Tunnels 04, Closer

think we're going to be happy in our new home. Very happy indeed."

    * * * * *

    Colonel Bismarck struggled to get his words out against the slipstream as the helicopter sped along. "There! Do you see it?"
    Elliott was right beside him, hanging onto the safety bar by the open door, as the jungle zipped by below her. 'Yes -- I see it," she confirmed, catching the first glimpse of the tract of jungle recently ravished by fire, like a carbon scar amongst all the lush greenery.
    As the pilot headed at full throttle for the clearing, they seemed to get ahead of the storm for a moment, and the air currents became less turbulent.
    "Colonel," Elliott began, now they had both pulled back from the doorway. "You've been very straight with me, and I'd like to do the same for you."
    The Colonel frowned.
    "I'll say just one thing; watch out for the Styx -- don't underestimate what they're capable of. They won't be best pleased that you've let us go. And from what I've heard of your city, they might decide they like it there," Elliott said.
    "Thank you, but with their numbers I don't think they pose much of a threat to us," Colonel Bismarck replied, although something in his eyes told Elliott he'd taken her warning to heart.
    As the helicopter began its final descent, Elliott threw a glance at Will, who had his head down. She switched her attention to the view through the door. The recent fire had reduced the dense jungle to nothing more than a blanket of ash, which the wind from the rotors now lifted into the air. It was as if they were in the eye of a gray-black tornado, a dense smokescreen that all but blotted out the sun.
    With a thump, they finally touched down, but the pilot didn't cut the engine -- the Colonel clearly wasn't intending to stop for long. As Elliott leapt from the helicopter with Bartleby following behind her, Will was untied and led over.
    "What if I don't want to go with her?" he said to the Colonel, as he rubbed his wrists to restore the circulation. "I'd rather see this city of yours. You're all Germans from World War Two, aren't you?"
    "Yes, from before the war ended," Colonel Bismarck replied. "How do you know that?"
    Will inclined his head toward the Colonel's sidearm. "That's a Luger." Then he turned toward the other soldiers. "And they've got Schmeissers, haven't they? I want to come and see what else is in your city. My Dad would've wanted that too."
    Will had been refusing to look at Elliott, but now eyed her coldly. "And I don't want to be anywhere near her ."
    Elliott knew that he was still reeling from the loss of his father, but she'd had enough of his comments.
    "Will Burrows, you can be such a pain," she fumed. "Sure I gave them the Dominion vial -- I had to, but only because you went and got yourself captured. You forced my hand. And you seem to be forgetting that I've just saved you from your vile sisters. Once again."
    "Yeah, sure, but at what cost?" he shouted back at her.
    "It's not over yet," she replied quietly, her voice barely audible over the engine.
    "What do you mean?" he asked, jumping from the helicopter and advancing belligerently toward her. "Oh, I suppose you've got some great plan for us to waltz in and snatch the virus back from them? Like that's going to work! They'll never let it out of their sight now, and we've also got a gazillion Limiters to get through, too." He punched his fist into his open palm with a growl. "I don't understand it. You of all people, just dropping it into their hands like that. Drake would be bloody ashamed of you!"
    Elliott's face went blank for a moment, as if she was on the verge of crying, then she lashed out at Will , slapping him in the face.
    He gasped with shock as Bartleby, upset that they were quarreling with each other, gave a faltering meow.
    "How dare you say that," she said in a low, tremulous voice. "It sounds as if Drake's dead, and you haven't got the faintest idea what he would've done in the same situation. And why aren't you listening to me? -- I told you we're not finished. It's not over yet."
    "Oh, sod off!" Will shouted. "I don't want to know."
    "You're looking for someone to blame for what happened to your dad. Well, don't blame me! I did all I could to save him!" Elliott shouted. "I might just as well blame you for Drake's death. If you hadn't shown up on the Great Plain when you did, none of this would have happened. He might still be alive."
    Will spat into the ash. "You can believe that if you want to. You never liked me