Tunnels 04, Closer

and speaking English with an accent that sounded somehow too proper and old fashioned, similar to the old BBC archive recordings Dr. Burrows used to listen to back in Highfield. It just didn't sound right to Will. Only now did he turn to see who was there. Shielding his eyes, he stared up into Colonel Bismarck's face, taking in his military moustache and his kindly gray eyes.
    "I watched my father die too," Colonel Bismarck said, squaring his shoulders with a deep breath. "I was about your age. We were in a stockade town across the ocean when it was overrun by the pirates. Most of the settlers were slaughtered, and I only escaped by hiding up in the rafters of the roof in our house." He checked himself, as if he was saying too much., then clicked the heels of his brown patent leather riding boots together with a small bow. "You have my condolences."
    Will watched the man stride away across the top of the pyramid, then turned back to his father.

    * * * * *

    At the insistence of the Limiter General, the Rebecca twins had taken cover on the next tier down. He'd been concerned for their safety if they remained on the very top where they'd be in Elliott's sights.
    One by one, the Styx search parties were reporting back to the Limiter General. The four-man patrols, most of them using stalkers, had been following precise search patterns in the jungle, but were returning without any news of Elliott's whereabouts.
    The Rebecca twins were half listening to these progress reports as Colonel Bismarck came over to them.
    "My troops are at a state of readiness if you wish to deploy them -- just give me the word," he said to Rebecca One, indicating the soldiers in the grass clearing below with a nod of his head. So far the Limiters had been doing all the running, while his New Germanian soldiers stood idly by. Rebecca One glanced down to where he'd indicated. A handful of his troops had been tasked with guarding the helicopters, but the rest were sheltering from the sun in the lee of the trees at the edge of the jungle, where they sat around, playing cards and smoking.
    "Thank you. We'll see how this pans out," the Styx girl answered, but remained facing the Colonel as she sensed he wanted to say more.
    He frowned. "Do you mind if I speak to you about something?"
    "Go ahead," she replied.
    "In my view you have acted precipitately when you shot the father. You had pledged your word on the exchange, but then you reneged on it."
    Rebecca One smoothed her sleek black hair with her hand. She respected this man, and was prepared to take the time to explain herself to him. "No, to be accurate, Elliott moved the goalposts when she took the life of one of our side. What she did to Coxy couldn't be allowed to pass, not without reprisal."
    The Colonel's tone was earnest and fervent as he spoke; he clearly believed that this was a matter of principle. "We would not have conducted ourselves as you have. We belong to the Bayard Order, and are proud of our Prussian roots. We adhere to a strict moral code, on or off the field of war. Here vor Allem -- Honor above all. When that girl out in the jungle shot your comrade, it was because you were about to harm her companion. You gave her just cause for what she did." A fly buzzed close to his face and he waved it away as he continued. "So why now do you think she's going to believe anything you say?"
    Rebecca One nodded. "The girl Elliott shouldn't be underestimated. She's been living in one of the most dangerous environments imaginable -- she's young, but she's a survivor, and a resourceful and skilful fighter. In order to get her where we wanted her, we had to raise the stakes... we had to threaten someone who really matters to her. We need to corner her, like a hungry rodent, because then she'll begin to act predictably. When she thinks she has no choice, she'll either go into hiding in the jungle, or she'll come up with some sort of plan. If it's the former, we'll hunt her down, and if it's the latter, then she has to make contact -- and then we'll be in play with her. Either way, we'll win the contest," Rebecca One said. The Colonel was about to speak again when she swung round to the Limiter General. "Aren't we close to the witching hour, anyway?" she asked. "The time limit must nearly be up."
    "Five minutes ago," he said, consulting his watch.
    "Then no more Will Burrows," Rebecca One said, rubbing her hands together. She twisted back to the Colonel. "When it comes to those that oppose us, we