by Benson, Tom
“It could,” Chloe said. “The reason it won’t come down the shafts is because they are narrow, have filters on the ends, and are burrowed in horizontally. Otherwise, they’d allow rainwater in, which in turn would affect the efficiency of the drainage ducts.”
“You guys seem to have all the answers,” a man called out.
“We don’t have all the answers,” Bill said. “Speaking on behalf of a few, we are not about to let panic set in because of unfounded fears.”
“I’m still worried about the rat issue,” a man mumbled.
Bill said, “If you’re determined to have a problem with rats, either leave food for them or corner one; otherwise you’ll be left alone. In the world outside before our present situation, rats were living alongside us no matter where we lived, but I doubt if many of us would have seen them.”
Alan spoke up, but now as a positive voice. “What’s next for us, Bill?”
Bill acknowledged the question first with a nod and smile and then addressed the group. “I’ve already conducted one relatively short reconnaissance farther into the tunnel with Paul. Before we set off on our next trek in about twenty minutes, we’re looking for somebody who knows their way around a plumbing system.”
“Hi.” A big man in his forties raised his hand. “My name is Archie, and you have me listed as a domestic engineer.” He stood and with his heavy build, red hair and beard he looked like a viking.
“How are your plumbing skills, Archie?”
Archie’s deep voice betrayed his roots as a Glasgow man. “Not that it counts any longer, but I was a working partner in a plumbing and electrical company—I have the skills, if you have a few tools and can get me to the pipes and cables.”
The mood in the coach lifted once again as the surprise announcement was made.
“Who do you have as your buddy, Archie?”
Archie turned toward the seat beside him. “I’m paired up with Louise.”
“I’m happy to go along and help,” Louise said as she stood. “It’s either that or I join another pair and stay.”
“Before we ask you to join us,” Bill said, “this might be a couple of hours walking in the dark and working under minimal light—are you both up for that?”
“We’ve got nothing else planned,” Archie said, which received a few titters of nervous laughter.
“I’m fine with it,” Louise said, “and like most people, I’m still wearing my hiking boots,”
“Okay,” Bill said “If you two guys would like to come up front, Paul will go outside and help you decide which tools might be of any value to us. He’s also located a second flashlight—which isn’t big, but will do okay later if we need one on-site.”
The man and woman moved forward and went down the steps after Paul.
Bill looked along both sides at the remainder of the group. “Now, you guys can recline your seats and get some sleep if you wish—we are going to be a few hours, and I hope we return with good news. Please remember, don’t discard your bottles when you finish drinking. I have a feeling that glass bottles are going to be a prized possession as we go forward in our new existence.”
“Bill,” Calvin said. “What time should we expect you guys back—a rough idea?”
“It’s nearly midnight, so in the hope that we find something worthwhile, I’d suggest we’ll be back by seven o’clock. If we have good news, we’ll all celebrate with a mass breakfast of a protein bar and a bottle of water.”
A woman piped up, “What if it isn’t—”
“Positivity,” Dawn interrupted and stood. “Remember, everybody—positivity, please.”
“I’ll wish you all a pleasant rest until we get back.” Bill winked at Dawn, lifted the flashlight he’d been using earlier and went outside.
As their first day came to an end, some passengers dozed fitfully. A few sat staring at the dense and foreboding darkness of the tunnel environment.
Day Two
Sunday 29th May
Apart from checking a watch, within the tunnel there was no way of knowing that the day had changed. The recce party, each carrying a useful implement set off. Paul volunteered to be first to carry the box containing the hand tools.
Bill aimed the flashlight slightly ahead and centrally, lighting up the rails and sleepers as a guide for the small expeditionary group. It was half an hour later when they arrived at the first reflective strip and doorway.
“What’s this?” Archie said when they stopped.
“It’s an emergency exit,” Bill said. “There isn’t much to it, except tiled walls, a narrow corridor, and an external door, but we’re hoping there will be more of them.” He briefly pointed the flashlight up to one side. “There’s a light casing, so again with any luck, we’ve got a lighting project to work on later.”
Louise, the slim twenty-something said, “How far away is that other place you mentioned?”
“Not far from here,” Paul said. “Probably twenty minutes if we can maintain our pace, but you’ll see it’ll be worthwhile. It’s amazing how long it takes to cover the distance in these conditions, but it’s okay once you settle.” He’d learned after a short time of knowing Bill just how important it was to keep people’s morale high.
“Okay, troops,” Bill said. “If we’re all ready, let’s go find ourselves a maintenance portal.”
Unlike the first part of the journey into the unknown, Louise was more relaxed and able to join in the sporadic conversation. “What’s that up ahead? Is it the maintenance place?”
“I think you could be right,” Bill said in a lighthearted tone. “Congratulations on the sharp night vision by the way—a useful trait in here.”
Five minutes later, the four people arrived at MP-1. Although they were all able to get into the narrow central passageway, only two people could fit into the kitchen area. Bill went in and was first joined by Archie.
Bill aimed the light beam at the tap and small sink unit. “What do you think, Archie?”
