THE REDCOATS HAD finally moved from the gates. Under a barrage of further insults, they had retired to the safety of the market square. With the gates locked and the Allies out of view, some propped their guns against the wall, kicking the lost balls between them. Stifling their cheers, the would-be escapers had at last been able to resume their game against the wall. But without Lane, and without Lane’s gun, they were just going through the motions. It was the gun that redressed the odds, only the gun that gave them any chance of reaching the armoury.
Pent up since dawn, the men of Six and Seven took to the wall – and each other – with ferocity. Two deputations of Allies had approached Cobb, wanting to begin their excavation. Both had been sent away.
‘Come on, Lane, where are you?’ he muttered, staring at the doors of Four. ‘The Brits are gone, we want to be going.’ Running feet behind him, another delegation. He turned briskly.
Joseph Toker Johnson from Seven, and four Allies this time, all new recruits. Toker Johnson was agitated but held eye contact.
‘What is it?’ asked Cobb.
‘Beggin’ your pardon, sir, but can we go knifin’ the wall yet? It looks like it’s maybe goin’ to be thirty minutes before we’re through, so we could start now?’
‘You could start now, yes,’ said Cobb, his tone studiously neutral. ‘But is Mr Lane back? D’you see him anywhere?’
‘No, sir,’ said Toker, ‘but the play might be done soon.’
‘Well, Mr Toker Johnson, when the order comes to break through the wall, I’ll make sure you get your turn with the knife. Until then, you wait for my word.’
Toker Johnson, unperturbed, had another question. ‘How long will you give him, sir, ’cos if we don’t start—’
Cobb hit him so hard he fell cold, three feet from his friends.
‘When he comes round,’ said Cobb, ‘tell him – and anyone else who might need to know – that we go when I say and not a moment before.’ Cobb turned back to look at the steps of Four.
He found his empty, cold pipe and placed it between his teeth. More applause from the cockloft of Four rolled across the courtyard. ‘Need you now, Lane. Need you right now.’