Tunnels 04, Closer

asked.
    Will kicked at the roots of a nearby tree. "Those Bushmen only cared about their bloody pyramid... they didn't help us... and I'll never forgive them for what they did to Dad and me."
    "I haven't got the faintest idea what you're talking about!' Elliott said, as she checked their bearing with the compass. "But I'm sure you're going to tell me," she added, "when we have time."

    * * * * *

    After another hour's trek, they'd arrived at the hideaway in the cliff face.
    "Thank God you made sure the Styx didn't get their mitts on any of this," Will said gratefully. He was very tired, but his spirits were buoyed as he took inventory of the equipment Elliott had carried to the cave for safekeeping. "I reckon we've got enough hardware to deal with anything along the way," he said, as he began to pack his Bergen. Then he came to the pistol-shaped tracking device Drake had given him. "And this is more important than anything else -- this is our ticket home," he announced, holding it up.
    "I hope so," she said, shoving a fresh magazine into a Sten and cocking it. "I truly hope so."

    * * * * *

    Colonel Bismarck was shown into the room by the Chancellor's private secretary, tottering on her incredibly high heels.
    "Ah, Bismarck, all done and dusted with those dreadful people, I trust? A successful outcome, so we can wash our hands of them?" the Chancellor asked. He was lounging in an armchair as a barber put the finishing touches to his hair, and a woman in a gray smock gave him a manicure.
    "Yes, the Styx recovered their virus. There was a limited exchange of fire, and although we suffered no losses, the Styx had a single casualty. One of the three targets they were searching for was, however, unnecessarily put to death during the operation -- he was a civilian from the outer world."
    "As long as he wasn't one of ours," the Chancellor exhaled.
    "No. And although there weren't any direct sightings of them, it seems as though the indigenous people were somehow involved with the targets. They took two of them inside the pyramid, then expelled them again."
    Not the slightest bit curious about this, the Chancellor sniffed dismissively. "Well, they haven't been a major threat to us, not like the pirates or the Inquisitors were. And, anyway, that area has nothing of value in it. But the academies might want to know what happened. It'll give them something to cluck about," the Chancellor suggested with a perfunctory smile. "Is that all?"
    "I'm compiling a full report for you, sir," Colonel Bismarck replied. "But you should know--"
    "A moment," the Chancellor said, holding up his hand as the barber carefully snipped at his moustache. Once the barber had finished trimming it, the Chancellor spoke again. "Continue."
    Colonel Bismarck cleared his throat. "The Styx agreed to an exchange for their virus, as part of which a young boy and girl were to be allowed to go free. I'm afraid to say that the Styx do not appear to be people of their word, so I had no option but to remove the boy and girl in one of the FA233s, and drop them in a remote location. The rest of our troop detachment and the remaining helicopters were left at the pyramid, with orders to return to the airfield after I'd gone."
    The barber held up a mirror in front of the Chancellor so he could admire his moustache and his heavily oiled hair. "Very acceptable. Thank you," he said, and then the barber took the towel from his shoulders with a flourish. "That all sounds -- OW!"
    The manicurist recoiled at the Chancellor's shout.
    "Careful, woman -- that was very careless of you," he complained, rubbing his finger where the woman had inadvertently cut into the flesh. He turned impatiently to the Colonel. "And that must be all from you?"
    "Yes, except that I've just learnt that we lost radio contact with the helicopters," Colonel Bismarck said. "I suspect the Styx might have something to do with it. I was--"
    "No, I think that improbable -- they've got what they came for," the Chancellor interrupted. "No, it's either that massive storm I'm told is heading our way, or it's equipment failure again." He closed his eyes for a moment, as if exhausted. "I suppose you're going to nag me for that increase in your military budget, so you can have the new communications system? Just put it all in your report, Colonel."
    "But we should be very wary of the Styx," the Colonel said. The manicurist had risen from her stool and was dragging it noisily across the marble floor so she could