Bunker Ten, page 8
part #1 of Dark Scotland Series
“Shoot.”
“I wish folk in the army wouldnae say shoot all the time,” Dave moaned. “Do ye no get enough o that here?”
“Leslie’s got a fake security disk and now we’ve got the codes to the base,” Simon said, ignoring Dave’s protests. “But they change all the time and we won’t be able to access those changes in the future. So how can we use this escape route twice? It’s only going to work for one night.”
“Final part of the plan,” Jimmy said, taking off the headphones for the last time. “Leslie’s going to put that fake security disk in the gate console, but she’s not going to punch in the code.”
“I don’t get you.”
“In ten minutes I’m going to use our security access to shut down every electronic lock on the base.”
“What!”
“Only for a split second.” Jimmy held up his hands. “They’ll lock again immediately. Nobody will even notice.”
“What good will that do?”
“When the locks go off line, Leslie will insert the fake disc in the back gate. When they come back on, that disc will automatically be part of the security system. Since it’s a blank disc, whatever code she then punches in will work. What’s more, it will always work – hard-wired into base security – unauthorised and undetected.”
“That’s pure dead brilliant, man!” Dave enthused.
“We can use our own code anytime we want and it won’t show up on any surveillance data. Our personal access to any lock, gate, computer… whatever.”
“I take my hat off to you.” Simon said, his normally taciturn face split by a wide grin. “Except I don’t have one, so I’ll take Dave’s hat off instead.” He knocked Dave’s Burberry cap across the room with a well aimed swipe.
“Do that again, ya wee gadgie an I’ll take your head aff.”
“This next bit has to be timed perfectly,” Jimmy said. “When Leslie gives the signal, we shut down the locks and turn them on again, just long enough for her to stick that disk in the back gate.”
“An you’re sure this isnae gonnae backfire?”
“Pinewood’s locks will be open for a millisecond,” Jimmy said confidently. “What can go wrong that short time?”
17.55
Cowper and Cruikshank sat opposite each other in the interview room. The Major tapped a large fist against his chin while Cruikshank played nervously with the lead of his MP3 player. The observer had been taken away and placed in confinement. Monk and Olly stood behind the Security Chief, looking slightly stunned.
“Let me start by saying I underestimated you, son.” Cowper managed a grudging compliment. “Though I still don’t understand what just happened.” He turned to Monk and Olly. “Gentlemen?”
“Haven’t got a clue.”
Cruikshank was trembling all over. He looked balefully at the adults.
“May-Rose didn’t bite any of that team, did she?”
“Not according to the observer.”
“Changing someone’s genetic makeup by biting them is hard enough to accept,” the boy continued. “I can’t believe she infected them with an airborne gene. Besides, May-Rose didn’t go mad, just the others.”
“That’s true,” Olly agreed, glancing at Monk for support. The Doctor looked away, still perplexed. It was a feeling he was getting used to but he certainly didn’t relish it.
“So we’re back to the mouse,” Cruikshank continued. “You said the creature had its DNA altered and it became smarter. Much smarter.”
“Yes.”
“And, somehow, May-Rose has the same alterations?”
“Again, yes.”
Cruikshank put his MP3 player on the table and stopped fidgeting.
“But May-Rose was a genius to begin with.” he said.
“Wait a minute kid.” Comprehension began to dawn on Monk’s face and he expelled a puff of derision. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? That May-Rose has become so smart she talked those men into murdering their companions?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“That’s ludicrous! Even if she could, why would she?”
“I don’t think she wanted them to kill each other. She wanted them to let her out.” Cruikshank tried to order his thoughts. “But the big guy, Bunton, he was stronger willed than the others. He resisted. So… she made the rest of the team attack him. She also tried to talk to the observer, but he smashed the intercom before he succumbed. Turned him mad in the process though.”
“My mother in law could do that,” said Cowper showing an unexpected sliver of humour. But Monk was having none of it.
