Carl groaned and held his mouth with his hand. There was blood in his mouth and one of his teeth was broken. Then he looked at his watch. It was 2.23. Seven minutes left; then the half hour was over.
‘I’m sorry, my friend,’ he whispered to Harald. ‘You tried fighting, and I tried talking. But it didn’t work. I think this may be our last journey.’
Helen Sandberg decided she liked Colonel Carter. He spoke clearly, he explained his ideas carefully, and he listened to what she said. He did not try to be difficult because she was a woman. Best of all, they had made a plan together. A good plan, she thought; it could really work. Perhaps.
She looked at her watch: 2.23. ‘Right, Colonel, get your men ready. I’ll send the first prisoner down to you when they arrive. But where are they? Michael, have they arrived yet?’
‘No, Prime Minister. Not yet.’
‘Then where the hell are they? Can you get Inspector Holm on the car radio?’
‘They’re trying, Prime Minister.’ Michael spoke into the telephone. Colonel Carter left the room and Helen walked up and down slowly, watching the clock. 2.24. 2.25. 2.26.
