gns.theplutopact-第34章
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； dying in the process。
Britain was now in total isolation from the rest of the world。 Messages of sympathy flooded in from all parts of the globe； and offers of help were unceasing…but there was no time。 A whole country cannot be evacuated in a matter of ten days； so Canverdale adopted a policy of total impartiality： nobody would be allowed to leave。 He and his ministers would remain to share the fate of the British people。 Perhaps that gauge needle in Section Eight would drop back。 Canverdale believed in facing reality； but he was also an optimist。
That Saturday the towns were packed with a Christmas…like rush that lacked any atmosphere of festivity。 The stores exceeded all previous trading records； but there was no gaiety。 It was indiscriminate buying； almost in silence except for the jostling of bodies and the ringing of tills。 Wines and spirits were most in demand…for alcohol offered oblivion。
Football fans flocked into the towns； but the usual pre…match rampages were few and far between。 Instead there was a tension； a hint of terrible things to e； a build…up of frustration that would explode before the day was over。
By 2。15 p。m。 almost every means of access to football stadiums throughout the country had been officially closed。 But that made no difference to the crowds still queuing in the streets outside。 Officials and stewards watched helplessly as young and old clambered over the locked turnstiles or crawled beneath them。 Police made no move to intervene； except to break up one or two brawls。
Some early trouble began in the stands when season…ticket holders found their seats occupied by types who normally stood on the open terraces。 Despite 'no standing' signs； the gangways were packed with long…haired hooligans determined to support their more fortunate panions who had taken over the seating。 A well…dressed man with a large cigar was bodily thrown from his customary place in the Waterloo Road stand at Molineux； Wolverhampton…down into the enclosure below。 He suffered a fractured arm； and injured two young children in his fall。 It took the St John's ambulance men twenty minutes to force their way through； and their attempts to reach the ambulance outside were hampered by an unyielding mob。 Cars were double…parked everywhere； and in his frustration the driver ripped the wing off a Mini。 A pack of chanting hooligans was charging down the centre of the road； waving their scarves like banners of victory； as they anticipated fighting their way into the already overcrowded ground。
This mob barred the path of the ambulance； ignoring its flashing blue light and blaring siren。 The driver kept his foot on the accelerator。 They would jump aside at the last moment 。 。 。 But they left it until the very last second； and； the driver felt a bump on the nearside wing。 He did not stop； rage welling up inside him。 Gladly would he have run over the whole bloody lot of them。 More traffic jams。 Forty…five minutes before they finally pulled into the hospital。 One of the children； a girl of about nine； was certified dead on arrival。
But in all the stadiums a kind of hush prevailed amongst the fans as coins were tossed and teams lined up。 Many of the spectators had not been to a match for years； and for some it was a totally new experience…an involuntary instinct to congregate。
A nationwide blowing of referees' whistles； synchronised for 3 p。m。； was followed by the expected roar； as frustrations pent…up during the preceding week were relieved at last。 But on this particular Saturday afternoon this roar was magnified a thousand fold。 The plutonium threat was temporarily relegated； and the national sport took over for a brief period。 Ninety minutes at the most。
People fainted in their dozens amongst the throngs。 Under normal circumstances they would have been passed over the heads of surrounding fans or down a gangway。 But today the fallen bodies went unnoticed； as the remaining spectators swarmed over them。
A multitude of voices in one continuous roar as the football matches got underway。 The more violent fans felt increasingly inclined to take their revenge on opposing supporters； as they might never get another chance。 They were determined to turn this into the bloodiest clash in soccer history before the final whistles brought it al！ to a close。
The mode of play was noticeably lack…lustre that day。 Packed grounds and deafening crowds usually lift players； spurring them beyond the normal limits。 But today； this was not in evidence。 Passes went astray； and good opportunities were missed。 Possibly the players experienced that feeling known only too well by the veteran playing his final match before retirement。 This was the end。 After today they might never kick a ball again。 What the hell did it matter？
So roars of encouragement turned to hoots of derision。 There began a monotonous thumping of feet throughout Britain's football grounds； regardless of the bodies of the fallen。 The bower boys had never had it so good。 Unprotected heads to kick in； blood trickling down the stone terraces…and nobody taking the slightest bit of notice。
Half…time。 Radio…mentators conveyed the news to those listening in the parative safety of their homes。 A host of draws； game after game； mostly scoreless； as though the incentive to win had gone before the players had even taken the field。
Bars within the grounds had been deserted by their regular staff。 The drinks were simply left for the taking。 In most cases everything was gone before the kick…off； the regular hooligans helping themselves to everything in sight。 Vandalism was only slight to begin with； but followed in earnest during the interval。 Stalls and vending equipment were smashed； but the police remained unmoved。
All over the country； when the players emerged for the second half； the tension went far beyond football itself。
The shouting was now incessant…but jeers predominated。 More bodies lay beneath the masses； but nobody cared。 Tension was rising fast； and the explosion was bound to e before the remaining time was up。
Facts and figures gathered later showed an almost coincidental timing of events。 It was certainly no more than 15 minutes into the second half before it all began。
Ibrox first…or was it Old Trafford？ Nobody really knew。 And still no goals。
The human ladders went into action…the dead and dying forming the lower rungs。 Youths clambered on to others' shoulders。 Sometimes a whole human structure collapsed； screams muffled in the pile…up。 And that made it all the easier for those following on； clambering over the dead and injured； breaching the security fences。
Disaster resulted as exits collapsed beneath the mass exodus of the terrified。 Rival factions battled on pitches everywhere。 Players sought refuge in the dressing…rooms。 Vainly the police tried to intervene。
At Villa Park a giant hooligan with a pockmarked face was wielding an axe…the blade honed to razor…sharpness。 Even his own rades screamed and scattered before him； a madmen bent on destruction。 There was no logic in his final gruesome act before being pulled down by four policemen。 A claret and blue scarf knotted around his waist； Villa in the lead…and he beheaded the referee with one powerful swing！ It just didn't make sense。
At Wolverhampton a linesman was knifed。 Highbury saw the bloodiest battle of all； twenty…seven dead； their blood staining the lush green September grass。 One hundred and eighty wounded； seventy…five not expected to live。 But that did not include the number who had died on the terraces and in the stands。 It was the same story everywhere。
Military vehicles assisted ambulances in transporting the injured。 Hospital emergency services reached their limits； and temporary centres were set up in civic centres and town…halls。 Doctors worked ceaselessly alongside skilled surgeons； but there was a limit to what could be acplished。 Many died before they received that vital surgery。
Bodies remained on football pitches overnight； covered by tarpaulins。 The mortuaries were f
