Warchild by Andrew Cartmel

Author:Andrew Cartmel [Cartmel, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780426204640
Google: 2Wc9AAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0426204646
Publisher: London Bridge
Published: 1996-03-14T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

By the time they reached the council estate the moon was up. Creed watched it complete its slow journey, rising above the low roofs and dark trees like a big white balloon.

The estate was quiet and very normal looking. The only odd thing was the lack of light in the windows of the houses.

The place seemed ninety per cent deserted.

The only sign of the recent night’s trouble was the collapsed garden wall which Creed could see on the far side of the podium.

The hatch clanged loudly behind him. He looked up as Roz and Norman Peverell climbed out of the armoured car.

He and Roz were still arguing.

‘I still think it’s insulting that you won’t just believe me,’

said Roz.

Norman Peverell rubbed his small moustache. ‘In my job I’ve heard lots of weird stories. We have no shortage of weird stories. What we’re short of is verification. That is what I’m after tonight.’ He stood and stared across the concrete podium at the clusters of small houses with their walled gardens. ‘The great low-rise housing experiment,’ he said.

‘Where are the people?’ said Creed. The question had been bothering him ever since they’d arrived.

‘People?’

‘The inhabitants.’

‘Evacuated, mostly,’ said Norman Peverell. He seemed a little surprised by the question, as though people weren’t normally a factor in his thinking.

‘Mostly?’

‘Well, a few stubborn die-hards insisted on staying.’

Norman Peverell gestured towards the scattered houses with lights still burning in their windows.

‘And a few didn’t make it,’ said Redmond, appearing in the hatch of the armoured car. ‘Like the stewardess and her boyfriend.’

‘You stay inside while we reconnoitre,’ said Roz. ‘And don’t forget to seal the hatch properly.’

But Redmond got out of the hatch and climbed down from the armoured car. He was wearing a combat helmet like Roz’s, with night vision and communications hardware built in, and he had a gun slung over his shoulder.

‘No. You stay inside the armoured car, Roz. I’m going to reconnoitre. I’ve always wanted to reconnoitre.’

Roz was too surprised to argue. She even unbuckled her helmet and began to climb back on to the vehicle when the civil servant cleared his throat.

‘I’m afraid Ms Forrester has to come along. She was the one who saw the White King.’

‘Well, I’m not going back on board.’ Redmond rubbed the bandage on his throat, looking at the armoured car. ‘It’s not so bad when it’s moving but I’ve had bad experiences in that thing when it’s stationary.’ He smiled a charming smile. ‘I guess you might say I have a touch of claustrophobia.’

‘Not ideal for somebody who has to work in an armoured car,’ said Roz grouchily.

‘Not ideal,’ agreed Redmond. He turned to Creed. ‘I’m afraid that just leaves you.’

‘Leaves me?’

‘To stay on board and keep an eye on things.’

Creed shrugged and climbed back on to the vehicle. The truth was that he didn’t mind going back inside. There was something he wanted to do and he didn’t want the others knowing about it.

‘Oh, Creed-’ said Roz.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll secure the frigging hatch,’ called Creed as he disappeared inside.

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