Tunnels 06 - Terminal

engine.
    Then there was just a grinding sound, and the noise of debris hitting the hull outside.
    Jiggs looked over his shoulder from the driver’s seat, giving the thumbs-up.
    ‘Keep absolutely quiet now,’ Drake told Elliott.
    The manoeuvre had been a success. The tank had penetrated the front of the restaurant and, as it knocked several supporting columns away, a section of the floor above had collapsed on top of it, completely covering it. As the wind began to sweep the smoke away, the tank was almost totally hidden, and the Armagi had nothing on which to direct their attention.
    ‘What do you think?’ Jiggs whispered after a while.
    ‘Did it work?’ Elliott asked.
    ‘Can’t see anything through the periscopes, but I think it has. I suppose we’ll only know it hasn’t if the Armagi call in the Limiters to use high explosives on us,’ Drake replied. ‘I just hope there’s enough air for all of us in this sardine tin.’ He shook his head as he looked around the cabin. ‘I could never have been a tankie … I hate small spaces.’ He turned to Elliott. ‘Okay, so what’s the story with that oversized glow stick in your jacket?’

 
     
    P ART F OUR
    Mayhem

 
     
     
    Chapter Eighteen

    W ith the diesel roaring, the tank thundered down Fleet Street, either barging cars out of the way or simply riding straight over them. As soon as Jiggs had backed it out from beneath the rubble, Drake had vacated the commander’s position for Elliott. She knew precisely where she wanted them to go, and was now monitoring the way ahead using the periscopes.
    Drake was suffering badly from the radiation sickness and welcomed the chance to rest, although he was doing his best to keep up with what was happening. ‘You calling the shots again, just like old times,’ he chuckled, as the girl issued directions to Jiggs in the driver’s compartment at the front of the tank.
    Elliott shot him a smile, then shouted to Jiggs as they came to an intersection. ‘Straight across. Keep going.’
    ‘Ludgate Hill,’ Jiggs announced, the engine note changing as they began to climb the slight gradient.
    ‘There! Up there!’ Elliott shouted, pointing.
    Peering through his periscope, Jiggs took a moment to respond. ‘St Paul’s Cathedral?’ he asked. ‘You’re kidding?’
    ‘No, I mean it! Just keep going!’ she called back. ‘I need to get inside – can you get us through the doors?’
    ‘Inside? Whatever you say,’ Jiggs laughed. ‘We’ve already walloped one British institution today, so why not another?’
    ‘Once we’re in, I want you to stop.’ Elliott added.
    Drake shook his head. ‘If we do, the Armagi will be all over us again before we know it. So use the same MO – go in about face and keep them at bay with the L94,’ he said.
    ‘Gotcha,’ Jiggs acknowledged. ‘Hold on tight!’ he yelled, as they struck a couple of the stone bollards at the edge of the pedestrian area in front of the cathedral, snapping them off like rotten tree stumps. Then he swung the tank into a sharp turn, in the process managing to clip the statue in front of St Paul’s. ‘Whoopsy! I think I just clouted Queen Vic!’ he said, as he put the tank into reverse and stood full on the throttle.
    Drake and Elliott hung on as, gauging where he was going through the reverse periscope, Jiggs aimed straight for the pair of wooden doors at the top of the steps. Unfortunately there were a couple of massive stone columns with not quite sufficient clearance between them. With a low, resounding clang, the tank became stuck between them and came to a sudden halt.
    ‘Jesus, are you steering this thing or what?’ Drake said, looking rather shaken from being jostled about so much.
    ‘I’m doing my best, Jiggs retorted. ‘Considering there are a couple of damned big columns in the way,’ he added under his breath, as he backed the tank off to take another run up the steps.
    This time he was more successful. With an almighty crash, one of the columns toppled over, and although the tank was lifted up on one side by what was left of the shattered column, it was still heading for the tall oak doors with somemomentum. There was a loud crunch and both doors were knocked clean off their hinges. ‘We’re home, James,’ Jiggs said, standing on the brakes.
    ‘Remind me not to let you drive again,’ Drake said to him, before turning to Elliott. ‘Okay, we’re really exposed here in the daylight. Let’s do whatever you’ve got to do,