He reached for the first anti-tank tube and removed the end caps, as Carr sprinted up the rise to Fred.

‘What we got, mate?’ said Carr, looking towards a column of dust some six or seven kilometres distant.

‘Two vehicles, possibly three. Look like technicals. Heading straight for us. Five minutes away, maybe a bit more.’

‘Shit,’ said Carr. He raised his own binoculars. Fred was right: they were at ninety degrees to his route and pointing his way. ‘Definitely three,’ he said. ‘The last one’s got some sort of vehicle-mounted gun. Can’t see what.’

‘Fuck,’ said Fred. ‘The old boy?’

‘Nah, he’s way over there,’ said Carr. ‘They must just have seen our dust.’

He took the binoculars down and looked at West.

‘Not enough time to get the new wheel on,’ he said. ‘So this is where we start earning the big bucks. Whatever happens, you concentrate on that last vehicle. And you don’t open fire until I do, or they do. Okay?’

Fred West nodded, placed some spare ammunition at hand, and got down behind the gun in a good firing position. He cocked it, and began the waiting game.

‘Good luck, mate,’ said Carr. Then he turned and ran, crouching, down the lip and across to Geordie, shouting, ‘Standby for contact, standby for contact!’ so that both he and Kev knew what was coming.

‘What’s the plan, John?’ said Geordie.

‘It’s on, mate,’ said Carr. ‘Three technicals. A dozen or so blokes. Three or four minutes.’

‘Ah, fuck. I wish it was dark, man.’

‘Me too, but it’s not. And it gets worse.’

‘Aye?’

‘The one at the back’s got some sort of rear-mounted weapon system.’

‘Ah, shit,’ said Geordie. Even with an ad hoc fit on the back of a technical, a .50 cal would outrange them by a good kilometre. ‘I hope the fuckers don’t stand off with that,’ he said. ‘They’ll smash us.’

‘We need to lure them right in close,’ said Carr. ‘Make sure they don’t see us as a threat.’

‘How?’

‘I’ve got an idea.’

‘That’s always a bonus,’ said Geordie.

‘Fred’s on that rear wagon,’ said Carr. ‘You concentrate on the second, and me and Kev will sort out the front. Don’t fire until I do.’

‘Roger,’ said Geordie.

‘You okay?’ said Carr, patting him on the shoulder and flashing him a wicked grin. ‘Bet that comfy bed in that big house of yours is a lot more appealing now, eh?’

‘Fuck off, man.’

‘You can’t take it with you, Geordie,’ said Carr.

Cackling, he ran back down to Kevin McMullen.

Skelton watched him go, shaking his head.

Back down by the stricken Hilux, Carr gripped McMullen.

‘Get yourself out of sight with the LAWs,’ he said, ‘and get ready to take that first vehicle out.’