Eternal War by Alex Scarrow

Author:Alex Scarrow [Scarrow, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141968315
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2011-07-14T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 45

2001, New York

‘I’m not so sure this is such a good idea,’ said Maddy. The boat bobbed gently on the river’s tidal waves, its steam engine puffing smoke and coughing as it powered a churning paddle at the rear.

‘We’ll be just fine,’ said Devereau. ‘I know Colonel Wainwright; he’ll not order his men to shoot on us while we’re under a white flag.’

Maddy looked up at the rag fluttering from the small boat’s masthead. She wished the thing was a good deal bigger and somewhat cleaner – whiter and more noticeable. It looked more like a loose flapping sail than it did a flag of truce.

Two-thirds of the way across the East River, she could see the Southern front line in more detail now: trenches of reinforced concrete and bunkers with viewing slits from which protruded the long, thick barrels of fixed artillery. She could make out individual faces moving among the structures. A growing buzz of activity as they drew closer.

‘They’re going to blast us out of the water,’ she muttered.

Becks was beside her. ‘We have been within effective range for the last five minutes.’ She turned to Maddy. ‘And they have not fired.’

‘Well, I guess we take that as a good sign, then.’ Maddy grinned anxiously.

‘Affirmative.’

Presently, the boat finally approached a wooden jetty protruding past a graveyard of rusting and rotting hulls of long-ago bomb-damaged vessels lying beached on the silted banks of the river.

The pilot reversed the engine, churning water noisily behind them and slowing the boat down as a couple of soldiers up front waited at the prow to hop over the side on to the end of the jetty.

‘Just hope this isn’t mistaken as some sort of amphibious invasion,’ Maddy found herself muttering under her breath.

‘Negative,’ said Becks. ‘There are too few troops for this to be an effective assault.’

Maddy sighed. ‘Duh, really?’

The boat thudded gently against the jetty and the two soldiers dropped on to the creaking wooden planks, quickly securing a line to a mooring kleet.

Devereau was first on to the wooden planks. ‘Allow me,’ he said, offering a hand to Maddy as she prepared to jump down to join him.

‘Oh, what a gentleman!’ She grasped hold of his hand gratefully. ‘Thank you.’

Becks was next. Devereau offered her his hand.

‘I will not be needing assistance,’ she said, casually leaping down with a heavy thud of firmly planted trainers.

‘Obviously you don’t.’ Devereau shrugged. ‘Sergeant Freeman?’

‘Yes, sir?’

‘You and half a dozen men along with us. The rest to stay on the launch.’

Maddy looked around.

She shivered. The morning was still fresh and cool, the clear September sky stained a beautiful salmon pink by the rising sun.

‘Don’t be nervous, Madelaine,’ said Becks. ‘I am with you.’

She grasped the support unit’s hand. ‘I’m fine,’ she lied, ‘just a bit cold, that’s all.’

Devereau joined them.

‘What happens now?’ asked Maddy.

Her question was answered with movement. At the far end of the jetty, a welcoming committee had assembled. She saw a dozen men in uniforms remarkably similar in design to Devereau and his men, only a dusty grey instead of a dark blue.

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