here. ‘It’s all right,’ he smiled. ‘You need to know how it is.’
He pinched his chin for a moment. ‘Order,’ he said breaking the silence. ‘To keep things in order. I keep the boys separate from the others because they need to be able to police them, even to punish if it comes to it. Do you understand?’
Jacob looked at Nathan. ‘I guess.’
‘You sound doubtful?’
He shrugged. ‘It just . . . it seems—’
‘Look, I know it probably doesn’t sound all nice and fluffy and democratic, but it’s how I’ve managed to keep two thousand people alive all this time - we’ve kept going while every other safety zone crashed and turned on itself. They’re very young, I know, but that’s for a reason. They don’t come with all the old prejudices, all the old pre-crash attitudes and baggage. They’re good boys. And what’s more, I trust ’em. They do as I ask of them, and they keep order for me.’
He tried a flat smile. ‘Obviously, I’m not going to force you. If you don’t want to become—’
‘Shit, man, yeah!’ blurted Nathan. ‘I mean . . . really sorry, I mean, yeah.’
Maxwell waved dismissively. ‘Jacob?’
‘O-okay,’ said Jacob. ‘I do want to be a praetorian.’
‘Good.’ He clasped his hands together. ‘Because I’m hoping your mum’s people will want to partner with us,’ he continued. ‘And I’m happy to work with her and see what we can do to make life a little better for everyone.’ He shrugged. ‘She bossy . . . your mum? She going to have me running circles round her?’
Jacob laughed. ‘She can be a bit bossy.’
Maxwell joined him. ‘Good! She’ll whip me into shape, I’m sure.’ His face straightened. ‘Seriously, we need each other. It looks like we’re all that’s left of Great Britain. And if things work out, I think the pair of you would make good lieutenants. I like to have people around me who ask questions. Keep me on my toes.’
The boys grinned.
‘Trust,’ he winked. ‘It’s all about trust.’
‘You can trust us,’ said Nathan.
‘Excellent. Well, then, this Saturday night, we’ll initiate the pair of you. You’ll get your orange jackets, be eligible for all privileges. And I’m sure Edward will come up with a couple of ridiculous bloody nicknames for you.’
They laughed.
‘And then,’ he said to Jacob, ‘we’ll sort out paying your mum a visit, eh?’
‘Yes,’ he nodded. ‘Thanks, Mr Maxwell.’
He pursed his lips. ‘Once you’re initiated you’ll have to call me “Chief”, though. Just like being in the proper army, eh?’
Jacob grinned.
‘Right,’ said Maxwell. ‘We’re done here. I’ve got things to attend to. I’m sure you’ve both got work groups to rejoin. Off you go.’
The boys both nodded politely, thanked him and turned on their heels.
He watched them go.
Trust? He looked at the pair of orange-jacketed praetorians following him dutifully a dozen yards behind. Alan didn’t trust any of his boys as far as he could throw the little buggers. As long as they had their treats, their Party Night, their grog, their sex slaves . . . they were as obedient as well-trained Yorkshire terriers. That’s the simplistic level on which those brutal little thugs worked.
The young . . . so malleable.
These two, though. Maybe they’d turn out to be as easy to influence as the others once they began to enjoy the extras.
He was pretty sure there wasn’t a young man born who’d willingly walk away from perks like those.
He suspected he was going to need them on-side. Not that he had anything that he’d dignify with the label ‘plan’ just yet. But, there were ways and means. The home these boys had come from - a gas rig with a population of women, kids and old people and a nearby port full of pickings. An easy target, and quite possibly the plan B he’d been hoping for all these years.
Ways and means?
There were the three barges tied up at the rear of the dome. One would be more than enough to transport his boys. Another filled up with all that was left of the supplies on the mezzanine floor. The third barge to pack in a couple of hundred or so workers.
Those left behind?
Well, not to put too fine a point on it . . . sod ’em. They were doomed here eventually anyway. This place wasn’t the future, it was a waiting room. One gigantic departure lounge.
Everything that counted could be packed onto those three barges, and the river tugboat parked up in Victoria Docks just across the water should