Tunnels 06 - Terminal

taken him by the arm and was leading him over to the sofa. She’d managed to tune in to an overseas radio station and they sat there with the music in the background as she listened to him talk about the outing with Parry. She couldn’t believe it when he told her what had happened in Westminster with the huge opening in the ground that swallowed up the buildings.
    As the radio lost the signal and the music stopped, Chester realised how croaky his voice sounded. ‘What with giving the President my life story, I don’t think I’ve ever talked for so long before!’ he laughed. ‘I could really do with a drink.’
    He began towards the kitchen door, which was open a crack. Although Parry was speaking softly, the cottage was so quiet that Chester didn’t have much difficulty hearing what he was saying. As Parry sounded so serious, Chester held back from going straight in, thinking that he should announce himself first.
    There was the low rumble of Old Wilkie’s voice, to which Parry immediately retorted, ‘No, how can he be told? Not after the calamitous way it played out in the Complex.’
    ‘What’s the matter, Chester? Why’ve you stopped there?’ Stephanie whispered from the sofa.
    But Chester didn’t answer, because something was troubling him.
    He edged a little closer to the door so that he could hear Old Wilkie’s side of the conversation too. ‘I’m glad you didn’ttell me before – it would have put me in a very awkward position with the lad.’ There was a pause before Old Wilkie continued. ‘I realise the infiltration play has been crucial, but Danforth’s too much of a loose cannon for his own good, and ours,’ he was saying.
    ‘Danforth?’ Chester mouthed, shaking his head, as the President’s words came back to him: Your mole in the Styx ranks.
    The realisation hit Chester with all the force of a bullet. He would never in a million years have guessed what Danforth had been up to. For the briefest moment, Chester didn’t know whether to break down and cry, or to scream with all the anger welling up inside him.
    The anger won out. Blinded by a red mist he threw the door open with such force that it almost came off its hinges. Behind him, Stephanie let out a yelp.
    Mouths agape at Chester’s abrupt entrance, Parry and Old Wilkie were at the table, glasses in their hands and a bottle of whisky on the table between them.
    ‘So my parents died because of Danforth’s stupid plan!’ Chester said, his voice shaking with fury. ‘Is that right, Parry?’
    For once, Parry was at a total loss. He was stuttering something as he rose to his feet. ‘Chester,’ he began. ‘I know it sounds th—’
    ‘No! No more lies!’ Chester shouted at him. ‘You knew what Danforth was up to – you knew exactly what he was doing,’ he ranted. ‘But you didn’t bother to tell me, did you? They were only my parents!’
    Parry took a step towards Chester, but the boy grabbed Old Wilkie’s shotgun from the table. Snapping the breech shut, he slipped the safety off. Chester didn’t go as far as topoint it at Parry or Old Wilkie, but he was holding it as if he meant business.
    Parry’s tone was conciliatory. ‘I know how this appears, but you have to calm down, lad, so you can listen to wh—’
    ‘What? Listen to more lies about that traitor?’ Chester interrupted. ‘If Danforth’s on our side, why did he knacker the systems in the Complex so we almost ran out of air? We couldn’t even call for help because he’d screwed with the equipment.’
    Parry shook his head. ‘He’s nothing if not thorough – he wanted it to be convincing, and he also didn’t want us hanging around in the Complex in case the Styx discovered its location.’ Parry shook his head. ‘Look, Chester, he really didn’t think that Jeff would try anyth—’
    ‘Don’t you dare even say my father’s name! You’re not worthy of it!’ Chester yelled. ‘And you didn’t come here because you were worried about us, did you, Parry?’ he was ranting. ‘Oh, no, you came because it was convenient for your RV with the Americans. You don’t give a damn about me, or any of us.’
    ‘Chester?’ Stephanie said, as Chester reversed back into the main room. He felt vulnerable that the girl was behind him, aware that she was quite capable of disarming him if she wanted to.
    ‘No, you keep away from me too,’ he told Stephanie, stepping sideways with his back to the fireplace as he made towards the other door.
    Parry and