by Benson, Tom
“Right there, if we can have it,” Harry said.
Cherry sat the old military-style field telephone on the end of the counter and connected the cable ends offered by Bill. She gave the bulky handset to Harry, who held it to his ear, and then the striking young woman wound the handle on the side.
Within a few seconds, a variety of weak, but understandable voices were heard from the earpiece.
“Coach.”
“MP-2.”
“Hello guys, it’s Harry, checking the cable.”
Positive responses were fired back at him, but it proved that a few hours’ work had produced communications from one end of the tunnel to the other.
“Thank you both. Bye for now.” Harry put down the handset. “Incredible.” He shook his head and stared at the antique device. “When I came in here a few months ago I never thought I’d use a telephone again.”
“Is there any chance of a cup of your herbal tea?” Cherry said. “I am parched as my great, great, great grandfather used to say.”
Harry laughed. “Chamomile, Jasmine, or a speciality for you … Lemon?”
“Lemon, please.”
It was late in the evening when the committee assembled at Harry’s Place.
“How are we all feeling?” Bill said and looked around at the faces.
Paul nodded, “All good at the coach.”
Calvin said, “Likewise at MP-1.”
“MP-2 is content,” Alan said, “and I’m glad all the cooking and cleaning is done.”
The group laughed, all feeling better.
“MP-3 are feeling … positive, including me, yeah?” Craig said and grinned.
Steph sat smiling, her pen poised over her notepad. She nodded to Bill.
“Before we sketch out another phase,” Bill said, “I’ve asked Harry to give you guys an outline of what lies ahead.”
“Thank you.” Harry smiled as he looked at the expectant faces. “I’ve already told Bill what I know about the terrain and what I believe lies beyond the tunnel entrance. I’ve produced a simple sketch to let you all see what should be out there.”
“I apologise if I’m sliding back to negativity, yeah?” Craig said, which caused a ripple of laughter. “What do you mean by, what should be out there, Harry?”
“Forgive me if you know any of the history.” Harry placed the drawing on the table so that it could be seen by all present. “In the 1960s the hydro-electric facility was built. The equipment, materials and some of the work-force were brought in using this train. This rail tunnel is within two mountains, and not much farther than these carriages the tunnel ends. There is a short gap before the next tunnel, which enters a neighbouring mountain, which is the home of the famous Auchcarn Hydro-Electric Power Station.”
The others remained silent, and all attention was focused on the scientist.
“Between this mountain and the next is a geographical feature, usually referred to as a saddle. It’s basically a ridge between the two mountains, and then, of course, we have the entrance to the second tunnel.” He pointed to his drawing. “Here, you’ll see I’ve portrayed it as a corridor with an arched glass roof.” He looked around to see everybody nodding. “The area between the two tunnel entrances is only about one hundred metres long and if my theory is right, and it’s still in place the long gap will probably be encased in triple-layer glass. This would be before our world leaders attempted to destroy humanity. However, we have to find out for certain if the glass corridor exists between the tunnel entrances.”
Craig nodded soberly. “What you’re saying is, if we could gain access to that corridor we could reach the other tunnel and maybe get into the facility in the other mountain, yeah?”
“Not quite, my friend.” Harry looked first at Craig and then around at the others as he pointed to the glass area depicted in the drawing. “We can leave this tunnel, but if the glass structure doesn’t exist or is damaged, then everything in the gap between the mountains might be radioactive.”
“Oh, shit,” Steph said. “How would we gain access to see if it’s damaged?”
“The only way is to break down the walls at this end of the tunnel,” Harry said. “I built a regular brick wall and filled the space between mine and the other wall with earth. I also had explosives wired-up to my wall, but I’ve removed them.”
“You’ve lost me,” Calvin said. “Why two walls with an earth-filled cavity?”
“When I arrived in my tunnel kingdom, there was the brick wall erected by the hydro-electric company which blocked the tunnel entrance. I wanted to be sure that radiation couldn’t leak through, which is why I built a second wall. The sandwich method I used would absorb most radiation if ever there was a nuclear threat. Without getting too technical, there are different particles which are more resilient than others.”
Craig said, “Are you saying that a pile of earth in between brick walls is effective?”
“Yes.”
“Jeez.” Craig slowly shook his head.
Bill said, “May I continue, Harry?”
“Yes, please, Bill. I think I’ve done the best I can.”
All eyes turned to the ex-Serviceman. For once, Steph made no jokes about their leader.
Bill said, “In my military career, we occasionally found ourselves in circumstances which demanded hard decisions, and we were paid to make them and live, or die by them. What we have here is different. We’re not serving a government, but we do have a hard decision. One option is to stay in this tunnel and in a short time, our need for food will overtake what Harry can produce in his carriages of carefully-cultivated vegetables.”
“And the other option?” Alan said in a murmur.
“We try to make our way out to the other tunnel and get access to the power station.”
“Wait a minute,” Dawn said, having kept her own counsel so far. “What about the radiation that Harry was telling us about?”
