‘OK people, listen up. This is it. We all know what to do. If we remember our training then we’ll be fine. Our job is to hold the front doors and stairs for as long as possible. There will be noise and chaos and you’ll be scared, but that’s OK because we’re St Mary’s and no one does noise and chaos as well as us. Major Guthrie estimates we’ll be outnumbered about six to one …’
Around me, heads bobbed up sharply and Peterson said, ‘Um …’
‘So what I’m saying is, the first one to shoot their six nips back and puts the kettle on.’
There was a startled silence, then someone laughed and Mrs Partridge (wonderful woman) raised her arm and said, ‘Milk and two sugars please.’ There was more laughter and then, suddenly, this was it.
An amplified voice boomed from outside.
‘Dr Bairstow. This is the Time Police. You are no longer in control of this unit. Please instruct your people to lay down their weapons and surrender.’
My com crackled. Dr Bairstow was broadcasting to all of us.
‘Good morning. This is Dr Bairstow. Our pods and archive have been removed. You will get nothing from us. You should leave now, while you still can.’
‘Members of St Mary’s. We understand that you are acting on the instructions of your Director. Do not allow him to imperil your lives. Lay down your weapons and exit the building. We wish you no harm.’
Silence.
‘Dr Bairstow, you are outgunned and outnumbered. There is no other option other than to surrender immediately.’
There was a long pause and then Dr Bairstow said, ‘Very well, I am willing to discuss terms of surrender.’
A murmur ran around the building.
‘There are no terms. Simply lay down your weapons, exit the building, and await instructions.’
‘I’m terribly sorry; I seem, quite inadvertently, to have given you the wrong impression. It was your surrender I wished to discuss.’
Hardly had the words left his mouth than the whole world exploded. The front doors imploded. Someone, Guthrie, I think, bellowed, ‘Enemy at the gates! Good luck everyone.’ This was it.
We crouched behind our barricades and opened fire. Everyone performed perfectly. We laid down a continuous barrage and nothing got through the shattered doors. I kept firing until empty, passed for reloading, picked up my second weapon, and did it again. And again. And again. And again.
Guthrie yelled, ‘Cease fire!’ and silence dropped like a lead weight.
I shook my head to clear the ringing in my ears.
I could hear shots firing outside and around Hawking. We took advantage of the pause and shifted our position slightly. Mrs Partridge passed me two fully loaded weapons. I checked my unused blaster was still within reach and flexed my fingers, arms, and shoulders.
Markham turned his head and whispered, ‘Everyone all right?’
‘Yes.’
‘Yes.’
‘I think so.’
‘Don’t say it like that, Andrew. This is a military situation. You must strive to convey your information with the utmost speed and accuracy. Like me.’
I said, ‘So, you’re OK then, Dr Dowson?’
‘Oh, yes, yes, my dear. Never better.’
I avoided Markham’s eye.
We couldn’t hold them back. I don’t know why we ever thought we could. Dieter’s team fell back from Hawking and into the Hall in good order. Markham and I moved forward to give them as much cover as we could while the other teams covered us.
I fired until my head ached with the noise of it. My hands were burning. Occasionally, Mrs Partridge would hand me a reloaded weapon. I hadn’t realised she had moved forward with us. Thinking about it, I would have been more surprised if she hadn’t.
I could hear fragments of chatter in my ears.
‘Evans! To your right! To your right!’
‘Ritter’s down!’
‘Cover me! Moving forward!’
‘Pull him back! Pull him back!’
Slowly but surely, Dieter got his people away. I caught a brief glimpse of him, supporting someone whose face I couldn’t see.
Markham tapped me on the shoulder and indicated I should withdraw. Mrs Partridge was already gone. The barricades were opened and Dieter and his team were dragging their wounded through. The other teams upstairs continued to lay down fire so I turned, and keeping low, ran back towards the stairs. Throwing myself through the gap, I was seized by Professor Rapson and hauled in. Dr Dowson replaced the barricade.
Mrs Partridge was crouched over Ritter, her hands pressed hard over a horrifying chest wound. Her hands, bloodied to the elbows, were inside his chest. I couldn’t even see if he was still alive. She shouted, ‘Medics!’ and we got him away. The rest of the team dispersed to join the others around the gallery and on the floor above.
I turned back, found my line of sight, and the next minute they were appearing in the shattered doorway, firing as they came. I know fear increases numbers but it struck me we were outnumbered a good deal more than six to one. I wouldn’t be getting my cup of tea anytime soon.