The sad thing was that Steve did understand. It was selfish of him to think Matt would come with him without his sister and he knew if the tables had been reversed, he would do the same.
‘Sorry, mate,’ Steve said, ‘I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. Yeah, of course you need to think about Karen. I just hoped…’
‘Hey, look, I might not be able join you but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to help you get out of this shit hole army. I’ve got your back, Stevie-boy, always.’
‘Thanks, man,’ Steve said, relieved that he could rely on Matt to help him get away, hopefully with Penny at his side.
‘Just be sure you’ve thought this through,’ Matt added, a tone of warning creeping into his voice. ‘You get it wrong, Steve, and that bastard Dad of yours will nail your arse to the wall. You know that there’ll be no second chances, so make sure you know this is what you want to do and do it right.’
Steve looked at Matt, knowing he was right. His father would offer no reprieve to any man he caught deserting, not even his own son.
‘Look, at this precise moment, I know this is what I have to do and who knows, I might live to regret it. I might not, but either way, I promise you I’ll think it though properly before I act, okay,’ said Steve, his voice dropping to a whisper again as he saw his father walking towards him across the courtyard. ‘Heads up, ‘Best Dad’ nominee on his way over.’
The two soldiers immediately stood at attention and saluted, as Staff Sergeant Blackmore stopped in front of them.
‘I want all civilians gathered in the refectory in half an hour,’ he said, to the gathered men scattered about the convent courtyard, barely sparing a glance at his son. ‘We’re moving out at 0900 hours and I don’t want any hold ups. If the any of them kick up a fuss, I want them dealt with swiftly. I will not have some bleeding heart civilian jeopardizing the completion of my orders, understand!’
‘Sir!’ the gathered men said in unison.
They all knew which they would rather piss off. Between the civilians and the Sergeant, the Sergeant won hands down. Knowing his orders would be carried out without question, Sergeant Blackmore turned and left the men to their duties.
‘Shit!’ Steve said, once his father was out of hearing range, ‘I’m going to try to give Penny the heads up and try to explain before it gets too crazy up there. You know what it can be like.’
‘Just be careful, Stevie-boy,’ Matt called after him, as Steve bolted for the convent doorway.
Plunging in to the shadowy corridor, Steve hoped he could get Penny to understand before the shit really hit the fan in the refectory. If he couldn’t, she would forever only see him as one of the uniformed monsters that came into their home and tore their lives apart. Despite barely sharing a dozen words with the young woman, Steve already knew he could no sooner stop breathing than live without her in his life. By some divine force or bizarre twist of universal fate, he had met again, all these years later, the girl from his childhood who had entranced his every waking moment. Of course, the beautiful girl in the grade above him hadn’t even known he had existed but even now, he remembered how he had treasured every glimpse of her walking through the school corridors or the sight of her sitting in the assembly hall. She was his first love, unrequited definitely but he had loved her nonetheless.
‘Penny has to understand,’ he thought to himself, as he walked briskly down the corridor. ‘I’ve got to make her understand that it’s not my fault.’
***
‘Liz will find you and bring you back,’ Sister Josephine said, kneeling down to cup Anne’s small scared face in her hands. ‘She says you must believe her, no matter how long it takes, she’ll get you back.’
Anne’s large blue eyes, already full with tears could hold them back no longer. She had been stolen away from her sister before. With a knife at her throat, and death all about her, Liz, Imran and Charlie had turned up without a second to spare, to rescue her and it certainly wasn’t something she would want to go through again. Liz had been the only constant in her young life. More than a sister, Liz had been filling the roles of mother and father for as long as she could remember. Nevertheless, if Liz said she would come for her, Anne knew nothing in the world would stop her from doing just that.
‘She said to stick close to Alice if you can, or Richard and Nicky. They’ll look after you until she comes for you,’ Sister Josephine continued.
‘But why can’t she just come with us?’ Anne asked, her tears spilling freely down her cheeks.
