Tunnels 06 - Terminal

even if he were to commit his forces, there’s no one left to govern this country now.’
    For what seemed like hours they had both hung on in the cabin of the submarine, waiting to find out if the conference would resume. But despite many attempts to speak to the White House, the blue-suited man accompanying them couldn’t get confirmation that they would be granted another audience with the President. Finally the captain of the submarine had entered the cabin, saying that he had orders to get under way, so Chester and Parry would be escorted back to shore.
    ‘All the trouble – all the killing – seems so far away,’Chester reflected as the sun crept up over the far horizon of the sea, and the cliffs began to glow dimly with the rose-hued light of the new day. Although his mind kept returning to what he’d witnessed in London, something from the final moments of the conference was nagging at Chester. ‘Parry, the President mentioned something about a mole in the Styx ranks – is that right? Have you managed to get someone in there?’ he finally ventured, as they came to the coastal path at the top of the cliff.
    Parry muttered, ‘No, it was nothing,’ but Chester noticed that the old man averted his eyes and also increased his pace as they turned inland towards the cottage, making their way through the clumps of gorse.
    Parry didn’t speak again until they were on the last stretch. ‘Thank you for coming with me, Chester,’ he said. ‘It was a lot to ask after the tragedy with your parents. I’m sorry to get you involved all over again.’
    ‘That’s okay,’ the boy said. ‘I think it was good for me to get out. I’d sort of got myself stuck down in the dumps.’ He smiled affectionately at Parry, pleased that his presence was appreciated. ‘Not sure I really helped you much, though.’
    ‘You did, immeasurably,’ Parry replied. ‘The President must have read a thousand reports on what’s been happening in our country, until he was overwhelmed by it. But you gave our plight a human side, and I could see that it was getting through to him and beginning to tip the balance in our favour. Maybe that was why the Styx took action when they did.’
    ‘Yes, how did they know to blow the cavern roof at that very moment?’ Chester asked, as it occurred to him.
    ‘The Styx had someone on the inside – must have beeneasy enough, because my recommendation to carry out regular Purger checks had been ignored,’ Parry said. ‘So someone in the Prime Minister’s team tipped them off.’
    Chester nodded.
    ‘Here we are,’ Parry said as they emerged from the gorse and the cottage came into view. Chester couldn’t see any lights on inside, but that was par for the course – Old Wilkie was a stickler when it came to blacking out the windows at nighttime.
    And as Parry pushed open the front door, Old Wilkie was in his usual position in his chair in the hallway, his shotgun in his lap, and very much awake. They went into the main room where the embers were still glowing in the hearth. Stephanie had also stayed up, wrapped in a blanket to keep herself warm.
    ‘You’re back! You were gone for ages!’ she said brightly, then frowned. ‘But where did you go, anyway?’
    ‘You won’t believe what we …’ Chester began, then caught himself. ‘Is it all right if I tell her?’ he asked Parry.
    Parry nodded. ‘Go ahead – she should know. And I’ll brief Old Wilkie in the kitchen.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I hope everyone’s packed because we haven’t got long before extraction.’ He and Old Wilkie crossed to the doorway on the other side of the hearth and went into the kitchen.
    When they were alone, Stephanie said, ‘Come on, I want to hear all about it.’ She touched Chester’s arm, then drew her hand back. ‘You’re soaked! Is it raining that hard outside?’
    ‘Oh, that was the trip back from the submarine,’ Chester replied. ‘Where we were talking to the US President and the Prime Minister … well the Prime Minister for a short time until something terrible hap—’
    ‘Are you pulling my leg?’ Stephanie was looking at him, asmile hovering on her lips. He noticed then that she’d made an effort with her hair and also put on some make-up, and how very pretty she was. ‘D’you know – I don’t mind if you are teasing me,’ she said. ‘You’re acting like your old self again. I’ve missed that. I’ve missed you.’
    Before Chester had time to answer, she had