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.God alone knew where they thought they were going, but it didn't matter.Everyone in New York had to remain in New York, just to ensure that the disease spread no further.“Deploy,” he ordered.One of the vehicles was a truck carrying roadblocks that would have deterred anything short of a tank.The National Guardsmen dismounted from their vehicles – the two Bradleys were moved into commanding positions, where their weapons could threaten anyone thinking about trying to punch through – and took up positions behind the police line.The policemen looked relived to see them, even if some of them stared at the Bradley in horror.Doug could understand their feelings.The idea of using an armoured vehicle – almost a tank – to threaten American citizens was horrifying.“Move into position and get ready to act.”He refused to show any concern as he sauntered over to the police line, yet he was trembling inside.This could go very bad very quickly.There were hundreds of people shouting at the policemen now, trying to force them to open their lines and allow them to escape the city.He saw bankers, stockbrokers and lawyers, mixed in with teachers, builders and even a handful of children.There were kids screaming their heads off, wives pleading with their husbands to shout louder – as if shouting louder would get them what they wanted – and dogs barking incessantly.The whole situation was spinning out of control.We’re not really equipped for riot duties, he thought, bitterly.It was the age-old story.Whenever someone practiced for an emergency, they always left out the emergency.Instead of the military machine moving smoothly towards its destination, there were hitches, glitches and deliberate enemy action.There were no friendly umpires in real life.Friction would get into the military machine and it would start to grind to a halt.If they’d had time to prepare, but they hadn’t had time to prepare, which meant that if the mob broke through the police lines, he would have to open fire with lethal weapons or let them through.Either one would almost certainly spell the end of his career.“It’s getting worse,” the police sergeant said.They shared a long look of shared – and fearful – understanding.“There’s a line of cars all the way back to the city.”Doug nodded, wincing as someone started to blow his horn.Other drivers got in on the act and suddenly there was an incessant blare of hooting, all blurring together into a single cacophony that threatened to deafen him.He keyed his radio and reported in to the CO, knowing that there was no one who could be spared to assist him.Sealing off even a single city would require thousands of additional soldiers and the entire army was being deployed.He’d been told that Marines would be on their way from Virginia, from their base at Quantico, but they’d probably wind up being diverted elsewhere.The whole nightmare was getting badly out of hand.He ducked as shots rang out, one of the drivers opening fire with a handgun towards the police line.A police sniper shot the man neatly through his head.The crowd howled and seemed to threaten to advance towards the line.Their sheer weight would break right through.“I want a warning shot,” Doug ordered the Bradley’s gunner.The M242 25mm chain gun mounted on the vehicle swung around and fired a burst over the heads of the crowd.The racket was deafening and brought instant silence, apart from a handful of children who cheered at the tracer burst.The Bradley’s main armament was impressive; indeed, it had been reported that, with the right ammunition, it had killed Iraqi tanks during Operation Iraqi Freedom.It would go right through civilian cars like a hot knife through butter.He stepped back and took the policeman’s megaphone.“RETURN TO YOUR HOMES,” he bellowed.“WE ARE PERMITTED TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO MAINTAIN THE BLOCKADE.PLEASE RETURN HOME AND AWAIT HELP!”Some of the cars started to move, their drivers surrendering to the inevitable and heading back to the city, but others looked as if they would prefer to stay and fight.Doug couldn't blame them for wanting to escape the city, yet there was no choice.They could not be allowed to leave, perhaps spreading the disease further.A pair of armed policemen picked up the dead shooter and took the names of his family, before directing them to head back into the city.“Hey,” someone called.Doug looked over to see a moderately-attractive girl shouting at him.He ambled over and looked down at her, knowing that she would be unnerved by his dark glasses.“I don’t live in New York.”Doug swore under his breath.That was something he hadn't anticipated, but of course there would be people within the blockade who lived outside the city, who had nowhere to go in the city.He motioned for her to wait and walked back to the APC, keying the radio and asking for instructions before walking back to the girl.The instructions hadn't been perfect, but they were still trying to get everything working properly.The dispatchers back at the barracks and within the city would be busier than they had ever been before.“Go back into the city and report in to the nearest police station,” he told her.“They will arrange somewhere for you to stay in New York.Once we get vaccination programs under way, you will be vaccinated and will be able to return home.”He watched the girl head back to her car, looking terrified.He didn't blame her, either.***The CB radio kept bleeping with updates from various travellers as Linda drove her family out of the city.Jim sat beside her, one hand on the pistol at his belt, as he struggled to make sense of the endless and contradictory updates [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]