‘Oh, Anne,’ Sister Josephine replied, wiping away her tears. ‘Liz said it’s easier to break in somewhere than break out… We’ll just have to put out faith in her that she knows what she’s doing. She’s never steered us wrong so far.’
‘Everything alright, Sister?’ came a male voice from behind her.
Abruptly, Sister Josephine stood, worried about how much the man had heard of her reassurances to Anne.
‘You seem to make a habit of sneaking up on me, Steven Blackmore,’ Sister Josephine said, relieved it was the solider she had encountered last night outside the attic door, ‘Anne here is just a little upset about leaving her cat behind, that’s all.’
Steve looked down at Anne’s tear streaked face and he knew the time had definitely come to make a stand against his father and the missions Major Carden and Dr Farrell sent them out on. Who were they to decide who would be given sanctuary? Who were they the skim off the most able and useful to take back to the island, leaving behind the old and weak to fend for themselves, unprotected. What gave his father the right to act like a callous tyrant to the men under his command, ruling with fear and effectively condemning those who tried to leave to the most hideous of deaths? No, his father had certainly crossed a line with Corporal Jones, sending him to his death, bound and bleeding among the Dead. It had been clear to him at that point that this army had a monstrous cancer flourishing through it, a cancer of desperation, fear and selfish intimidation, and he could stand it no more. Sadly, it was too late to hide the little girl as he would Penny. She had already been approved for rescue and would be missed, but he may be able to help her down the line, especially with a little assistance from Sister Josephine’s hidden attic friend.
‘Well,’ he began, knowing the next sentence would ultimately commit himself to desertion and hopefully if everything went to plan, a new life somewhere free of his father, ‘perhaps, her cat could follow us at a distance, Sister? Tell her to be ready for her chance. She’ll know when.’
The unspoken pact was confirmed by the smallest of nods from a now hopeful Sister Josephine.
‘I’m afraid everyone has to gather in the refectory in half an hour, Sister. Can you spread the word?’ Steve said with a sigh, guilt and regret dripping from every word.
With that, Private Steven Blackmore, turned and walked silently down the corridor. As he walked through the shadowy hallway, the sound of his boots falling on the stone floor echoing around him, he wondered what he was getting himself into and would he even survive his plan long enough to regret setting this first foot on the path to his liberty.
Checking each room for Penny as he went, Steve went over in his mind how he would explain to her what was about to happen without her being horrified he had been part of this for so long. He needed her to understand what life was really like at the base. How, when his father had described this supposed Utopia, he had left out the constant cloud of fear and mistrust that they were all forced to live under. How people who didn’t follow the rules or showed any form of insubordination could be made to disappear and how everyone was too scared to ask questions for fear they too would suddenly be taken from their bed in the dark of night.
Steve finally found Penny working in the kitchen with some of the other members of the Lanherne community.
‘Private Blackmore,’ Lars said, smiling as he looked up at the young soldier walking into the kitchen.
‘Sir,’ Steve said with a nod, his eyes automatically findin
g Penny’s face in the room full of people.
When Penny eyes met his, something bloomed within him and the words of warning fled him. Now that she was in front of him, he didn’t know what words could shed a true light on the soldiers and their supposed rescue without her hating him for it.
‘Steve?’ Penny said, seeing something in his gaze that wavered on apprehension.
‘Erm…Penny I must speak to you,’ he managed to force himself to say. ‘It’s important.’
Her brow creasing in concern, Penny didn’t see the looks exchanged between Lars and Sally. They had seen the way the two looked at each other last night and now understandably assumed the Private was making his move. Penny pushed her chair back from the table and plopped the potato she had been peeling into a large bowl of water.
‘What’s the matter?’ she asked wiping her hand on the tea towel tied at her waist, ‘Steve, what is it?’
She was standing in front of him now, waiting for him to speak. She was so close that Steve could see the soft rise and fall of her chest and even now, he wanted to reach out to her and hold her, telling her everything would be alright. However, he knew that would be nothing but a lie, nothing but words of promise, easily said and easily broken. For some of those that Penny loved at Lanherne, nothing would be the same again after this morning. They were to be abandoned by the very people they thought had come to save them and he knew Penny would be devastated by this betrayal.
