Fire Force(74)

‘And you think you’ll make a difference?’ sneered Ian.

‘Of course.’

‘Change doesn’t come from the barrel of a gun,’ said Ian. ‘We learned that the hard way in my country.’

‘In Africa, the barrel of a gun is all we have - and if wasn’t for dogs like you we’d sort this out ourselves.’

Ollie had already stepped up to the man, and struck him across the face with the back of his hand. ‘We’ll have no more of your damned lip,’ he said coldly. ‘We’re just earning our wages.’

He started to organise the night-watch. Some drizzle was already falling and strong gusts of wind were blowing through the trees. One man would remain on duty at all times, switching shifts every hour. When Nick volunteered for the first stint, Newton ran through what to watch for. ‘Look for the Black Rhinos,’ he said. ‘They tend to charge first and ask questions later. The problem is, the rhino can’t see very well and it’s easily frightened, so if it smells or hears anything suspicious then it’s likely to start charging it.’

‘I’ve got some mates like that back in Swansea,’ said Nick.

Newton chuckled, then continued, ‘It gets particularly angry at humans. The skin on a rhino is so thick, and it’s so strong, none of the other animals worry it very much, but it knows a man can kill it with a gun, and it doesn’t believe in negotiating. So if you hear any kind of rumbling in the distance, anything that sounds like hooves running, then for God’s sake wake us all up and we’ll have about five seconds to assemble enough firepower to stop them.’

‘Black Rhinos?’ said Steve. ‘Sam is really keen on preserving them. She works for this fund—’

‘Then she’s out of her mind,’ interrupted Newton. ‘They’re vicious bastards and ugly as well.’

Steve shrugged. ‘Slot them right between the eyes - it’s fine with me, mate. We’ll just keep it between ourselves, that’s all. I don’t need a bird getting all soppy on me.’

The hammocks were prepared, and the fire had been snuffed out. The rain was starting to spit down, and in the distance a streak of lightning was splitting open the sky once more. Steve changed quickly into his dry clothes, hanging up the old ones at the end of his bed. They’d still be wet through in the morning, and they’d be uncomfortable to put back on in the morning, but it was better than trying to kip down in soaking kit. So long as you got a decent night’s sleep, most things would be OK.

‘So, Maksie,’ he shouted out across the narrow space that separated the two men. ‘When we finally make it down to Nick’s mum’s lapdancing club, what songs are you going to pick?’

‘I bloody heard that,’ shouted Nick from his watch-post.

Maksim was already laughing. ‘ “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns ’n’ Roses. And you know why? Because it’s six minutes long . . . and I like to get my money’s worth out of a woman.’

‘ “Dirty” by Christina Aguilera,’ said Dan. ‘I just love the way she sings those lyrics.’

‘Glad to see SASR’s subtle sense of style coming to the fore,’ said Ian.

‘How about you then?’

‘As the only man here with a sense of irony, I’d have to go with “Like a Virgin” by Madonna.’

‘ “Biology” by Girls Aloud,’ David said dreamily.

‘I didn’t realise you were so up-to-date,’ said Ollie.

‘I’ve got kids, mate.’

‘I’d go for “Fever” by Peggy Lee,’ said Chris. ‘I like a slow dance.’

‘I’ll take anything by the Stones,’ said Ollie.

‘What is this lapdancing anyway?’ asked Newton.

‘You’ve been in jail too long,’ said Dan. ‘Get us out of here alive and we’ll show you. That’s a promise.’

‘How about you, Steve?’ Maksim turned to him.

‘I’m a classics man,’ said Steve. ‘So it’s a tough choice, but in the end I reckon it would have to be “Purple Rain” by Prince.’

‘So you can spray beer over her belly,’ roared Maksim. ‘Then lick it off.’

‘That’s the spirit, Maksie,’ laughed Steve. ‘I’m getting you to that club for sure.’

Suddenly they were interrupted by a raking blast of AK-47 fire. Bullets were flying everywhere, slicing through the leaves of the trees. Steve stood bolt upright only to see Nick standing above them, his face red with fury. ‘Just shut the fuck up about my mum’s club, all right?’ he spluttered.