Dead Centre - Andy McNab [124]
I could see no other way of sorting out this shit. It was going to create more drama, but at least the boy would stay alive. Drama I could get to grips with. Dead kids – all I could do was bag them up and take them back to where they’d come from.
I made a move towards BB. Now I was closer I could make sense of his yells. ‘Get these fucking animals off the technical now. Get them off. I want them off – now!’
I turned to comply. Awaale was manning the 12.7.
It pointed our way.
I threw up my hands. ‘No, Awaale. No!’
His hand moved to the cocking handle.
‘No! Don’t fucking fire!’
The Skyvan rolled towards the runway with its ramp down. Its red interior lights glowed on the tarmac behind it. Its twin props whirled. I kept waving my arms like a madman at anyone with a weapon. ‘No firing! No firing!’
Everywhere I looked, there were too many fingers on triggers.
BB kept edging towards the technicals. ‘Get ’em out. Get ’em out!’
I shouted and motioned to Awaale to leave the wagon, but he wasn’t going anywhere. He had the biggest gun and he was going to use it if he wanted to. I took a pace forward and put myself between them, pointing at BB and bellowing, ‘Wait there, fucking wait there – I’ll sort it out.’
BB was almost foaming at the mouth. ‘Fucking do it. Get that technical. I’ll fucking drop this boy. You know I’ll do it.’
He’d be fucked if he did, but I had no doubt that he would. I held both hands out as if I was trying to stop two lots of traffic. I broke into a run towards the technical. The two covering the Georgians had their AKs pointing here, there and everywhere, screaming at Awaale, desperate to know what he wanted them to do.
Still manning the 12.7, Awaale couldn’t make sense of any of this. He could no longer feel the love. I reached the side of the wagon. He stared down at me.
‘Forget it. Let him take them.’
‘But this will look very bad, Mr Nick. My men … I am going to be their leader …’
‘That’s right, mate. But I’m going to beg, make it look good for you. You tell them later that you decided to let them go, for the boy’s sake. All good leaders must show wisdom and kindness, mate. The boy …’
I got down on my knees, hands together.
‘Please, Awaale, please.’
He liked the reaction from the two crew beside him.
‘But why does he want that child?’
‘Because everything is about the boy, Awaale. The man with the money, the powerful man – that is his son. Just leave the wagon, Awaale. We must keep the boy safe. We don’t need any more drama from the father, believe me. I told you, he can reach anywhere he wants …’
BB was still going ape-shit, but staying static. He knew this was his best option for now.
The two Georgians, still naked and against the back of the cab, began to taste freedom. They gave me a smirk. Dec gobbed at me as I got to my feet. It hit me on my right shoulder. I wanted to reach over and throttle the fucker, but that would have to wait. ‘Awaale, let it go. Fuck ’em.’
The Skyvan had reached the end of the runway.
‘And fuck Erasto. You’ll just have to take over tonight, won’t you?’
He was still struggling to compute. I had to scream like a drill sergeant to get through to him. ‘Give – them – the – wagon!’
His face crumpled. He almost looked hurt. I took a deep breath, forced myself to be calm. ‘Please, Awaale … Please …’
He thought about it.
Finally, achingly slowly, he waved an arm at the two crew to debus. The lads jumped off, and he followed.
Ant and Dec got to their feet. The driver was out. Ant vaulted over the side and took the wheel. BB reversed towards the wagon, muzzle still glued to the back of Stefan’s head.
The rest of us shuffled backwards towards the Cargomaster. Mr Lover Man shouted, ‘Tracy, no! No!’
Like a banshee, she zoomed past me.
Her body convulsed with sobs as she ran. ‘Take me, take me! Not my baby, please!’
I bellowed, ‘Tracy, stand still. Stand still!’
But she didn’t. Of course she didn’t.
BB threw the boy onto the flatbed with Dec and swung round to face the threat. Tracy hurled