Strangers

FIFTEEN MILES SOUTH OF THUSSOCK

The van juddered to a halt. ‘What the hell are you doing?’ the soldier in the passenger seat said.

‘Just checking. Christ, can’t you hear her? They’ll have our bollocks if we don’t get her back in one piece.’

‘You know what they said.’

‘Yeah, I know what they said.’

Before the other man could argue – as he usually did – the driver climbed out and walked around to the back. He slid the viewing panel across and looked at her through the wire-mesh. ‘You all right there, Jackie, love?’

She was more than all right. She was bloody gorgeous. She sat in the corner of the cage just looking at him… wanting him.

But he’d seen enough tonight to know better. The noise from the explosion which had destroyed most of Thussock was still ringing in his ears. He slid the viewing panel back across.

‘Everything all right?’ his mate asked.

‘Perfect.’