The Power of Five Oblivion

seeing images of war on television, the smooth commentary of the newscasters telling of allied victories and heavy casualties among the insurgents. It was all too easy to forget that “insurgents” was another name for human beings and right now, she was actually watching hundreds of them die. Was that really something to be pleased about?
    She also had a part to play and had been preparing herself before the first plane had begun its attack. Despite her misgivings, she was confident she would not fail. Sure enough, she felt the power flowing through her and saw with relief that the snow had begun not just to fall but to swirl around with such intensity that it formed a perfect barrier between the World Army and the fortress. Of course, Commander Cain would say it was just a coincidence. He would persuade himself that the blizzard had been caused by the bombardment. But Scarlett knew differently. She was actually moving it, keeping it a few steps ahead of the advancing army so that it would remain hidden all the way to the walls.
    There were more than two thousand people out on the ice. Only the children had been left behind, along with the doctors and nurses, who were preparing for casualties. Some of the tents had been turned into field hospitals complete with fully functioning theatres. Scarlett had seen the operating tables being wheeled into place. A skeleton crew had also remained behind on the warships – just in case there was the need for an emergency evacuation. But that looked unlikely now. The World Army had advanced more than halfway across Oblivion and nobody had so much as taken a shot at them. There wasn’t a sound or any sign of movement from the fortress.
    Matt had gone with them. He and Richard had joined Wolf Squadron, thinking it right that they should attack with people from their own country. Their leader, a man they knew only as Captain Johnson, was riding ahead of them in a jeep, a tiny Union Jack fluttering from the window, the wheels spinning on the ice. At the moment, Matt could see almost nothing beyond the backs of the people in front of him. He was out of breath, his feet tramping through the snow. They had just ten minutes to cross Oblivion. The air attack would have devastated the enemy. The blizzard would confuse them. Even so, they still had to use their advantage, to make sure they didn’t arrive too late.
    But as they drew closer, Richard grabbed hold of him. “That’s far enough, Matt,” he said.
    Matt shook himself free. “I’m going all the way, Richard. I haven’t come here just to stand here and watch.”
    “You’re not armed.”
    “I don’t need guns. You know that.” They were already being left behind, the other soldiers disappearing in the spinning snow.
    “They don’t need you,” Richard insisted.
    “I think they do!” Matt wasn’t prepared to have this argument now. “There’s something wrong,” he went on. “Everything is wrong. Why did they just let the planes attack them? Why didn’t they even try to defend themselves?”
    “They were taken by surprise.”
    “No. I know them, Richard. This is what they want.”
    Matt was already moving forward again, his breath freezing in the air. He was dressed in outdoor gear and he had a balaclava over his face. That had been Lohan’s idea. He had persuaded Matt that it would protect him from the cold but they both knew the real reason was to stop him being recognized. Richard swore briefly to himself, then hurried forward to catch up with him. He drew a gun out of his pocket, thinking to himself how mad this all was. He was a journalist. He had a little flat in York. Less than six months ago, he had been writing stories about weddings. But suddenly he was steps away from taking part in a war.
    People were streaming past him on both sides and it was just then that something happened that he would remember later on. A man turned towards him, just a couple of metres away, and smiled. Richard couldn’t see very much of the other person … he had a hood and goggles. But instinctively he knew who it was. His name was Atoc. He was an Inca who had been with them in the hidden city of Vilcabamba … indeed, he had brought Matt there. Richard wanted to call out to him, to greet him, but everything was happening very quickly as the army continued its advance. He was gone as suddenly as he had appeared. Richard didn’t see him again.
    He caught up with Matt. “All right,” he said. “But you can’t get