“Much as I admire the depth of your imagination, this is sheer nonsense.”
“I don’t have any imagination,” Cruickshank retorted nastily. “I’m a scientist.”
“This is kind of far-fetched kid,” Olly said.
“You know what a meme is, don’t you?” Cruikshank turned to the bearded man.
“Sure.” Olly replied. “Memes are ideas or values, passed on from person to person, group to group. Some die out, but the strongest ones become an irreversible part of human culture. Religion, music, love, they’re all memes we can’t imagine living without.”
“And how do we pass memes on?”
“Through language mostly,” Olly said without hesitation. “In fact language is a meme too.”
“Because of your meddling, May Rose has evolved into a super intelligent being. She may have found a way to communicate an idea in a way which has never been done before.” The boy rubbed his head in frustration. “Using a new kind of vocal inflection or even a form of hypnotism. Suppose she wants to get out and start spreading that idea around?”
“Enough,” Monk snapped. “There’s absolutely no evidence for this ridiculous notion.”
“Your evidence is sitting in adjoining rooms.” Cruikshank persisted. “A super intelligent girl who somehow managed to talk four adults into killing each other. An observer who had no physical contact with her and no symptoms of any virus but went mad after listening to her.”
“That leaves one question,” Major Cowper said. “Why does she want to speak to you?”
Suddenly Cruikshank realized exactly why.
May-Rose had been in on Jimmy Hick’s plan to get off the base tonight. Unfortunately, she had been stuck down here for two days and didn’t know all the details of that plan. So she had picked one of his companions and asked him to be brought down to Bunker 10.
May-Rose intended to get out of that booth somehow. And she wanted Cruickshank to be near at hand when she did. She would make him tell her the exact details of Jimmy’s scheme to get off the base, so she could use the same route.
Whether he wanted to or not.
17.57
Sherman and his team sat on palettes in a grey windowless room. The woman in the white lab coat was going from one to the other dabbing their necks with an anaesthetic swab. Sherman still wasn’t sure if she was a nurse, a doctor or just some hired hand. It occurred to him that he didn’t know her name, but now didn’t seem the right time to ask.
“What’s going on?” Nulce said, fidgeting on his palette. “I forget to wash behind my ears or something?”
“You’ll be given a shot to knock you out,” the woman replied curtly. Then tiny transmitters will be implanted at the base of your skull.”
“Excuse me?” Nulce visibly winced.
“You won’t feel it,” Sherman said. “I’ve had it done plenty. The device transmits images of the game directly into your neural network.”
“Very clever.” Darren gingerly felt the back of his head. “You think you’re in the game, but the game is actually in you.”
“I don’t like the idea of someone messing around with my brain,” Nulce complained.
“That’s assuming you have one.” Madrid stretched languidly out on her palette. She didn’t seem to be interested in making friends.
Sherman gave her a cold look.
“All of you listen to me,” he said forcefully. “We’re a team, even if we hardly know each other. So, from this point on, we act like one.”
“For two million dollars I’d marry the broad,” Nulce said, leering at Madrid.
The door opened and the white coated woman bumped a steel trolley into the room. On top of the shiny surface were five large syringes.
“Sleepy-time people,” she said jovially, pulling on a pair of latex gloves. Darren’s eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw the size of the needles.
“I’m going to die right away if she sticks that in me,” he moaned.
“What exactly is in the syringes?” Madrid said.
“Don’t ask me sweetie, I just give the injections and change bedpans.” The assistant depressed the plunger and a thin fountain of clear liquid squirted into the air. “The pay’s rubbish too.”
Darren groaned and lay back.
“Get it over with then.” He gave a miserable little laugh, closed his eyes and stretched out his arm. “I don’t think the Colonel wants us to get out of this alive.”
Madrid looked across at Sherman and he saw doubt and mistrust in her eyes.
Though Darren had been joking, Sherman had the feeling Madrid was thinking along the same lines.
