alternatehistory.com

Its not all plain sailing

Liverpool, Oct 15th, 2.00am
Dan Reagan peered through a slit in the door of the canalside warehouse. Behind him half a dozen men waited silently, each armed with clubs or large knives. Reagan himself had a pistol tucked into his belt.

“They're here” he snapped.

Without waiting for instruction the men behind him melted into the darkness. Reagan pulled out his pistol and stepped behind the a large crate to the side.

From outside came the muffled noise of men's voices, then the noise of lorries bumping over an uneven surface. The padlock on the doors was opened, keys clanking, the doors slid back and the two waiting trucks pulled in. As the door closed again, the warehouse was suddenly flooded with light from several electric lanterns held by Reagan's men.

The leader of those who had just arrived cursed then went for his pocket. “I wouldn't if I were you” said Reagan, stepping from behind his crate, pistol steadily pointed at the other man. He gestured with the pistol - “Now if you gentlemen would get down from the lorries and move to the side? ”

Suddenly the doors opened again, Reagan didn't move. Three more of his men came in, each carrying pistols. They covered the men climbing down from the lorry cabs then the whole group as the others moved in with ropes and chains. “It will be the better for all of us if you cooperate nicely” said Reagan. The others looked at each other then their bodies slumped as they accepted the inevitable. They were rapidly tied up and gagged, then deposited without ceremony at the back of the warehouse.

Reagan jumped up onto the back of one of the lorries, lifting the cover. Several crates prominently labelled 'Machine Parts' could be seen. “This is it boys” he called out exultantly “a good haul for the cause – and at the expense of these Orange bastards to boot”.

He jumped down as two of the others men climbed into the cabs and reversed the lorries out, followed by the rest of the group before they all disappeared into the darkness.