happy in their work.
Dan told him what he wanted, making Neil's brain spin with the possibilities and problems.
"Extra fuel tank up top" he suggested, pointing to the roof rack "I'll have to strip the rear seats to make space for spare wheels and tools, but they'll still have to travel fairly light"
"Not a problem" said Dan "how long do you reckon?"
Neil thought for a while, and said five days. Dan knew he meant three; he just wanted to look good getting it done ahead of time. He thanked him and walked back to the house with Ash.
THE MISSION
Steve had been thorough with Emma's training. She was well equipped and he had given her basic weapon training with a Glock for worst case self-defence situations. She packed and repacked her equipment until he was happy that she could save no more weight.
Neil had done well. Steve's Defender had been thoroughly serviced and checked before the retrofitting had begun. It now had a large heavy plastic reservoir tank on the roof rack, Neil's estimate that it held enough fuel for another five hundred miles was probably generous, but he had included a hand pump to fill the two charged jerry cans fitted inside the rear door. The roof tank had a large opening on top which could be refilled with ease, and he had brimmed it with the slightly pink-tinged liquid from the agricultural tank.
Four spare wheels were strapped down behind the rear seats, with almost half of the boot space left for their equipment. He had even patched the bullet score mark above the windscreen.
Evidence of Leah's interception marked the front bumper with minor dents and scratches, but having hit the soft skin of a car with the heavy steel bumper left nothing more than cosmetic damage.
He brought the heavy off roader down to the house, sporting its nine wheels and almost thousand-mile fuel range.
Steve emerged carrying heavy bags. He was armed with his sidearm and M4 and had a vest stocked well with spare magazines. He also took an Mk14 and an additional handgun which was stashed in the glove compartment. Emma had been equipped with a ballistic vest and sturdy clothing. Both carried minimal personal equipment, with camp cots and sleeping bags to complement their small stove and box of tinned food. They took plenty of water, anticipating a few weeks away at worst.
Emma cleared her throat nervously. “Can I ask one more favour?” she asked the small assembled group. Dan invited her to ask.
“I have collected blood samples from the people I was underground with, after they showed signs of infection” her voice dropped into uncertainty before she took a breath and raised her head.
“To be able to have other samples to test against, I need – I’d like – if you would allow me to take samples from some of you” she finished. Awkward silence hung over the gathering until Dan took the lead and rolled up his left sleeve.
“I’ll go first” he announced, prompting half a dozen people to follow suit and file into the medical wing.
They left after breakfast with no ceremony; all of them acting as though it were a normal trip out to try and convince themselves.
Steve drove steadily, weaving the heavy Defender through the overgrown roads. In places what used to be two wide lanes had become a single tunnel between the hedges grown wild in the spring. Leah had done well with their route; she had marked a series of roads snaking north with alternative loops in places. Their journey was engineered to avoid the major population centres and to keep off the motorways through the most built up areas. It would not be a quick drive, but it should minimise the risks they had to take.
Steve found Emma to be a quiet, nervous girl. In truth she was no girl but close to finishing her doctorate, although still half his own age. He didn’t mind; he liked silence and she didn’t have much to say for the first day. He didn’t feel the need to fill the void with unnecessary talking, and she
Dan told him what he wanted, making Neil's brain spin with the possibilities and problems.
"Extra fuel tank up top" he suggested, pointing to the roof rack "I'll have to strip the rear seats to make space for spare wheels and tools, but they'll still have to travel fairly light"
"Not a problem" said Dan "how long do you reckon?"
Neil thought for a while, and said five days. Dan knew he meant three; he just wanted to look good getting it done ahead of time. He thanked him and walked back to the house with Ash.
THE MISSION
Steve had been thorough with Emma's training. She was well equipped and he had given her basic weapon training with a Glock for worst case self-defence situations. She packed and repacked her equipment until he was happy that she could save no more weight.
Neil had done well. Steve's Defender had been thoroughly serviced and checked before the retrofitting had begun. It now had a large heavy plastic reservoir tank on the roof rack, Neil's estimate that it held enough fuel for another five hundred miles was probably generous, but he had included a hand pump to fill the two charged jerry cans fitted inside the rear door. The roof tank had a large opening on top which could be refilled with ease, and he had brimmed it with the slightly pink-tinged liquid from the agricultural tank.
Four spare wheels were strapped down behind the rear seats, with almost half of the boot space left for their equipment. He had even patched the bullet score mark above the windscreen.
Evidence of Leah's interception marked the front bumper with minor dents and scratches, but having hit the soft skin of a car with the heavy steel bumper left nothing more than cosmetic damage.
He brought the heavy off roader down to the house, sporting its nine wheels and almost thousand-mile fuel range.
Steve emerged carrying heavy bags. He was armed with his sidearm and M4 and had a vest stocked well with spare magazines. He also took an Mk14 and an additional handgun which was stashed in the glove compartment. Emma had been equipped with a ballistic vest and sturdy clothing. Both carried minimal personal equipment, with camp cots and sleeping bags to complement their small stove and box of tinned food. They took plenty of water, anticipating a few weeks away at worst.
Emma cleared her throat nervously. “Can I ask one more favour?” she asked the small assembled group. Dan invited her to ask.
“I have collected blood samples from the people I was underground with, after they showed signs of infection” her voice dropped into uncertainty before she took a breath and raised her head.
“To be able to have other samples to test against, I need – I’d like – if you would allow me to take samples from some of you” she finished. Awkward silence hung over the gathering until Dan took the lead and rolled up his left sleeve.
“I’ll go first” he announced, prompting half a dozen people to follow suit and file into the medical wing.
They left after breakfast with no ceremony; all of them acting as though it were a normal trip out to try and convince themselves.
Steve drove steadily, weaving the heavy Defender through the overgrown roads. In places what used to be two wide lanes had become a single tunnel between the hedges grown wild in the spring. Leah had done well with their route; she had marked a series of roads snaking north with alternative loops in places. Their journey was engineered to avoid the major population centres and to keep off the motorways through the most built up areas. It would not be a quick drive, but it should minimise the risks they had to take.
Steve found Emma to be a quiet, nervous girl. In truth she was no girl but close to finishing her doctorate, although still half his own age. He didn’t mind; he liked silence and she didn’t have much to say for the first day. He didn’t feel the need to fill the void with unnecessary talking, and she
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