Bunker Ten, page 7
part #1 of Dark Scotland Series
A blue light blinked on Warrant Officer Took’s console in the Operations Room. He put on his headphones and opened his com link. Major Cowper appeared on the screen in front of him.
“Took? Cowper here. “Don’t look around or give any sign you’re talking to me. And switch this transmission to a secure system.”
Took looked surprised, but did as he was told.
“I need to keep this between you and me,” Cowper said quietly. “Just keep quiet and listen.”
In the children’s’ dormitory, Jimmy Hicks talked into a mike attached to the headphones he was wearing.
“I’ve detected an odd glitch in our software systems.” Hicks said. On the screen in front of him, the simulation of Major Cowper was saying exactly the same thing and the boosters sent it straight to Took’s console.
“I don’t need half the technicians on this base trawling through the security systems, Took,” Cowper was saying. “It’s probably nothing, so let’s investigate this thing in-house, before we broadcast it and get egg all over our faces.”
“Sir?” Took said quietly. “What do you need me to do?”
Warrant Officer Took was fairly excited at the prospect of a covert operation, it would make a welcome change. His console was at the rear of the room and most of the staff had their backs to him. Took had often cursed his isolated position, but he supposed that was exactly why the Major had picked him to communicate with.
“I need access to the base security systems to check this glitch out.”
“Yessir.” Took said. Then in a puzzled voice. “Only… you already have access to the security systems. You’re head of security.”
Cowper gave the soldier his legendary glare of disapproval.
“If there’s an anomaly,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I may not be able to spot it using computers that are in the normal loop.” Cowper stepped back and indicated the room behind him.
“So I’m one of the dormitories where those annoying kids are billeted. Their computers, obviously, don’t have access to our security systems either. I’ve sent all the little devils off on errands and I want you to patch one of their consoles into the main security frame. Then I can check it out from here.”
Took frowned.
“Begging your pardon but isn’t that highly irregular, sir?”
Cowper’s eyes bored into the nervous man. “Of course it’s irregular, soldier. I do irregular things all the time which, surprise, surprise you’re not normally party to. That’s because I’m head of security and you are a junior officer, which you will most definitely stay if I don’t get some co-operation.”
“Sir. Yes sir.”
“Now patch me through to computer 457 in the kid’s dorm and make sure nobody else detects it. I’ll only be on a few minutes.”
Cowper reached out and the screen went blank.
“Of course, Major Cowper.” Took gave a grimace at his own stupidity and began to press buttons.
Diddy Dave was seated at his computer, number 457, a few feet from Jimmy Hicks.
“Information coming through,” he said. We’re patched into base security.” He began to type furiously. Both boys watched him, holding their breath. After a couple of minutes he looked up.
“I’ve got the whole shebang,” he breathed. “Access codes, schematics, even the routings of the internal systems.
“Capture that info and secure it,” Jimmy said.
“Awready done.”
“Good man.” The boy switched on his mike and began transmitting again.
Cowper appeared on Took’s screen with a bleep, giving the operator a start. Took looked round but nobody was paying much attention to him. Everyone was dreaming of the Christmas they were missing and the Ops Room had a subdued, depressed air about it.
“Any progress sir?”
“Just what I thought,” Cowper said. “Minor fault in a sub-routine. I’ve bypassed it for now and I’ll sort it from my own console in a couple of days. Happens now and then.” The Major gave an uncharacteristic smile. “Good work warrant officer. Your co-operation and your silence is appreciated. I’ll remember it.”
“Yes sir. Thank you sir.”
“Thank you, soldier.”
The screen went blank.
In the dormitory Dave leaned back in his chair and let out a deep breath.
“Jeez.”
Jimmy swivelled round and gave his friend a thumbs up signal. Simon, who had been watching with bated breath, finally exhaled.
“Now what?”
Jimmy Hicks turned back to his computer and picked up the walkie-talkie.
“Leslie, Barn? You there?”
“You forgot to say over.”
Jimmy grinned.
“Go to the fence. But stay a hundred yards from the rear gate.” Let me know when you get there.”
“Affirmative.”
“Good luck guys.” He put the walkie talkie down and fastened the headset tightly on his head.
“Now we go to phase two.”
17.25
“Tell us what happened, soldier.”
Major Cowper, Lieutenant Dunwoody and the Commander stood along the side of the wall like a miniature firing squad. Monk, Olly and Cruikshank were off to one side, watching.
The observation technician sat at a bare table on the other side of the room. He didn’t seem intimidated by the military powers here to interrogate him, or the fact that his scientific boss was here as well. He stared at the uniforms opposite in a glazed way, as if he couldn’t really see them. Commander Saunders cleared his throat.
“What happened to your team, soldier? Tell us what you saw.”
The observer closed his eyes. He tilted his head, as if listening for something.
“I saw my team kill each other,” he said quietly.
“Can you tell us how that came about?” Dunwoody stepped forwards. “Run us through it.”
“They went into the observation booth. Wanted to talk to May Rose about getting bit by that mouse. Can I have a cigarette?”
