Counterinsurgents

Steve signalled a forward hand movement to his men hunkered down in the shadows. He led them past a gnarly piece of dead wood at the edge of the forest, all twisted and white. A cold breeze greeted the silent figures at the far end of the meadows. Billowing rain clouds scudded across the dark night sky. Over the brow of a hill, the troop of Missing had run silently away from Ragged Wood. They slipped through the pipe and into Area Seven, bypassing the light guard. They crawled through the snaking stream, slipped into gardens and then the cemetery. They ran in single file between the headstones. The double wrought iron gates at its entrance were firmly shut with rusting chains and a shiny, new padlock. The Missing silently helped each other over and formed in the lane. In twos, they ran toward the High Street with Steve Nobody in the lead.

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Attack

Down by the stream, Gronk amassed his Pinkshirts. The mission was to hit their enemy hard and round up the vagrants. Only a few guards were left along the perimeter fence. Gronk could feel the inevitability of victory. He ordered the men with dogs to the forefront and they accelerated away. He stood back and admired the way they hunted down the feeble Missing. His gallant forefather was a warrior and here he was. On the front line like a warrior of old, about to earn a self-awarded medal for bravery. A fighter mentality kick in as his soldiers ran past into the fray. Like all good military commanders, he would lead from the back. With his men safely between him and any danger, Gronk stepped into the dark forest like a canker.

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Stress

Hours later and twilight descended over the meadows. The woodland darkened. Steve watched as the searchlights in the watchtowers switched on, sweeping the shadows. Looking beyond, the electricity from the Good Side formed a glow in the sky. He scanned toward the right and no light came from the Wrong Side. His attention never wavered, but he was tired. Looking at his watch, it was approaching 10:00 p.m. Time to change. He shook Harry’s shoulder and woke him. They whispered briefly and Steve lay down to sleep.

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Ragged Wood

In the Missing’s encampment, some lay down, while others went about chores. They spread around the shallow valley. Clothes were hanging from low branches and a fire in its middle was roasting meat. The nearby stream mirrored overhanging trees. Steve could hear water rippling through the woodland. He lay on top of his sleeping bag until it was time for sentry duty. He brushed moss and soil from his trousers and stood slowly. Rays punctured the canopy above and shards of light reached into the clearing. He walked up a wooded hill cloaked with fern toward the most raised lookout post. When it was in sight, he slowed and scanned the vicinity. He saw two sentries and was beckoned forward. Crawling under the camouflage sheet, a guard shook his hand and slipped away into the forest. The other remained. It was Harry. 

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Contrast

Meanwhile, the Pinkshirts’ training focussed on urban style. Marching was key to looking good. They actively stayed away from rural locations as initial training off the beaten track got their uniforms dirty. The skirmish with Area Six was an unheeded warning. They sat around decadently smoking cigars, quaffing whisky and guffawing. Profligacy was the order of the day. Form over substance meant everything. So long as their uniforms were smart and patrols on time, everything ran like clockwork.

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Organise

Although unsettled, Steve knew he had to find the strength to be of some use. He met with Harry and Chester within the week to prepare. Although hardened by their surroundings, it was clear from early on the Missing were far from a cohesive revolutionary group. There had been more defections from the Wrong Side, but discipline had slackened. Their camps were scattered through Ragged Wood, so it would have been difficult to get everyone together quickly in an emergency. It seemed an impossible rebellion, doomed to failure. A decision was made to build a main camp deep in the woodland, close to the border with Area Six, so people could escape quickly if needs be. They would continue to live cheek by jowl, but more efficient organisation meant something bordering safety. Smaller, sheltered positions were hidden by the tree line adjoining the meadows to provide two-man teams with cover to look in the direction of the border fence and watchtowers of Area Seven.

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Vulnerable

One evening, woken by the shadows in his mind, Steve got up and sluggishly stretched his legs. Leaves rustled in the breeze. He walked through bracken by a wooded ridge just below the skyline and saw a small encampment down in a dell. In its centre was a fire. The flames danced and crackled in the darkness. Several people sat around cooking and talking. A misty-blue moonlight probed the branches.

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A New Day

Hope greeted the Missing on a day of uneasy calm. News of the successful mission lightened the mood in the camp and Chester quietly congratulated Harry on a job well done. It was a massive blow to Gronk and his Pinkshirts. The Missing were a force to be reckoned with and could operate effectively within Area Seven. However, they were unsure how Gronk would react. As far as they were concerned, he was a disturbed man and may take it out on the Outsiders. Whilst the future needed to be discussed, they decided to give Steve Nobody some space. Captivity had taken its toll.

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