World War O by James Ward

Author:James Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: spy thrillers set partly in England, MI5 and MI6 novels, espionage novels set in Britain, Tax avoidance novels, City of London novels, London's Square Mile, John Mordred, Tales of MI7, Action and adventure, Action hero
Publisher: Cool Millennium
Published: 2016-10-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16: The One With All the Men In

The nearest point of the encirclement was past the camp, across a small field, through a row of shrubs and down a shallow slope. Mordred tried to take the lead, but Hannah skipped up and linked arms with him. “Give me the flag and I’ll let you do the talking,” she said. Her voice trembled. She didn’t add anything. Though getting there took no more than three minutes, everyone’s boots filled with lead, their bodies with adrenalin and their brains with endorphins. When they arrived, they were both high on natural chemicals and sluggish with despair.

Twelve men in leather jackets and jeans stood up in mild surprise and turned to face the surrender-party. Mordred waved his white flag and smiled. He’d have to say his speech again in whatever language they spoke, but he might as well rehearse it. Give Hannah and her friends a flavour.

“Nice evening,” he said. “I’m John, and these are my friends from the camp across the way. We’ve come out here to ask if you’ll let us out. We realise we’ve lost. We don’t want anyone to get hurt. We’re willing to leave the island, if necessary. You’ve nothing to gain by hurting us. We’ve got a pregnant woman among us, as you can see. Probably more than one, given the lack of TV on an evening.”

The men looked at each other. They seemed annoyed by their own puzzlement. “We don’t speak English,” one of them said.

Mordred smiled. “Luckily, you don’t have to,” he replied in Lithuanian.

“Hey,” the same man replied in surprise. He grinned. “Whoa. Was that - ?”

“Me speaking your language,” Mordred said.

He didn’t expect what happened next. They all came over and started shaking his hand, slapping him on the back and laughing like he was an old friend.

“Not before time!” one of them said, a giant with a round stubbly head, a double chin, and a high-pitched voice. “I’m Vincas Samauskas. I’m in charge here. What’s your name?”

“John Mordred. I don’t get it - ”

“Are you in charge in the camp, John?”

He didn’t really know what was going on any more. “Er, I can be. If you want.”

“Because in about three hours, you’re going to be attacked.”

“I know.”

“You know? How?”

“We’ve got a spy in Saint Helier,” Mordred replied. “A taxi driver.”

“Hang on, I recognise you. You were the guy they beat up. We thought you were still in hospital.”

“I received an early discharge.”

“We banged a few heads together outside, stop them making away with you. Why isn’t anyone inside the camp doing anything?”

Mordred scratched his head. “Who are you? If, er, you don’t mind me asking?”

“We were sent here by Mr Decristoforo. To protect you.”

This took what felt like a full minute to sink in. Mordred felt his head blow off and his breath vanish within his chest.

“What is it?” Hannah said anxiously. “What’s going on, John? Say something.”

“They’re here to look after us!” he said. “My God, they’re not going to attack us, they’re here to defend us!”

“You need to start working,” Vincas said.

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