‘Penny…’ he began, finally building the courage to reach out and take her delicate hand in his.
‘Private?’ Came a cold voice from behind him, a voice that filled his veins with ice. ‘What’s going on here?’
No sooner had his fingers brushed Penny’s, than he snapped his hand back, hoping his father hadn’t seen the gesture.
‘Nothing, Sir,’ Steve said, turning to face the man that was his father in name only, rather than deed. ‘I was letting the civilians know they needed to assemble in the refectory.’
Staff Sergeant Blackmore looked from his son to the young woman standing close to him.
‘Well, if you wouldn’t mind, ladies and gentleman, we have an announcement to make, so if you could do as the Private requested, we get can started,’ Sergeant Blackmore said, indicating with his hand for them to leave the kitchen.
One by one, those in the kitchen filed past the Sergeant, knowing from his tone and stance that this was more than a request. One of the last to leave was Penny and as she moved past Steve, she was caught briefly by his sad expression.
‘I’m sorry,’ he managed to say as she passed him and she saw something in his eyes that scared her. Whatever he was apologising for he meant it with his whole being.
***
‘Right, listen up people,’ Sergeant Blackmore began, addressing the gathered members of Lanherne. ‘When instructed, you will stand and go over to Dr Morris and his team.’
Nicky pulled Justin close to her, not liking the way the soldiers stood poised with their assault rifles. Whatever was going on here, it didn’t look good for the Lanherne group, if the heavy fire presence was anything to go by.
‘You three… and you,’ Sergeant Blackmore said pointing to Richard, Nicky, Justin and Anne.
Richard looked at his wife, seeing his own apprehension mirrored in her eyes. He didn’t like the tension that was building in the room, but knew if he was to keep his family safe, it was best not to rock the boat.
‘Nicky,’ he gently said, taking her hand to lead her and Justin over to the doctor.
Slowly, Nicky rose to her feet and with a glance over to Alice and Sister Josephine, allowed herself be taken across the refectory floor to stand with Dr Morris’s medical team.
‘It’s alright, Anne,’ Sister Josephine said, kissing the young girl’s hand. ‘Go stand with Nicky and Richard.’
‘But,’ Anne began, tears already filling the corners of her large blue eyes.
‘No buts now. Come on and do as I say,’ Sister Josephine said, pulling Anne briefly into a tight hug so she could whisper, ‘Remember, she’ll come for you.’
‘Miss,’ the Sergeant said nodding towards Alice.
Instantly, by unspoken command, two of the medical team, bolted forward to help Alice up from her seat and across the room.
‘You, you and you,’ Sergeant Blackmore continued, indicating William, Damian, Cam and Penny, ‘over here.’
Penny looked at Steve, and after briefly meeting her gaze, his eyes fell to the floor in shame. Instantly, the pieces fell into place, this was not to be a rescue for all.
‘What’s going on here?’ Penny demanded, not moving from her seat.
‘Miss, that was not as request, so move,’ Sergeant Blackmore said, his eyes narrowing as he turned his steely glare upon the young woman daring to question him.
‘I said what’s going on here? Why are we being separated?’ Penny repeated.
With the smallest of movements from the Sergeant, one of the soldiers stepped forward, his rifle raised in Penny’s direction.
‘Penny! Please,’ Steve said, taking an involuntary step forward, panic rising in his throat.
Sergeant Blackmore’s head snapped to glare at the soldier who dared speak out of turn.
‘Private,’ he spat, his harsh tone promising punishment.
Looking from Penny to his father, Steve stepped reluctantly back into line.
‘Miss,’ Sergeant Blackmore said, the cold word challenging her to disobey him.
Looking from the rifle to the Sergeant’s hard stare, Penny knew just like everyone else at Lanherne that she was not being given a choice. Her fate had been decided for her and to rail against it was pointless and would simply get her killed.