Bill met her gaze. “Somebody must go out there to see if the glass corridor is there and intact. If it exists and is free of radiation, we’d then have the means to reach the tunnel entrance to the hydro-electric facility.”
“And, if the area isn’t free of radiation?” Dawn said.
Bill said, “Whoever tackles the job of going out there will be the first one to find out.”
“Holy shit.” Paul didn’t realise he’d voiced the thoughts of all of his companions.
“My business background means I’ve always looked at options,” Alan said. “May I suggest something?”
“Go ahead,” Bill said.
Alan shook his head and inhaled deeply. “We’re here to represent everybody in our group, which I still believe is how we should continue, but for this to be crystal clear I feel we need lists of pros and cons.”
“I like that,” Harry said. “No amount of machinery can beat pure logic sometimes.” He half-turned. “Are you ready to list, Steph?”
“Let’s hear it.” She rapidly wrote headings on a fresh page.
“Right,” Bill said. “Option one is to continue as we are and stay in this tunnel. The pros are - we all live for a couple of weeks. The cons are - we will start to die from malnutrition because water alone will only sustain us for so long. The worst-case scenario would be that the fittest and strongest might go for the hard option of cannibalism.”
“Fucking hell,” Craig said. “There must be another way if we stay on this side, yeah?”
Bill shook his head. “I’m sorry, mate, but that is the reality. Natural selection will drive those with a strong survival instinct to sacrifice others. Eventually, within a couple of months, everybody will die in this tunnel, unless they opt to go out of one of the portals into the wider, possibly radioactive world out there.”
Dawn took a deep breath. “How long would a person last outside … if there were radioactivity?”
“Dependent on the type and level of radiation, your physical strength, mental awareness and desire to live … anything from minutes to years. From
my knowledge of the subject, even if you were able to find food and water, you wouldn’t last long if all around you were radioactive. If you found yourself in a clean area of forestry, you might last a long time.”
“Moving swiftly on,” Calvin said, nodding. “Could we hear your considered opinions for our second option?”
Bill nodded. “We opt for the hydro-electric facility. Pros are - an unconfirmed water supply, a food supply, and the option to eat, drink, sleep, and live in comparative safety. It is, or was an established underground environment. We could stay for a prolonged period while all around might be radioactive.”
“Hold on,” Craig said. “What makes you so sure about the food and water supply, yeah?”
“Up until recently there were still regular visits by tourists. The construction is massive and has a visitors centre, containing a small cafeteria. The temperature within the mountain is closer to tropical than temperate, and they grow an assortment of trees and plants in there.”
“Okay, I suppose it’s expected of me, yeah?” Craig said. “What are the cons associated with the hydro-electric option?”
“There are none,” Bill said. “The only negative aspect is that we might fail to get from where we are, to where we want to be.”
“Shit,” Steph said. “We’re back to that glass corridor theory again.”
“How do we know that the power station hasn’t absorbed radiation?” Alan said.
“The formation of the ‘hollow mountain’ as it’s sometimes called, is mainly dense black rock,” Harry said. “It would be impenetrable to radiation. For example, a lot of the excavation back in the 1960s was completed using explosives.”
“Perhaps I’m missing something,” Dawn said. “Are we simply saying that we either die in this tunnel in a short time, or we try for a life of some sort in that other mountain?”
“You’ve got it in one,” Bill said.
Craig said, “Except that we have to ask somebody to put their life on the line to check out the glass corridor, yeah?”
Bill nodded. “That, my friend, is the reason for this meeting and why we have to put the options to everybody. We must, in my opinion, have a majority vote for whichever way we go.”
Craig said, “Who the fuck is going to volunteer to go through Harry’s wall and the other wall to—”
Bill’s steady gaze into Craig’s eyes halted the question and caused the others to take note.
“You can’t do that, Bill,” Dawn said with conviction. “Nobody has the right to ask it of you.”
“This is crazy,” Paul said. “What happens if … you go out there … and don’t come back, Bill?”
Bill nodded towards Harry. “The professor here has the skill to manufacture a lethal gas which he could introduce into the ventilation system of the coach for mass suicide. Alternatively, Victoria will help him produce a mixture of leaves which will have the same effect, taking an individual to a painless end in their sleep.”
“Jesus Christ,” Alan said. “I can’t believe we’re discussing this in a logical meeting.”
Bill smiled and nodded towards Paul. “Alan, I think there is something every one of our group must remember. If it weren’t for the bravery of our young coach driver, Paul, we’d all have perished out there on a mountain road three days ago.”
For a short while the small committee sat in silence and stared at the sketch of the two mountains, the tunnel entrances and the theoretical safe link to walk from one to the other.
“Harry, I was thinking about alternative accommodation,” Alan said. “Is there more to this train, and if so, are there more carriages in the power station?”
Harry said, “Apart from these few carriages for the workforce, there were several low-loading carts for the equipment. This tunnel and the next section were never intended for any other purpose. The low-load platforms were left stranded miles away beyond where you guys entered. A wooden bridge collapsed, and the equipment platforms of the train were stranded there. They were dragged away many years ago. It wouldn’t have been cost-effective to rebuild the bridge. The engine which pulled the train is actually preserved and within the next tunnel.”
