Tunnels 05 - Spiral

is established, they want me to take over the development of their technology. It’s a job made in heaven!”
    “You’re deluding yourself,” Eddie said. “They don’t need you.”
    Danforth’s confidence wasn’t shaken by this. “Far from it. I’ve been guaranteed a place with the new kings of the castle.”
    Eddie’s voice was its normal monotone, but Will could have sworn a vindictive note crept into it as he responded. “When you show up, they’ll simply execute you. You’re a Topsoiler.”
    Danforth laughed drily. “On the contrary, I’m on the protected list, while the rest of you — including any turncoats like you, Eddie, old fellow — are most definitely the endangered species, along with the poor old pandas.”
    “So you’ve told the Styx where to find us? Are they on the way here?” Drake demanded.
    Danforth shook his head. “No. Call me sentimental, but I didn’t want your blood on my hands. They didn’t ask where you were — probably because the game’s moved on, and all of you will be dead within a matter of months, anyway.” He smiled to himself. “Don’t think that your antics at the factory have made one iota of difference. You can’t stop the inevitable, and the Phase is meant to be. It’s progress.”
    He drew himself up to his full height, a conceited smile playing on his lips. “The Styx need me. My detailed examination of the
Book of Proliferation
showed them how they could have done things differently . . . done things better.”
    “What are you talking about?” Drake said.
    “Well, where else has conditions identical to the surface, with a supply of fresh human hosts and no interference from Neanderthal Topsoilers like you lot?”
    There was a moment of silence, then the Professor rapped his forehead with his index finger. “You never think anything through, do you? On my advice, the Rebeccas are relocating the Phase to where it should have been staged in the first place — down in Colonel Bismarck’s inner world. Did not one of you dimwits anticipate that? The conditions down there couldn’t be more ideal.”
    Danforth consulted his watch. “Anyway, it’s high time I went to meet my new chums.” Taking a step back, he waved the control in the air. “None of you is going to follow me because I’m going to lock this place down long enough to get clear. And my able assistant here, the delectable Emily Rawls, is my insurance that you won’t try to force your way out.”
    In the darkness at the very edge of the Hub, Will became aware of a dim, slowly moving presence. He was about to alert Drake when Mr. Rawls broke from the shadows, stepping into the soft yellow light of the passageway. He’d clearly come straight from having his dressing seen to: His shirt was still unbuttoned.
    “Emily! It’s me, my love. It’s Jeff.” Increasing his pace, Mr. Rawls extended his arms toward his wife.
    “No, Dad!” Chester shouted.
    “I’m warning you! Call that moron off!” Danforth said, retreating farther down the passageway.
    But Mr. Rawls didn’t stop. “Emily — it’s me . . . Jeff. Don’t listen to that man,” he pleaded with his wife.
    “Jeff, get back! That’s an order!” Drake shouted.
    “This isn’t good,” Parry whispered.
    Will saw Danforth operate his control. He was shaking his head as the section door slid across the passageway in front of him.
    Mr. Rawls was still striding toward his wife, but he’d slowed to a crawl as he talked gently to her, his voice calm, soothing.
    As he reached her, Mrs. Rawls swung around to face him.
    Her expression was vacant.
    “Mum! Dad!” Chester cried in desperation and began to sprint toward them.
    “Take cover!” Parry yelled. He seized the handles of Sergeant Finch’s mobility scooter and rammed it toward the elevator area.
    There was a searing flash of light and the bone-shaking roar of an explosion.
    Will was thrown into the air, slamming against one of the desks and losing consciousness.
    Then there was just darkness and dust in the Hub.
    And the rumble of tons of earth and rock on the move, as the mountain reclaimed the entrance tunnel as its own.
    The only way in or out of the Complex was sealed.

WILL CAME TO ON THE floor. He was laid out on several blankets and covered in a fine dust, which he was forced to wipe from his eyes before he could open them properly, though this didn’t do much to help because there was scant light in the room. On a nearby table, someone had connected a