“There’s no smoking down here.”
The observer nodded.
“They took a blood sample from her and passed it out to me. Then they went back and started asking her routine questions, about how she felt, that kind of thing.” The observer was sitting upright in his chair now. Very upright. As if he was trying to stay calm.
“Next thing, the team were all fighting with each other. Popper, Ince and Wilmut turned on the team leader, Bunton. But Bunton was bigger. He killed Ince with a scalpel and strangled Popper. Wilmut kept fighting him, he’s tough like a wee terrier. He and Bunton went at it until they were both dead. I hammered on the wall to try and distract them, but all I did was break the intercom.”
“You didn’t go in to help them?”
“I couldn’t. After seeing that… scene, I knew the door had to stay sealed.”
Dunwoody glanced across at Monk.
“We have no idea what went on.” The Doctor concurred. “But we can’t discount the possibility that this outburst was caused by some airborne virus. That somehow it jumped from May-Rose to the medical team. Drove them mad.”
“That’s why the observation booth is still sealed with May-Rose and the team inside.” Olly agreed. “Bunker 10 is equipped to deal with airborne contamination but this area isn’t.”
“And the observer?”
“Guy tested clean for everything. Otherwise we wouldn’t be in here talking to him.”
“Lieutenant Dunwoody,” the Commander broke in. “I’ll see you outside for a moment.” He stepped out into the corridor and Dunwoody followed him.
In the passageway the two armed guards automatically moved further away. Commander Saunders shut the door behind him.
“You delivered a portable containment unit to us this afternoon,” he said. “Now you know why. We have to assume May-Rose somehow caused the deaths of these men. Accept the possibility that she’s the carrier for an unknown virus. We need to get her into that secure unit and transfer her to biohazard labs in Edinburgh, where they’re better equipped.”
“The room she’s in now isn’t much more than a glorified bus shelter.” Dunwoody agreed. “It’s got sealed doors and windows but not much else by way of protection. Do you have an experienced Medvac team who can move her?”
“We do.”
Dunwoody looked evenly at him.
“You don’t send men like mine to be delivery boys,” he said. “That’s not what we’re trained for.”
The Commander’s jaw worked silently.
“Your troop are positioned on the upper levels, yes?”
“That’s correct.”
“As I said, we don’t know if this is a virus. We don’t know why these men went mad. But if something goes wrong….” The Commander was finding it difficult to put his fears into words. Dunwoody knew why.
“If your men start going nuts,” he said. “My soldiers will seal off the lower levels. Nobody will get out.”
The Commander took a deep breath. Then he gave a sharp, practised salute.
“Go brief your troop Lieutenant.”
17.30
Jimmy Hicks picked up his walkie talkie and turned it on.
“Leslie. What’s your position? Over.”
There was a short burst of static then Leslie’s voice came over the airwaves, crisp and clear.
“Barn and I are at the edge of the woods. There’s a fifty yard gap or so and we can just make out the perimeter fence. We can see the lights of the rear guard tower.”
“Wait for my signal. Then walk out to the perimeter fence and shine your flashlights around.”
“Will do.”
“And make sure not to shine your beams on each other.”
“My God, you really are a genius, Hicks. I’d never have thought of that.”
“Thank you for your sarcasm, Leslie.” Jimmy gave a wide smile. “Over and out.” He turned to Diddy Dave.
“Your turn, pal. You’ve got security access on your computer. Can you patch me into the communications system at the guard tower?”
“Fast as light, man.” Dave jerked a thumb at Simon. “Even faster if owl boy’s bampot theory is right.”
“Who’s on duty in there tonight?”
Dave consulted the computer screen. “Privates Jakar and Smith. They’re getting relieved in a couple of hours by Macintosh and Watts.”
“Perfect.” Jimmy put the headphones back on and adjusted the microphone. “Open a channel to the tower’s communications system and shut down their heating. Simon?” He tossed the walkie-talkie to the smaller boy. You know what to do.”
In the observation tower Jakar and Smith were brewing tea. Jakar was trying to explain the rules of cricket to Smith. Smith was gazing out over the treetops and thinking that this was the kind of place Bigfoot would live, if it existed.
The screen on their communication console flickered to life.
“Jakar, Smith? Major Cowper here.”
The two men leapt to attention and saluted.
“Easy men,” Cowper said, with a friendly smile. “You’ll do yourself an injury.”
Jakar and Smith couldn’t hide their surprise. The Major wasn’t the type to make jokes, even bad ones.
“I have good news and bad news,” Cowper said. “Bad news is your heating’s gone off.”
Both men groaned. It was bad enough being stuck up in this tower with nobody but each other to speak to. It would be intolerable without heat.
“Good news is, I already have Privates Macintosh and Watts out doing a routine check of the perimeter.”
The two guards exchanged knowing looks. That was like Cowper, sending men out on Christmas Eve to check a fence.
“Take a look outside,” Cowper said. “You see them anywhere?”
Back in the dorm, Jimmy Hicks put his hand over the mike and nodded to Simon. Simon pressed send on the two way radio and spoke softly.