- Part 4 -
18.00 hours – 19.00 hours
Hypnosis: A state of consciousness in which a person appears to lose all power of voluntary action or thought and to be highly responsive to suggestions and directions from the hypnotist
- Oxford English Dictionary
18.00
Leslie and Barn marched up and down the perimeter fence, sweeping their flashlights around in what they hoped was a military manner, until they saw the torches of Smith and Jakar, bobbing down the guardhouse stairs and heading back towards the base. As soon as the soldiers’ beams were out of sight the children ran to the back gate, kicking up powdery snow into a billowing cloud. Leslie clicked on her walkie talkie.
“Hicks?”
“Right here,” the radio crackled back. “Over.”
“Black Mambo and Big Mongoose have reached the gate.”
“Who?”
“Me and Barn, of course”
“Big Mongoose?” Barn contemplated his new code name. “I like that. I think I’ll get everyone to call me Big Mongoose from now on.”
“Dave and Simon have set up a digital loop on the laser cameras at the gate.” Jimmy said. “They’ll show an empty forest for the next few hours – it’s lifted from the training simulation we were working on. You can pass right in front of the lens undetected.”
“Fantastic.” Leslie pulled off her gloves and fished the fake security disk from the pocket of her fleece jacket. “I’m ready to go.”
“All right.” Tension was evident in Jimmy’s voice, even over the static ridden airwaves. “I’m about to shut down the locks. You put the disk in the back gate and, when I turn the locks on again, that blank disk will be hardwired into the security system. Whatever number we punch through it will act as a proper code from that point on – and only we’ll know it exists.”
“Ok”
There was a pause. Jimmy spoke again.
“Eh. You have to tell me the number you’re going to pick. Otherwise I won’t be able to use it when I get there.”
“Right. Of course. It’s… eh… 1234.”
“That’s a bit simple.”
“You got a terrible memory Hicks. Wouldn’t want you to forget it.”
There was a chuckle from the other end. “I have to make a detour and drop Simon’s formula down the well. It’s wrapped in a waterproof oilskin. You get through the gate and hide in the trees. Give a shout when you see me come through.”
“Don’t be all day then.” Wisps of condensation swirled around Leslie’s head as she spoke. “It’s pretty cold to be sitting around in the snow.”
“I’ll be speeding towards you on wings of desire.”
“Corny, Hicks, but romantic all the same. This date is starting to look promising.”
“Can’t wait. Over and out.”
Leslie grinned to herself, slapping her arms to keep warm. Barn blew loudly into his hands.
“Can I go back now? I’m freezing.”
“Yeah,” Leslie gave him a hug. “And thank you for everything.”
“You have a good time, Leslie,” Barn said. “Don’t eat any yellow snow.”
He pulled up his hood and headed back towards the buildings.
In the dormitory Jimmy glanced across at Simon and Dave. He held up the walkie talkie so that Leslie could hear what was going on.
“Ready?”
Simon raised his head and nodded, then went back to typing on his console. “Shutting down Pinewood’s electronic locks…. now!”
“The disk is in, Hicks.” Leslie hissed over the walkie talkie.
“And… reactivating the locks…” Dave’s voice followed almost immediately. “bingo!”
The boys sat back in unison. There was silence. No alarm bells rang. There were no running footsteps in the corridor.
“Ya dancer! Go on yersel, Hicksy man. We did it!”
“Punching in lock override code 1234 and removing disc.” Leslie’s walkie talkie crackled to life. “The gate’s open Jimmy! I’m through and punching in the same code on the other side. And… it’s locked again.”
Her voice trembled with unsuppressed glee. “Hicks, I’m outside Pinewood!”
“Go into the forest and wait,” Jimmy grinned. “I’ll be there soon.”
In the lowest level, one door swung slowly back and forward on its well-oiled hinges. It had only been unlocked for a second, but that second was all the person inside needed. She may not have known every part of Jimmy Hick’s plan, but she knew the part about disabling the locks. After all, she had designed the disk.
