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waiting to leave. His wife looked at him sadly, “I've seen what you've done Nat. Whatever happens, Nat, promise me you will get out?”
    “Of course, I promise Es, I'll be up on the hill watching the show.” It was half-hearted bravado.
    He told them to go and get in the car and wait for him. Then he picked up the phone and dialled a Scottish number. He waited as the ringing tone resonated back down the line. He pictured his old friend sitting in his kitchen listening to the phone ring, thinking ‘Who’s that?’ and ‘If I leave it long enough, they’ll go away.’ But Nat knew he didn’t have an answer phone, and it would just ring eternally if necessary; so, he waited it out. Finally, the receiver at the other end was lifted - there was no “Hello?” - only silence.
    Nat spoke, “Stuart, it’s Nat. I need your help.”
    “Ah, Nat, it’s you, tell me, no problem,” returned the borders drawl. “Are the girls ok? What’s happening down there? The news says it’s a fucking riot, the countryside is at war, farmers killing government troops and vice versa. There's a big debate up here whether we should intervene or leave you English to kill yourselves.” 
    “Yeah, Esme has had a scare, and they'll be back tomorrow, so I want to get Amber and Esme to you if that’s ok?”
    “No problem, but the border is locked down; the Scottish are massing military there as we speak. Forget the Carter Bar - I don’t think you’ll get through, or, if you do, you’ll be stuck for hours. Take the Kielder Road and skirt the eastern side of the reservoir, about three k from the head of the reservoir there is an old stone bridge on a right-hand turn. Park up there and follow the burn north. It’s called Bell’s Burn so that should be lucky! After about one k the burn corners in an easterly direction around the northern edge of woodland. Follow it all the way - it leads straight over the border and under a wooded track. When you get to the track, follow it east, and I’ll be there.”
    “How long before you can get there”
    “Couple of hours at the outside”
    “We’re leaving now. Thanks, eh.”
    “Leave it, Nat, and be careful, ok.”
    Nat downed the receiver with a slight feeling of reassurance; he didn’t feel quite so alone. Once Amber and Esme were safe, he felt he would be able to concentrate on the task in hand much better. He hurried out to the car. Esme and Amber were waiting: Esme in the passenger seat and Amber behind her. The engine was running, and there was already heat emanating from the blower. 
    “Ok?” he asked as he climbed in; both women nodded. He gunned the accelerator, and they hammered down the long drive. They had travelled less than a hundred yards when Nat’s heart sank once more. Rushing up the drive to meet them were a set of headlights. His mind racing, he thought there could only be five in the car, more likely four. Esme was looking at him, and he nodded down to the foot well where she sat; she leaned down and felt around until her hand appeared with a short-handled axe.
    “Pass it over, Esme,” he said. “And when I get out, you take the driver’s seat. Don’t wait to see what happens - you drive.”
    Nat pulled over to the side of the road as the car approached, using the time to explain to Esme the route across the border that Stuart had given them. He lowered his window allowing the driving rain to enter the Jeep as the second car loomed closer at pace. The car only seemed to notice the Jeep late and had to break hard, skidding to a stop. All the occupants of the Jeep sighed with relief as they recognised the small Nissan next to them.
    The window came down and out came the familiar voice of their neighbour from two miles down the road,
    “Oh, Nat, thank God we found you. They came to our house, six of them. They wrecked the house, taking everything and anything; they beat Bob over and again; and, they are coming back with a truck for our diesel. Bob’s in a bad way,