My heart raced and I felt adrenalin race through me , the lights seemed to merge into one , nausea rose inside me . I fought to recover my senses .
" Blake " I stuttered " What the ....you were at the fucking hospital......What have you done with Carol "
Rage overturned fear and I stepped forward my fists clenched . Suddenly both my arms were dragged behind me back . I was spun round my head pushed down and a semi automatic pistol was pushed against my head , three Alsation dogs barely restrained by their handlers lunged forward at me .
Blake barked " Back Off" to the guards as he leaned his face into mine , my head now pushed into the wall , he whispered as the the smell of cheap cologne filled my nostrils
"Like I said Welcome Mr Tutbury "
I looked slightly to the right seeing his face silhouetted in the neon lighting against the dark tunnel .
" Fuck you Blake " I spit out
Blake pushed his face closer into mine
" Get on your knees Tutbury "
My shoulders were pushed further down as I swung my head at Blake catching him above his nose with my forehead . Blake recoiled in pain his hands to his face .
A guard jerked me further down as a boot hit my ribs . I winced and heard a crack of bone.
"Fuck" I blurted aimed at Blake
My head was rammed again into the wall
A gun barrel smashed into the wall missing my head
The second didn't . causing a thick darkness.
I regained consciousness being dragged , pushed and pulled down a passageway . A door opened . I was thrust into a room .My arms tied behind my back. I was thrown to the floor , my ankles now were tightly bound with nylon and cord .
I could smell a woman
I looked up . The pain in my head increased . Various pairs of eyes bore down at me . My memory started to return. Blake was in front of me , my memory of events started to return.
I coughed and spat blood . Strangely I felt strong.
I was dragged to my feet by two guards holding my arms
Blood dripped from my head to the floor, running down my face , and into my mouth
I spit blood in front of him . " Fuck You Blake , go on kill me you lying bastard , What have I to lose "
My head was yanked up and my face was turned to Blake, I was about to die . Somehow I wasn't afraid .
He held a swab against his nose ,shaking his head . Somehow his public school ego had been dented. Not that I cared, somehow in my mind I had moved on. Something had happened in my head , I remembered the fable of the cobra and the lamb.
"I had rather think you have your wife to lose , but like I said Mr Tutbury , welcome "
I spit blood onto the floor " And like I said Blake , Fuck You "
I coughed and started to focus , the grip on my head was released . A woman walked from behind me and stood next to Blake . The room was functional like a cheap hotel room , but without the bed. A table , a sofa two chairs and a door to my right.
The woman who had been holding my head now held out a plastic cup full of water .
" Drink sir " She said placing the cup in my hand
I took it from her and started to sip , staring still at Blake .
She turned and like everyone in the past few weeks disappeared back out of the room by the door to my right. I was alone with Blake .
" This where you finish me off " I said to him .
Blake breathed in and once again introduced himself " Not at all Mr Tutbury , although you are quite the tiger aren't you . Hardly surprising I feel. Once again welcome Mr Tutbury , please take a seat "
He pointed at the chair by the table , I sat and rubbed the back of my head , still wincing .
" That will be taken care of Mr Tutbury in just a moment . You are right I was at the hospital and obviously we have met . I am Major Robert Blake most things are very classified , but you are very safe here and as you have probably realised are at a military base in France . I am sorry for the trip you have had . I hope it wasn't too trying for you. We had to bring you the shortest route and that meant through the Dead camp "
" The what " I replied
" The Dead Camp Mr Tutbury is the enclosed area of many square miles decaying buildings , that kind of thing . We do have quite a few in France . We simply could not see the point in putting offenders in prison any more , to come out and re offend. So we either experiment on them and put them back out there afterwards . Or for the worst we give them a one year sentence . It is such a good idea , we inject them with the plague or similar . You will have read about that in your Gideon research and that injection gives them a year to live . If they behave within that year we give them the antidote , if not they simply die . We find it works a treat . Far better than prison,
" You are mad " I muttered still sipping .
" I am certainly mad about a better society Mr Tutbury , so was Phelps so was Gideon . At the camp further to the west we are developing a perfect race , taking the finest young boys and girls and educating them and pairing them off to breed as they get older . The one to the east , they are trained as soldiers virtually from the moment they can walk . It is such a pity you didn't see that one . Such fine specimens .
" Specimens , I spluttered , they are kids"
" Quite so " he replied , " But very good ones. It is all part of a twenty year plan to create a better world a better society a place you would want to live in. All war was achieving is hatred amongst nations and bitterness "
" You are British , why are you here , this is France" I replied starting strangely to relax.
" Good question John, I can call you John can I after all we are virtually friends now. Well, yes I am British . Let us say that I moved over . My particular skill is logistics , I used to plan shipments from one country to another , with great efficiency and my skills were requested here. "
" Ok " I replied" I was no longer surprised at anything
He pointed at the sofa . I hadn't noticed a bundle of clothes . " We took the liberty of getting you some fresh clothes and if you will follow me " He held out his hand to help me stand . We walked to the door the lady had just disappeared into . Behind it was a small kitchen , with a toilet and shower beyond a swing door to the left.
"This is Siobhan " . He gestured to the lady who had passed me the water. She was stood by the kitchen unit " She will attend to your needs whilst you are here "
Siobhan smiled . She was approximately twenty five years old , slim and tall. nearly pretty with black hair scraped back off her face . A total efficient look about her which would no doubt please Blake . She gestured to the shower and held a towel out for me . Was this the same woman who had held me down by the back of my neck
Blake continued ." If you wish to shower please do so . We will talk very shortly . Siobhan will keep you company until I return . She speaks perfect English , actually I hand picked her . Very good you know , totally efficient"
He turned on his heels as if on parade and walked out of the room.
" Please shower Mr Tutbury " Siobhan suggested , I will make coffee and tend to your injuries.
I had for a moment forgotten the pain in the back of my head and my ribs . Siobhan passed me the towel and left the room. They seemed very keen for me to shower . So I thought why not . I was apparently completely at their mercy in some Orwellian mad society .
I let the water run down my body , the steam and heat felt good against my tired limbs. I put my head back allowing the jets to soothe me . I day dreamed for a second imagining people running around with strange hats on depicting what they did . As if I had wandered into a Lewis Carrol story. I let the jets hit me and slowly I relaxed. Typical of the French I thought , we were in some Army base but there were expensive soaps of different types in a holder on the wall .
I turned off the jets and stepped out of the cubicle wiping the water from my eyes . Siobhan stood in front of me and held out the towel.
" Cream with your Coffee John " she asked
The absurdity of the situation no longer mattered . I took the towel from her and started to dry myself as she didn't wait for an answer and picked a cream jug up and walked back into the main room. I dressed in the clothes provided. A pair of perfect fitting Levis and a black Armani shirt and a pair of Lofas . Everything down to socks and underwear a perfect fit.
I followed her into the room past a pile of clothes I had thrown on the floor prior to showering. The sort of thing that really annoyed Carol.
Siobhan was seated at the table . She poured two cups of coffee and jestured that I should join her. Tucking my shirt into my jeans and fastening my belt I sat down wincing a little with the pain from my ribs.
" I don't suppose you are allowed to tell me what is going on are you " I asked picking up the coffee .
She picked up hers and smiled back at me. I wasn't sure if she was my jailor , nurse , nanny or what she was .
" Do you play Chess John " standing and taking a box from the shelf .
I just nodded . I remembered a film when a prisoner on death row had made a last request to the Governer to play chess with him just prior to his execution. The Governer did so standing just before dawn saying 'check mate , now please follow me'.
Siobhan positioned the pieces on the board. Which one was I , I thought .