“Leslie. Barn. Flashlights on and head for the fence.”
Back in the observation tower, Jakar and Smith peered out of the window.
“No sign of anybody yet, sir.” Smith said. Jakar nudged him and pointed. “Wait a minute. I see two flashlights coming out of the trees and heading for the fence. They’re on our side, about half a mile away. Can’t see the people, only the beams.”
“That’ll be them,” Cowper said. “Tell you what. You two get back to the base before you freeze. I’ll tell Macintosh and Watts to head over once they’ve finished their sweep. They’re dressed for a reccie, so the heat being off won’t bother them.”
“You sure sir?”
“It’s Christmas Eve, soldier. I may be strict, but I’m not a monster.”
“That’s debatable,” Smith whispered under his breath. Jakar nudged him again, hard this time.
“Yes Sir, thank you Sir. We’ll fill out our report sheets and head back. Take about five minutes.”
“You do that.” The Colonel reached out to switch off the channel. Then he paused.
“And listen you two,” he said. “You keep this to yourselves, OK? Don’t want everyone on the base to think I’m a big softie.”
“Roger that sir,” Jakar grinned.
“Cowper out.”
The screen went blank.
Simon got on the walkie talkie again.
“The guards will be leaving in a few minutes, you guys.” He said. “Once they’ve gone Barn can come back and Leslie, you head towards the perimeter gate. Jimmy’s going to be out shortly. You’ve got nearly two hours before the real guards turn up. I’ll pull the Cowper routine to explain to Macintosh and Watts why the guard post is unmanned when they get there. We’ll do another variation tomorrow morning to get you both back in.”
“Cool. According to Jimmy there’s a deserted ranger station on a hill half a mile from the base. Once he joins me were going to head there and build a little fire. Apparently the building is still intact and the view is spectacular.”
“You have a good time Leslie.”
“Thank you Simon.”
“My pleasure. Teenagers are supposed to sneak out on dates.” The boy gave a wry grin. “It’s just normally not this much trouble.”
17.45
Cruikshank was observing the observer. According to the men who found him, he’d been raving mad. He didn’t look insane now, more like a tortured soul fighting to stay in control of his emotions. His jaw was twitching and he stared straight at the wall, not at his superiors.
Cruikshank put his hand up. He wasn’t sure what the appropriate protocol was with Major Cowper, so he thought he’d try politeness.
“Major, Sir. May I ask a question?”
Cowper glared at him. Then he shrugged. The Commander and this upstart Dunwoody were having private conversations in the corridor and he felt he was getting cut out of the loop. For once, he could appreciate how the kid felt.
“Be my guest,” he said.
Cruickshank turned to the observer.
“Why did you break the intercom system?”
The observer kept staring into space. Cowper tilted his head, curious as to where this was going.
“Answer the question soldier,” he snapped.
“I hit it when I was hammering on the door,” the observer said.
“If you were trying to attract your team’s attention, why didn’t you hammer on the glass?”
The man hesitated. “I hammered on everything,” he said finally.
“You said the team were asking May-Rose questions,” Cruikshank pressed. “You must have heard what she was saying. Until you broke the intercom.”
The observer looked dourly at the security officer.
“That’s more than one question, Major Cowper.”
Cowper narrowed his eyes. He was intrigued, despite himself.
“Just humour the boy,” he said.
“What did May-Rose say to your team?” Cruikshank repeated.
The observer gripped the arms of his chair. Beads of sweat had appeared on his forehead.
“I don’t remember.”
“We already know what you saw. What did you hear?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” The observer was trembling all over. Cowper rose and took a slow step towards him, letting his hands relax and fall by his side. He knew the boy was on to something.
“What was May Rose saying?” he repeated.
“Did she say something that made these men go mad?” Cruikshank broke in as Cowper leaned threateningly over the seated man. “Something so terrible that you smashed the intercom before it did the same to you.”
“Please stop asking me questions.” The man’s voice was harsh and cracked. “I don’t know anything.”
“What did you hear?” Major Cowper insisted.
“What did she sound like?” Cruikshank added.
The observer launched himself out of the seat, arms outstretched, straight at the boy. Major Cowper moved forwards too, fast and loose, head low and fists bunched. His shoulder connected with the observer and both spun away from Cruikshank. Monk looked stunned.
“Guards!” Olly shouted. “In here!”
The door burst open and the two soldiers rushed into the room in time to see the observer grab Cowper by the throat. The Major slammed one hand on his opponent’s face, pushing the assailant away, and scrabbled for his holstered pistol. The guards hauled the observer off and pinned him against the wall. His face was a mask of frozen hate, lips pulled back over bloody teeth, snarling like a rabid animal.
“SHE HAD THE VOICE OF GOD!” he screamed, spittle dripping over his quivering lips. His knees buckled and he began to cry. Only the grip of the guards kept him upright.
“She had the voice of God and it was terrible,” he sobbed.
“I can’t get it out of my head.”
17.50
“I have one question.” Simon was making minor adjustments to the walkie talkie in an attempt to improve reception.
