Tunnels 04, Closer

steadfastly refusing to answer any more questions.
    "We're not getting anywhere with this," Drake snapped. He swept over to Chester and wrapped his arm around his neck, squeezing it so hard that the boy couldn't breathe, let alone object.
    "I'm now going to strangle your son, Jeff. This is Chester, right here in front of you."
    The heels of Chester's school shoes scraped against the concrete floor and the photographs slid from his lap. The chair went over as Chester desperately tried to break free from Drake's choke hold.
    "I'm going to throttle him," Drake promised, his voice as cold and unemotional that Chester really believed that he was going to go through with it.
    Mr. Rawls was still staring at his lap, shaking his head. Then he glanced up and his eyes widened.
    "Chester!" he said, barely audible at first.
    Chester was turning blue.
    "Sorry, can't hear you, Jeff," Drake taunted him in a singsong voice.
    Chester's eyes were bulging, and he no longer had the strength to kick out.
    "You got a few seconds left before he dies, Jeff," Drake said. "You can save him. Just tell me who he is. Tell me, who can you see?"
    "CHESTER!" Mr. Rawls shrieked.
    Drake released his grip on Chester, straightened the chair, and helped the gasping boy back onto it.
    "Chester! It's you!" Mr. Rawls was crying now, tears running down his cheeks. Still not fully recovered, Chester was both laughing and coughing as he staggered over to his father and flung his arms around him.
    "Dad, it's over... we're together again... I dreamt of this," Chester croaked as Drake sliced through Mr. Rawls' bonds with his knife. "My dad's back. How can I thank you for getting him back?" Chester poured out to Drake.
    "Don't thank me quite so fast," Drake said, as he retrieved the photographs from the floor. "We've still got your mother to go yet, and I might really have to kill you this time."

    * * * * *

    Elliott noticed the helicopter had changed course and that the flight seemed to be becoming choppier. She immediately looked at Colonel Bismarck, who was talking to the navigator in the cockpit. Shaking his head, the Colonel came over to her.
    "There's a problem," he said. "We were en route for the jungle east of the pyramid you wanted, but a storm front is showing up on the navigator's screen. It's blowing our way fast, and it's a major one. We've already taken evasive action to skirt around it, but we can't even stay on this new bearing for long. We can't risk being caught in it."
    "What are our alternatives?" Elliott asked.
    "There's a clear corridor straight to the city. Why don't we take you there, where you'll be safe?"
    "Can't do that, Colonel," Elliott replied. "We need to be east of the pyramid."
    Even as Colonel Bismarck left to consult with the navigator and the pilot, the helicopter turned entered the storm fringes, and rain began to lash in through the open door. The Colonel had to hang onto the sides as he came back to Elliott again, such was the buffeting they were already experiencing from the powerful wind currents.
    "The pilot's going to look for an area somewhere close to here, where there's been a recent jungle fire -- we can put you down there," Colonel Bismarck told her. "I'm afraid you'll have to make the rest of the journey of foot."

    * * * * *

    As they felt the first drops of rain on their faces, the Rebecca twins stole glances at the New Germanian troops, who were getting ready to board their helicopters. The two girls strolled nonchalantly over to the Limiter General.
    "You put the word round?" Rebecca One asked him, as both of them intentionally kept their backs to the New Germanians. They didn't want the troops to suspect what might be coming next.
    "I did. My men have been instructed to spare the helicopter crews, but the rest of the troops are to be eliminated if they resist," the Limiter General replied in a low voice.
    "And that young officer who helped us," Rebecca Tow put in, "I want him unharmed."
    The Limiter General peered up at the rapidly darkening sky. "Understood, and if this is a storm coming over us, our job will be made that much easier. These old birds can't take off in inclement weather, and you never know -- maybe we'll be able to assume control of the New Germanian troops without spilling any blood."
    Rebecca Two rubbed her hands together with relish. "That would be good. More fresh recruits for the first stage in our new offensive."
    Her sister grinned broadly. "Yes, with a few small but crucial changes, I