move on, Colonel, but I can’t. I crave closure.”

  “We all do. And we’re so close. Trust me, when this is done, you can have as long as you like to sort your head out, spend time with your kids. Enjoy the future.”

  “Not until those responsible are brought to justice. We all need to face up to what we’ve done.”

  “If you need to get something off your chest, let’s hear it?” said the colonel, crossing his arms.

  “Look what we’ve created at Camp Wight. The forced labour camps, the compulsory vaccinations, the experiments on aborted foetuses, human trials without informed consent? History repeating itself, over and over again.”

  “What did you expect? We did what was necessary. Nothing more, nothing less. Our scientists deserve praise not censure.”

  “Can’t you see?” insisted Zed, his chest heaving, vigorously shaking his head in the face of the colonel’s refusal to take responsibility. “The actions of the Council rank alongside apartheid rule. The ethnic cleansing, the concentration camps. Wouter Basson would have been proud.”

  “Have you lost your mind? You’re not seriously equating Camp Wight with the horrors of the Holocaust?” Zed nodded silently. “We’re all just men and women. As human and fallible, as prone to errors of judgement, as any other.”

  “None of us are heroes, Colonel. Certainly not us.”

  “Guilt and regret are luxuries we can afford later on. In years to come, people will give their thanks for our sacrifice.”

  “Our actions deserve to be remembered without glory or reverence. We need to be honest about them. These injustices can never happen again.”

  “I promise you, Zed, we won’t stop until we get to the bottom of what happened. But in the meantime, life must go on. It might take years before we discover how deep Phoenix went.”

  Zed could feel himself falling under the colonel’s spell again, the scales forming over his eyes, obscuring the truth, colouring his every thought. The colonel placed a hand on Zed’s shoulder, noticing his melancholy, his resignation. “Look, I know how much you care. We all owe a debt to people like Jack and Kelly. They were the good guys. They were the ones who laid the foundations for a happier future for our children. Kids like Connor and Heather. Rest assured, civilisation will rise from the ashes.”

  “I wish I shared your optimism, Colonel. I’m going to make sure my kids never forget what happened. That’s the only way we’ll avoid repeating our mistakes.”

  “My dear boy, the only way to be absolutely certain is to finish what you started. Keep fighting for what you believe in.” Zed felt overcome by exhaust
ion, listening to the colonel. He doubted whether he had anything left to give. “LaSalle has agreed to combine our efforts, to form a joint investigation. If we work together, Porton Down will have no option but to comply.” He looked Zed in the eye, grasping his shoulders. “I want you to lead the team.”

  “Me?”

  “Look, I know you’re exhausted, but a couple more weeks and we’ll get you these answers. If MV-27 really did come from a Porton lab, the forensics team will know soon enough. Isn’t this what you wanted? Access all areas?” He paused, watching Zed’s mixture of emotions, anticipating his objections. “If you like, Heather and Connor can come too. We’ll set up a school for all the kids, make sure they get the best of everything. Think about it. This could be a fresh start for your entire family. You can bring Riley too.”

  Zed blew out his cheeks, resigned to his duty, but conflicted by his promise to Connor. “How long do I have to think about it?”

  “There’s an armoured convoy leaving Southampton docks at first light. Fox is coming too.”

  Hurried footsteps echoed around the battlements making them both look round. Riley emerged from the darkness, out of breath, her cheeks flush from the celebrations. “They’re about to start the fireworks.” She paused, noticing their expressions. “Sorry, am I interrupting something?”

  Chapter 63

  “Fireworks, well, we shouldn’t miss those,” acknowledged the colonel. “We were just putting the world to rights. Let me know what you decide, Zed.”

  “I will,” he responded curtly, prompting instant suspicion from Riley. She snaked an arm around his waist, pulling him in close.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to steal this one away,” said Riley, digging her finger nails into his ribs until he grimaced. “They’re just about to start. We should go.”

  The colonel smiled, inclining his head in a half-bow. “Of course. I’ll leave you to it.”