Vincent arrived at the old farm located on the northeast outskirts of Paris. In the depths of winter it was a desolate place surrounded by empty fields and a line of barren trees where crows were the only sound to break the silence, apart from the diesel clatter from Vincent’s old Renault as it made its way down the drive towards the main complex of buildings around the piggery and slaughterhouse. He pulled into the forecourt. There was no sign of life, but he got the sensation he was being watched. He got out the car and headed towards the slaughterhouse where one of Alex’s guards let him through. Inside the large empty warehouse there were three large steel shipping containers, Vane and his men were unloading and assembling a range of black Super Moto bikes. Alex was near a large table with a huge map laid out of the greater Paris area as Nish co-ordinated the rest of his men kitting-up in the black fireproof Nomex tactical outfits, balaclavas, and combat vests of France’s counter-terrorism police. A range of automatic weapons laid out ready.
Vincent walked over to Alex. ‘Radic is being moved to The Hague for the trial. I just got word the extradition process was complete. I’m sorry I didn’t get more notice. They are concerned about security.’
‘They should be. I need the routes,’ Alex replied.
‘I can do better than that.’
‘Nish. Vane. It’s on. They’re moving him.’ Nish and Vane walked over. ‘Do you know when?’ Alex asked.
‘Sometime this afternoon. I don’t have the exact time.’
‘Vane, you take your guys on the bikes. Get to The Bastille. Vincent will lead you to the exit they’ll use. You know what you have to do from there.’
‘We’re on it.’
Alex looked at his watch. ‘Get ready to go, we don’t have long.’
‘What else do you need?’ Vincent asked.
Alex looked at Vincent. ‘You sure you want to do this? They’ll know it was you. We’ve already lost the English House...’ Alex looked at Vane. He drew a deep sigh then looked at Vincent. ‘If we lose the French House as well, that’s a heavy price to pay so early in the game.’
Vincent shrugged. ‘The price is the price. We have to protect the Russia House at all costs — that is what matters. That is what is written. If we do not control that then the prophecy cannot be fulfilled as it is written,’ Vincent said.
‘Let’s hope whoever wrote it, didn’t fuck up,’ Nish said and shrugged.
‘Maybe I’ll enjoy retirement in Switzerland.’ Vincent smiled.
‘I don’t think any of us will be retiring to Switzerland in the near future.’ Alex looked at Vane then Vincent. ‘I think it’s starting...’
‘Then it doesn’t matter if we lose the English House,’ Vane said.
‘Or the French...’ Vincent added. ‘They’ve played their part in history. Herein the Russia House is the only one we need to control. If we all have to support it, then so be it.’
Alex nodded. ‘Devreaux won’t like it.’
‘We don’t have time to get approval Alex, this is the starting gun. We don’t want to be out of the blocks late,’ Vane said. ‘You need to make the call.’
Alex looked at Vincent. ‘It’s your house Vincent.’
‘I agree with Charles.’
‘You need to make arrangements to get your family out.’
‘I can take care of it. As soon as we’ve got Radic.’
Alex stared at the map. ‘If we are to act, we must act now.’ He closed his eyes and paused for reflection before opening them a few minutes later. ‘We act.’
Vane and Vincent nodded. ‘We’ll see you at the Rendezvous Point.’ Vane returned to his men. ‘You’ve got ten minutes then we’re gone.’
‘You don’t seem surprised, or upset. About Hunter’s actions,’ Vincent said.
‘He has his own decisions to make about what part to play. He has the luxury of freedom of choice to make his decisions. We have no such luxury in The Guild. Our path is already written for us.’
‘It is the right path. I have faith in it.’
‘At what cost though Vincent? At what cost...’
‘We are not taking any life that has not already been accounted for. They’ve had every chance to amend, and it becomes clear to me, to all of us, the situation is now in decline. I do not believe this time they will find their way before this planet reaches the critical point we cannot pass.’
‘Sadly we don’t have time to reflect on the decisions that have been forced upon us. Peace be upon on you brother.’
‘And you brother.’ Vincent returned to his car as Vane and his team fired up their noisy motorbikes. He looked across at Alex. Alex nodded at him. Vane nodded back and flipped the black visor on his helmet down before accelerating out of the building with his men following. Nish walked over to the table. ‘And so it begins...the great game of our time,’ Alex said to him.