Capital Falling | Book 4 | Sever Winkless, Lance (most popular ebook readers TXT) 📖

ahead then things wouldn’t have got so frantic at the earlier bridges, I joke to myself.

Our estimate on the timing has turned out to be more accurate than we could have hoped for, I see, as I glance at my watch. We have two more bridges to go under and then we’ll reach London Bridge, more or less on time to receive Karen and Jim’s final phone call to check-in. I am suddenly conscious of my phone in my pocket, against my thigh. I hope that they do phone, so I know they are still there and ready to move. The plan is for me to go even if I don’t receive their call, in case the buildings phone system has failed. I would much rather speak to them before though and know my trip into the city isn’t for a lost cause.

The final two bridges pass by in a blur as my nervous anticipation builds. Machine gun fire sounds as we approach both and we pass them with ease. And then there it is, London Bridge sitting in front of us, with London’s tallest building, The Shard guarding its right flank.

My nerves instantly turn to fear. Sailing into London is one thing but getting off the relatively secure boat and going into the city on foot is quite another. The sight of Tower Bridge in the distance, behind London Bridge, does little to dispel my trepidations, I didn’t think I would be back here, not yet, not ever. Catherine’s voice echoes in my head, questioning if I will still go unseen past the undead, as I did before? Will my camouflage still work, or will my flesh be as inviting to the Rabids as everyone else’s again?

Forcing my fears and concerns down inside me, I try to concentrate on the task at hand. The first task is to locate the best drop off point available in the vicinity of the bridge.

London Bridge is probably the most mundane and nondescript bridge we have seen on our trip down the Thames. There is no red paint or mounted statues here, just bland grey concrete and steel. Nevertheless, it is the one that fills me with the most dread, a dread that escalates as I see HMS Belfast through its arches and my eyes are drawn left, left to the Tower of London.

The Tower is only just visible under the bridge, but I can’t help but try and look for it. My stomach churns as I see parts of its distinctive embankment and ancient brickwork. I can’t stop horrific images of the Towers blood-soaked innards and piled up bodies, that I found inside its entombed walls, flashing through my mind. My legs go weak, and I’m forced to sit down as my head becomes faint.

My hand goes to my pocket to retrieve my phone as I try to mask my sudden collapse from Josh and Alice. I’m simply sitting to look at my phone, I tell them in my head, but I can feel their eyes on me.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” Josh asks concerned.

“Nothing, I’m fine,” I tell him, my voice sounding distant to me.

“No, you’re not, Dad. Your face has gone white,” Josh insists.

“I’ll be okay, just give me a minute.”

“It’s being back here and seeing the Tower of London, isn’t it? I felt it too,” Josh tells me.

“Yes, I didn’t expect it to hit me so hard. It’s passing, don’t worry.”

“Take your time, Dad,” Josh says, giving Alice a concerned look.

Time isn’t afforded to me; my phone begins to vibrate in my hand. I take a deep breath and look at the screen, it displays the same number Karen and Jim have been using.

“Hello,” I answer.

“Andy, thank God. It’s Jim, are you here?”

“We’ve just arrived on the river, what’s the latest situation there?”

“Nothing’s changed Andy; I promise you that. We are ready as soon as you get here.” Jim’s voice is desperate.

“Okay, hold tight. We are just finding somewhere to land and then I’ll be on my way. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

“Thank you, Andy, thank you. We’ll be ready,” Jim confirms.

“Good, see you soon,” I tell him and lower the phone. “We are a go,” I tell Josh and Alice, looking up to them.

“Dad, are you sure you’re up for this? We can turn around now and go back, there’s no shame in that,” Josh insists.

“I’m fine Josh, it’s passed. I’m good to go.”

“You don’t look fine Andy. Don’t rush it, if you're still going,” Alice says, concerned.

“Thanks, Alice. Honestly, I’ll be okay, I just went faint for a second there,” I tell her. “Have you any suggestions on where to drop me off?”

Alice, who has stopped the boat, looks over to the riverbank as the boats motor ticks over in reverse, against the tide to keep us more or less stationary.

“There is only one option on this side of the bridge, that I can see. Those steps up from the beach, there,” she says, pointing. “We could see if there is a better option on the other side of the bridge?”

“No, let’s stay this side, those will have to do,” I tell her a bit too quickly.

“But there aren’t any steps up onto the bridge this side? You’d have to go under the bridge and use the ones that side,” Josh points out.

“There’s an adjacent road to the bridge there, it will take me around,” I say pointing to the left of the bridge.

“How are we going to cover your retreat down that side road?” Josh asks.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to get off the boat, to be honest, Josh. We will come to you, it’s the only way.” I look at him and immediately see his face change.

“That wasn’t the plan, you’re going to need cover,” Josh says, frustrated.

“And you will cover us, from the boat. You won’t know when we’re coming and you hanging around up there is a recipe for disaster.”

Josh looks to Alice for help, but none is forthcoming.