The Eternal War

CHAPTER 82

2001, near New Chelmsford

‘Bob? How much further now?’

Bob eased back on the throttle sticks as the tractor’s big ridged wheels rolled down into a shallow river and splashed arcs of spray either side of them.

‘Information: two miles, one hundred and seven yards from this location.’

The tractor emerged from the river on the far side, leaving two deep ridges carved in the wet mud of the riverbank.

‘Two miles?’

‘Affirmative.’

‘Then stop right here.’

Bob did as instructed, easing the throttles down to an idle, disengaging the gears and pulling a braking lever. He looked at Liam. ‘Why?’

Sal nodded. ‘Yeah … we’re nearly there!’

‘That’s exactly why,’ said Liam. He turned and pointed out of the mud-spattered rear window of the cabin. ‘We’ve left a trail a blind man could follow. If there were any policemen or militia called to find this tractor … it won’t be difficult for them.’

It was approaching dusk. The sun was casting a rose-hued glow and long cool shadows across the pastoral landscape around them. Far away to the right, a small village nestled among sycamore trees, and chimneys leaked threads of smoke into a peach sky.

‘If we drive all the way to the rendezvous point,’ he continued, ‘we could be leading a posse of coppers or soldiers right to the window. It’s two miles from here … if we get running, we could be there in what … twenty minutes or so?’

Bob nodded. ‘This is a sensible tactical decision.’

Lincoln groaned and pointed at his old boots — one of them was flapping open at the front where a seam in the leather had split. Long hairy toes waggled through a threadbare sock. ‘My feet are as spent as a pauper’s purse.’

‘Oh shadd-yah! You lazy-bones.’

Liam opened the cabin door and jumped out on to the riverbank. ‘Come on! It’s not far now!’

Bob dropped down heavily beside him. ‘Correct, not far.’

Sal pushed Lincoln out in front of her. ‘We’ll be there soon enough.’