“Another, probably pointless question,” Paul said. “If … a person is to go out there, through the walls is there any danger of radiation coming in here?”
Bill turned. “The danger is imminent, once we’ve breached those walls. We’d have to consider rebuilding behind me once I’m through the first wall and through the mound of earth.”
“Right, so that doesn’t guarantee that whoever is in this tunnel is safe?”
“I’m afraid we ran out of guarantees a couple of days ago, mate. The best I can offer is a chance that we can make it beyond this tunnel as our final resting place.”
Silence fell over the group again as they finished their herbal tea and considered all that they’d discussed.
“A protective suit,” Dawn said. “Do we have anything that could be used—”
Bill shook his head. “We don’t, Dawn, and if we did, it would be futile. When you’ve been in a contaminated area wearing a suit, you have to decontaminate everything in a sealed chamber before you can go near anybody else.” He turned to the professor. “Harry, could I leave you to organise what you want to do about breakfast, mate?”
“Of course, what are you doing now?”
“I’m going to your end of the tunnel out there so I can stare at your wall and think about life.” Bill stood. “Right, you lot, stop lazing around. Help Harry work out timings for breakfast and then get away, and brief those who are living in your accommodation. We’ll meet up again with results of your briefings at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”
Steph said, “If it’s a unanimous decision to go ahead, Bill, when will we start working on the wall?”
“Shortly after we have the go ahead, Steph. On the subject of the walls, I’d like as many volunteers as possible. It’s gonna be a long day tomorrow.” Bill nodded to his companions and left the carriage. He stepped down onto the gravel surface and turned towards the end of the tunnel. Even in the dim light, he could see it was no great distance. He ambled up to the roughly assembled brickwork.
Bill placed his hands on the wall and caressed the rugged surface as he spoke to the wall. “I don’t know about me, mate, but you’ve got a few hours left.” He leant on the structure, taking his weight on both arms and thought back over the three armed conflicts in which he’d been involved for his country. He’d contemplated his mortality many times, but this time it felt different.
“Hey, leader,” Steph whispered from nearby. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Steph.” Bill smiled at her attempt to lighten his mood.
“I was wondering if you’d given any more thought to what we discussed about finding Ken’s murderer?”
“I have, and as I suggested to you and Anne earlier today, we’re too restricted and it’s too dangerous at present. We’ll get out of this tunnel with everybody and then concentrate on finding the killer.”
“Are you confident we’ll do both, Bill?”
He gazed at her in the dim light for several seconds. “I’m more confident about one than the other, Steph. Go and get some rest.”
11 - As One Door Opens
Day Four
Tuesday 31st May
At fifteen minutes before ten in the morning, Bill was sitting with Harry. They’d both had breakfast after everybody else. The others had all left Harry’s Place to go out for a chat in a large group within the tunnel. Harry and Bill sat drinking herbal tea.
Bill nodded towards the improvised radio that had Harry had built. “I didn’t want to ask when any of our companions were around, Harry. When did you last have contact with anybody on your radio?”
“On the day that you guys arrived with such style at the other end of the tunnel. About half an hour before I felt the vibrations of your coach I was talking to a man in Kenya and a woman in Bolivia. My third contact was a chap in eastern Aus
tralia. He called to say he was going outside his cave to assess an approaching forest fire.”
“Did you say before that these people were all fellow scientists?”
“Yes, and all of them prepared themselves to live as I am in here. We were in agreement that the end was upon us. It struck all of us some time ago as disturbing that the heads of state around the world couldn’t see the writing on the wall.”
“None of them have been on the air since the day of the nuclear strikes?”
“No, but I’ve written down the frequencies. When last in touch with each other we agreed we’d wait until things got settled and we should try calling after about a week.”
“I hope they made it and they’re doing as well as you.”
The men sat in silence for a few minutes.
Harry looked up from his drink. “Craig made me laugh this morning.”
“Why, did he say something positive?”
Harry laughed. “He said he enjoyed being in the MP, and that lying down on a hard flat surface to sleep was pretty good.” He shook his head. “He then said it was luxury to sit on the old, damaged toilet seat to have a shit.”
Both men laughed more than the comment deserved.
Bill finished his tea. “It’s time to see how many demolition volunteers I’ve got, Harry.” He paused. “Are you sure all your explosives are de-activated?”
“Yes, my friend, but remember, the others might vote against you going out there.”
“Harry,” Bill rested a hand on the academic’s shoulder. “None of them will want to stay in here, because regular people don’t volunteer to die.”
“Hello again, Bill,” Steph said from the doorway. “It was unanimous, and it was a yes.”
“Good girl, Steph.” He nodded to Harry, stood and embraced the mature, visibly shaken woman. “How many volunteers have I got to tear the walls down?”
“I asked for all volunteers to congregate at the wall, ready to work. We’ve found a few basic tools … pieces of metal, a few hand tools and suchlike.” She forced a smile. “We’re all with you, leader.”
