Tunnels 06 - Terminal

open, from windows all over the same corner building, darting across its stucco facade.
    The blood Elliott had spread on Will seemed to still be doing the trick because after their initial interest none of the lizards paid them much attention. As all the lizards returned inside the building again, there was the crash of a glass breaking. For the briefest moment Will could imagine that it was business as usual in the pub, and one of the punters had missed the bar with his pint.
    But then Elliott nudged him on again, and he had a glimpse of the cocoons hanging from the faux rustic beamsacross the ceiling of the pub – fibrous-looking pods in which Armagi would be growing.
    Further on, as they edged along the wide road filled with shops, the sky began to show the first cold grey signs of dawn. From somewhere in the distance, there was terrible screaming.
    ‘Brrr. That’s awful,’ Will said, also speaking for Elliott. The dark and the cold and the sheer desolation were getting to both of them.
    Elliott was staring at a cinema across the street. ‘We should find a place to hole up. How about there?’ she said.
    ‘Sure,’ Will said, immediately moving with her towards it. At the entrance of the multiplex cinema, Will caught sight of the poster for a film that must have just been released when the Armagi had begun to spread. It depicted an advancing mob of zombies with leached green faces and mouths smeared crimson.
    ‘Not so clever now, is it?’ he said, indicating the poster. ‘People wanted gore, and they’ve got it big time.’
    Elliott didn’t reply as they climbed a stationary escalator to the foyer with counters for popcorn and ice creams; then she led them into one of the smaller auditoria, with its rows of seats and blank screen.
    ‘This’ll do until it’s dark again,’ she said, dropping heavily into one of the seats.
    ‘You okay?’ he asked, worried because she seemed so drained of energy. Will knew he was making life harder for her and slowing her up when she was in such a desperate hurry to get wherever she needed to be. And her hand was a terrible mess because she’d repeatedly sliced it open to squeeze more blood from the wound for his benefit. He wondered if this was making her feel faint.
    ‘What’s that noise?’ he asked suddenly, as he heard noises above them.
    ‘We’re under a nest,’ she answered. ‘Like in that house we went into.’ Without lifting or moving her head, which rested against the back of the seat, her eyes slid upwards to the ceiling. ‘The Armagi are breeding up there.’
    ‘Oh, great. So why on earth did you pick this place to stop, then?’ he demanded.
    Elliott yawned cavernously. ‘Better to be right under their noses – it’s safer.’
    Will remembered what she’d said about being drawn to the nest she’d blundered into in the attic. ‘Yeah, but for who – you or me?’ he asked.
    He never received an answer because Elliott had fallen asleep in her chair.

    ‘You don’t know her. She’s not a bad person.’ Captain Franz dragged appreciatively on the cigarette he was holding in his free hand, while the other was handcuffed to the end of the table.
    Parry and Danforth were both scrutinising him, and Parry’s expression was unsympathetic. ‘Are you having a laugh, laddie? The Rebecca twin isn’t bad , after everything she and her sister have done? After all the lives that have been ruined by the Styx, the death and destruction spread by the Armagi as they gut our country? Not a bad person? You can’t be serious. Because if you are, you’re more stupid than you look,’ Parry barked at the New Germanian officer.
    ‘She’s nothing like the others,’ Captain Franz insisted.
    Danforth had picked up one of his Purgers from where he’dleft it on the table and was repeatedly flicking the purple light on and off. ‘Maybe this one is a dud, which is why I’ve failed to deprogramme our friend here?’ he suggested sarcastically.
    Captain Franz was indignant. ‘I know what I’m saying. And I’ve told you as much as I can remember and, yes, I witnessed some terrible things. Maybe I was walking around in a cloud because of the Darklighting, but I saw her good side too. She has to go along with what’s expected of her. She’s only following orders.’
    ‘Pah!’ Parry exploded. ‘That old chestnut. I was only following orders. No, your little Styx girl is as evil and driven as any of them.’
    ‘You’ve got my Rebecca all wrong,’ Captain