“May I?” The big man accepted the flashlight and was left alone in the room to allow freedom of movement. For several minutes while the other three stood in the passage, the light beam was played all around the kitchen. A cupboard door creaked, and a few seconds later after a curse, it was separated from its hinges. “That’s better,” Archie murmured, and then after a few more expletives, he stepped over to the doorway.
“What’s the verdict?” Bill said.
“Good news and not so good news.” Archie aimed the flashlight at the now open-plan cupboard. “That symbol means the water supply is fed from a natural spring. The not so good news is that it has a stop-valve under the sink, but the water will be held back under pressure in some kind of massive underground reservoir.”
“How would we release it?” Paul leant forward to look at the basic plumbing under the cupboard.
“I’ve turned the valve there, but it must be years since this system was in use. Even if I had the valve and the tap both turned the right way it could take half an hour before anything came out—if it still functions.”
“We can’t use it then?” Louise said and stepped forward to look at the kitchen.
“I didn’t say that my friend—I just said it could take a while.” Archie grinned in the dim light. “If there’s a water supply we’ll bloody find it and make it work. I see we also have a supply of protein bars in the cupboard, and the consumption dates printed on the boxes are good.”
“I like working with you already, mate,” Bill said. “Let’s go next door, and you can see what else we have here.”
All four of them were able to get into the other room where the table, bench and maintenance cabling were located.
Archie reached out and operated the drop-down levers as Bill had done earlier. “I suppose electricity would be too much to ask for, eh?”
“What’s behind the third door in the passageway?” Louise said.
“If we can make it hygienic enough to use, it’s a toilet,” Bill said.
Archie
went forward, opened the door and shone the flashlight around inside the disgusting insect-infested cubicle. “No water as we’d expect, but otherwise, I’ve seen worse.” He laughed, and handed the torch back to Bill. “How many of these maintenance portals are in the tunnel?”
“We haven’t confirmed that yet, but that’s one of our priorities for this reconnaissance.”
The four people set off along the track once again, and they all had a greater sense of hope than half an hour before.
In the three hours which followed, the scouting group discovered other emergency exit passages which alternated with the maintenance portals. They paused at MP-3 to drink some bottled water and rest a while.
“I’m puzzled,” Archie said. “All the indications are that the water supply is from a natural spring. The kitchens and toilets, as basic as they might be, are all fed from pipes signed from the same direction.”
“Why is it puzzling?” Paul said.
“If for example the tunnel is four or five miles long and we’ve reached the final maintenance portal, I’d have expected to find the main control point of some sort. There must be a place to turn the whole system on or off.”
“How about continuing until we reach the other end of the tunnel?” Bill said.
“I’m up for it,” Louise said. “I’m a bit tired, but, hey, that’s why we’re doing this right—discovery?”
“Let’s keep going,” Paul said.
They walked on, albeit more slowly than earlier, but they continued to make progress in the pitch darkness. Fortunately, the big flashlight was holding out, so they had yet to depend on the small one.
Once again, it was Louise who saw a glimmer of light first. “Hey, stop.”
“What’s up?” Bill whispered.
Louise whispered, “Everybody come close together first.”
The four of them got together until they were a tight bundle standing on the sleepers between the rails.
“Okay,” Louise said. “You might think I’m crazy, but close your eyes, and Bill, switch off the flashlight for a moment.”
Bill laughed. “I take it you want us all to acquire night-vision like yours?”
“Yes, and you at least will be aware of how effective it can be.”
Bill said, “Link your arms, everybody before I switch off. We don’t need anybody wandering away hallucinating.” When he was assured that they were each holding onto at least one other person, he switched off the flashlight. “You tell us when you want us to open our eyes, Louise?”
“Just a couple of minutes. I’ll count to one hundred—wait for my word.”
Bill whispered, “This is a technique I never thought I’d use again.”
For a short while, the only noise was the breathing of the four intrepid explorers.
“Okay,” Louise said. “Open your eyes, everybody.”
“What the fu—” Paul said.
“Oh, my good God,” Archie whispered.
“Louise,” Bill said. “You’re really beginning to impress me. We may or may not have reached the distant exit, but that dim glow up ahead looks like a light at the end.”
Louise said, “Is our flashlight on dim or full power?”
“I’ve had it on dim all night,” Bill said. “I’ve been trying to ensure we’re not left without light.”
The four set off towards the tiny speck of light up ahead, having no idea how far away it might be. As they walked and the minutes ticked by the light remained small but seemed to get brighter. The bluish tinge dispelled any thought that it was reflective material or a tunnel entrance or exit. At the same time, it was confusing—how could there be an artificial light so deep inside the mountain?
While still one hundred metres away, Bill switched off the flashlight and whispered for all to stop, which they did. “We’ll do as Louise suggested earlier and let our night-vision settle again—everybody close your eyes for a minute.”
“Okay,” Louise said. “I think that’s long enough—open up and feast your eyes people.” The joy in her tone was easy to recognise.
“It’s the back of an old train carriage,” Paul murmured.
