Ferris came up from the sheds with a sheet of paper.
"Change of plan. We're not sitting on this all day. A relief force is coming up to hold it, and Brigadier Byrne wants the follow-on formations up the road before the British dig a new line farther north. We go with the lead element."
"Are the wounded out?" said Niamh.
"Going now. Every vehicle that comes up takes some back."
"And the relief. Have they Challengers enough to hold it if the reserves come?"
"Two Ironwall teams and a contingent of Wexford independents under Sorcha Lynam. It's not your hill any more, Niamh. I need you moving."
Declan was working at the strap of his gauntlet. "How far?"
"Next crossroads. Four kilometres. We keep the British off the column. When the follow-on lot are set, we come back."
---
The relief came up the lane at eleven. A full company, the Ironwall teams in grey and green, and Lynam's independents behind them.
