Scene 6
Ashley had just finished climbing down a ladder when her phone rang. She put it to her ear as she started walking.
"Ashley? Yeah, it's Henry. Um, just so you know, I think one of the nubbins might have got to a main power line, because I can't draw enough right now for the new EM containment field. I think I can bypass it-- use one of the other major conduits and reroute the flow, but it'll take me a while. So when you get Will as far as the ladder, just wait for me, okay? I'll be along pretty soon. And watch out! There may be a large power line down there that could kill you if you touch the break."
Ashley stopped dead, her mind replaying the earlier scene with Will. She saw him reach-- in slow motion-- for the nubbin... the nubbin which had been chewing on a huge power line. Oh God, no! She sped up. "This cable, would it be about two-three inches around? Covered in black rubber?" Please, oh please, let him say no. But in her heart, Ashley was pretty sure of the answer already, and she barely heard Henry's astonished reply.
"Yeah, that's probably exactly what it would look like. How'd you know?"
The phone was forgotten in her hand as Ashley began to sprint down the tunnel. Henry tried shouting her name, but when she didn't answer, he figured that the rhythmic thump, thump, thump he heard on the line must be some sort of interference and hung up. Huh, I'll have to check the phones later on tonight, too. Or maybe tomorrow.