“An ancient train carriage,” Archie murmured. “How can the bloody light be on?”
“Let’s go and find out,” Bill said and the group followed in his footsteps, using the glow on the rails provided by the faint light from within the back of the carriage.
Bill reached the vehicle and moved to the left. He crept as stealthily as possible along the side of the carriage, gravel crunching under his weight. The other three people, each gripping the hand of the one in front all followed. When they reached the front of the carriage, Bill paused and pointed to follow him onward, along the side of the second carriage, the third and the fourth.
When they arrived at the front of the fourth carriage, the tunnel was no more than a black void once again but there was no exit. The tunnel ended not far ahead. They all stepped back and looked along the four abandoned carriages. Only the nearest one had more than a dim light showing within.
“Perhaps it’s inhabited by a hermit,” Louise whispered.
From the darkness behind them, a well-educated male voice said, “I prefer, recluse.”
7 - We’re Not Alone
.
“Fuck!” Paul shouted.
“Jesus Christ!” Archie murmured.
Louise whispered. “I nearly wet myself.”
Bill had stepped back and spun, but didn’t strike out. He inhaled deep for the second time and released the fist he’d clenched. He peered into the dark. “Should I switch on this flashlight, or would you like to tell us who the hell you are and what’s going on here?”
“I apologise,” the man said. “I’ll shine a narrow light for you to let you see the steps. Go straight up and inside, please.”
Paul went first, followed by Louise, Archie, Bill and then the stranger. A click sounded, and minuscule lights came on at intervals along the ceiling inside the carriage.
“As they used to say a long time ago, welcome to my humble abode. Those tiny things are a variation on Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs,” the man said. “They’re my version of an idea invented a long time ago, but if used judiciously they’ll last for years.”
The scouting party all turned to look at the man. He was no more than forty, had long dark hair and a beard. He held out his right hand to Bill. “I apologise for my strange introduction out there—my name is Harry Mason.”
“I’m Bill, and this is Paul, Louise, and Archie.”
Each of them shook hands with Harry. They all stared at the man they’d been surprised to find on their trek into the darkness. He was dressed in a T-shirt, sleeveless fleece jacket, heavy tracksuit trousers, and what looked like fur moccasins.
“If you’d all like to take a seat, I’ll organise a hot drink—assuming you’d like one?”
The four guests all nodded silently, still staring at this unexpected character. One thing they had in common was disbelief at how casually this strange person was acting at their arrival here.
“I don’t have many guests—no, let’s be honest, I’ve never had any guests since I’ve been living here, so you’re all a bit special. Now that your vision has adjusted please feel free to look around.” He turned toward a rudimentary counter which had a large, square metal plate on one section. Harry lit a small white block of flammable material and set a metal stand over the top.
The four guests had glanced at parts of their surroundings, but each of them now observed the simple routine of a man making a hot brew with a small camping kettle on a single metal stand. To one side was a large glass container full of water—clean, clear, water.
Nobody spoke as the host opened a cupboard and lifted out two metal mugs.
“There is no need for sugar or milk. You’ll be having Chamomile?”
The four nodded.
“Where does it originate from?” Bill said.
“It’s made using Catnip, I think,” Louise said. “Is
n’t it one of the flower and herb teas?”
“Correct, my dear,” Harry said. “It’s hot and wet, and I’m afraid you’ll have to share, but I’m guessing you’ll be happy to do so.” He handed one of the mugs to Louise, showing he may be a recluse, but he had manners. “I’ll let you decide who shares with you.” He placed the other mug on the table. “When you’ve all come back to earth, we’ll talk.” Harry remained standing, allowing two guests to sit either side of the table.
The carriage was fitted out in easily identifiable sections. Near the door at the end where they’d entered was the kitchen of sorts. It took up very little space and consisted of a couple of cupboards, a sink unit, and the metal plate with metal stands set up to rest cooking equipment on. Next along on one side was the four-seat arrangement with a table. It was similar to those found on modern trains, but it was the only table and seats in this carriage. On the same side farther along was a bench seat which judging from the insulated or quilted materials had been converted into a bed. The second half of the carriage was filled on one side with neatly arranged wooden boxes, stacked on a simple wooden shelving system reaching to the ceiling. The contents of the shelves were listed, and each box was labelled with contents and dated using a thick pen.
On the other side of the carriage and running along half its length was a counter fitted with a sink unit and an array of Petri dishes, assorted scientific glassware, and a collection of instruments usually seen in a lab. Nearer the doorway, opposite the kitchen or galley was a large and ancient-looking radio. Dials and knobs didn’t all match, and it looked like some parts had been cobbled together to cover the inner-workings. Several sections had small coloured lights which glowed in the semi-darkness.
Harry said, “Apart from recovering from seeing me, and this place, you’ll no doubt be wondering why I don’t have more light?”
“I thought that,” Louise said. “If you can have these LED things, then surely you could make them brighter?”
“I could my dear, but it would strain my eyes, not to mention using up excessive levels of power. I do occasionally need more light. I’ve grown accustomed to seeing well in minimal light, so this is sufficient for my needs.”