‘And bring that child,’ the Sergeant continued, pointing to Alex held tightly in Sally’s arms.
‘No!’ Sally said, instantly pulling Alex tighter to her.
‘What?’ Penny asked, looking from Sally’s panic-stricken face back to the cold emotionless facade of the Sergeant.
‘I will not tell you again, young lady,’ he replied.
Penny stood motionless, her refusal to act a challenge to the Sergeant’s authority. Steve could see the anger building in his father. Penny had no idea what she was dealing with. This man, who would gladly sacrifice a man in order to maintain his control over his squadron was not to be trifled with. Steve knew Penny had but a few seconds to do as his father said and her time was almost up. Stepping forward, Steve would have to risk showing his hand if he wanted to save Penny from his father’s anger. Slinging his rifle quickly over his shoulder, Steve walked over to Sally and began to pry the small boy from her arms. Instantly, the room erupted with cries of protest, as Alex began to scream.
Penny dashed forward to help Sally, only to be grabbed by Matt, pulling her back.
‘He’s saving your life,’ Matt said, turning her sharply to face him.
Struggling against Matt’s firm hold, Penny was forcibly dragged across the room away from Sally.
‘You bastard!’ Penny shouted to the Sergeant when she was finally pulled past him to join the others.
With a crack, the Sergeant’s hand snapped out to strike Penny hard across the face. Stunned, Penny could do nothing but let Matt pull her past the man who held her life in his hands.
‘No!’ Sally screamed, as Steve finally pried a struggling and screaming Alex from her arms.
Unable to bear the hate and betrayal that would be in Penny’s eyes, Steve kept his gaze to the floor, as he pushed Sally away roughly from him and turned to take Alex to the group of the chosen. However, Sally would not give up her adopted foundling so easily. With the power of a threatened lioness protecting her cub, she threw herself at Steve’s back. Suddenly, a single shot rang out and Sally was thrown backwards, landing heavily with a ‘grunt’ against one of the long wooden tables. With a collective shocked intake of breath, the room was silenced and stilled.
‘Sergeant Blackmore!’ Sister Josephine snapped, standing to meet the
soldier’s cold stare, the fired gun still in his hand.
‘Oh, my God,’ said Nadine quietly, turning Sally’s prone body over. ‘She’s dead. You killed her!’
As if the news meant nothing to him, Sergeant Blackmore walked calmly over to Sally’s corpse and looked down at her. The single shot had cleanly entered her chest, the bullet tearing though ribcage and heart, continuing its deadly journey out her back.
‘This is the result of not following orders,’ he said matter-of-factly, levelling his gun with Sally’s head. ‘From now on, you will all do as I command. Any insubordination will be met with accordingly, understand!’
With a second shot, the Sergeant made sure Sally’s corpse was confined to its oblivion.
‘Here, take him,’ Steve said sadly, pushing a stunned Alex onto Richard.
Richard held the silently weeping boy in his arms, gently turning his head away from the bloody scene before them. The members of Lanherne were in a state of shock. Their home and community that so recently had been flourishing, now lay in tatters with one of their number taken from them forever by the very people supposedly sent to help them.
‘Take them too,’ Sergeant Black said to two of the medical team, indicating Jimmy, Samantha and Bailey. ‘Leave the retard though, we don’t need the burden.’
‘And is that what the rest of us are?’ Nadine asked, ‘a burden?’
Sergeant Blackmore turned towards the mousey woman who had spoken.
‘You of all people should understand,’ he began, ‘I’m sure you’ve read in one of your books about survival of the fittest. We can only take with us those who will be of use if we are to rebuild society, which are the women of childbearing age and the able-bodied men. Anyone else would simply be a drain on our already limited resources.’
‘What sort of society are you building, where the old and weak are cast aside?’ Sister Josephine asked.
‘One that will survive,’ the Sergeant replied flatly.
Five More Days With The Dead (Lanherne Chronicles Book 2) Page 13