It was just a matter of listening for the exact moment the lock mechanism deactivated then giving the door a push.
May-Rose was out.
18.10
Cowper, Cruikshank, Monk and Olly were taking a short break in the interview room, sipping tea out of plastic cups and eating Ginger Snaps. It was more to calm their nerves than anything else.
“Suppose for a second you’re right, kid,” Olly said. Monk gave a sarcastic snort, but the bearded researcher carried on. “What the hell does May-Rose want you for? No offence, of course.”
“None taken.” Cruikshank wasn’t about to land himself in hot water by mentioning the children’s escape plan, or the fact that May-Rose had initially been part of it. He pretended the question had been a broader one.
“I think she’s evolved into something we can’t comprehend,” he said earnestly. “She may be looking at some big picture that even my intellect can’t understand.”
“Not like you to be modest, son,” Major Cowper said acerbically.
A rattling staccato sound came from somewhere far off in the corridors outside. Olly and Monk barely noticed it, but Cowper jerked out of his seat.
“That’s gunfire.” He moved swiftly to the door and hammered. Two guards backed in, weapons already cocked.
“You hear that, Major?” one of them hissed. Cowper didn’t have to reply. The bursts were closer together now and getting louder.
“Dr Monk. Return to your lab,” Cowper snapped. “You two, get this boy to the elevator and take him to the surface.”
“What about you sir?”
Cowper pulled his automatic pistol from its holster.
“I’ll be along presently,” he said. Then he turned and ran down the corridor
Jimmy Hicks shook hands with Simon and Dave and shouldered his rucksack. Inside were several Mars Bars, a bottle of wine he’d stolen from the canteen, Simon’s formula for Stripped Light and a present for Leslie wrapped in blue Christmas paper.
“When you see Barn, tell him to hurry up,” Simon reminded him. “He’s probably stopped to make the world’s biggest snow angel or something.”
“Are the cameras guarding the outside door still rigged to show an empty corridor?” Jimmy asked.
“Naw man. We put them back on as a practical joke.”
“Yeah, yeah. See you tomorrow,” Jimmy grinned. Then he slipped out of the dormitory.
18.13
The guards ushered Cruikshank from of the room and hurried him along the passageways.
“I left my MP3 player behind,” the boy said apprehensively. “I’d just bought a matching case for it.”
The soldiers didn’t respond. They walked silently on the balls of their feet, weapons held in front, eyes trained on each passing door. Cruikshank noticed with alarm that the lights on the security cameras overhead weren’t blinking any more. His escorts had seen this too, nodding briefly to each other in the direction of the ceiling. Each time they reached a bend in the corridor, one soldier would dart round, covering the new area, then beckon for his companion to follow.
Cruickshank’s palms were sweating. He wondered if, somehow, Jimmy Hick’s escape plan had gone wrong and this was the cause of the alarms.
“Can’t you use the intercoms or a walkie talkie or something?” Cruikshank was feeling dizzy with fear and his legs were trembling like harp strings. “Find out what’s going on.”
“And give away our position in the process?” one guard replied without looking round. “Until the precise nature of the danger is identified we maintain radio silence.”
“Base policy,” the other added.
After a few minutes they reached one long, dimly lit passage. At the far end Cruikshank could see the doors of an elevator, their route to salvation. Then a horrible thought struck him.
“What if this unidentified danger is above us as well?” he ventured.
“Then stay behind us when we exit the lift.”
“With pleasure.”
There was burst of automatic fire behind them. One of the guards spun away from Cruickshank and hit the opposite wall, mouth opening wide in pain. He slid to the floor, jerking spasmodically, a bright patch of crimson spreading across his chest. The other soldier flung Cruikshank further up the corridor and crouched down, swinging his rifle round the corner. He let off a burst of automatic fire then withdrew his arm and flattened himself against the wall, as return bursts gouged chips from the plaster inches from his head.
