The police notified Lady Penelope of the remains of the Aston Martin. The pyrotechnic bomb had all but destroyed everything, but strangely enough the number plate of FAB-3 had been thrown clear of the explosion. It was Lady Penelope's unhappy job to tell Jeff Tracy.
"We can't be sure they were in the car until we get back the spectrographic analysis." Penelope tried to comfort the stricken man. She could see Scott, Gordon, and John standing behind their father giving their support. Alan was doing his rotation on Thunderbird 5.
"You think that the Hood leaked the information as a trap to catch…some of us?" Jeff asked trying to sound calm.
"It rather looks that way."
"What about this Marie Ryker?" Scott asked.
Penelope looked distressed. "I haven't been able to find out much. There seems to be some mystery behind her whereabouts for the past year. Her employers are being very tight mouthed. But, I hope to have more information within 24 hours."
"That means she could be an accomplice to the Hood." Scott's tone was accusatory.
"We don't know for sure." Penelope said in defence of her friend.
"Like we don't know if Virgil or Brains are alive!" Gordon burst out.
"Marie has worked since graduating from college as an investigator for
the International Child Protection Agency. Her speciality has been looking
into adoption agencies and orphanages. I don't see her moving from that
to the pay of the Hood." Penelope shot back a trifle acidly.
Virgil turned his back to her. "Hop on."
"I-" She began, but realized the futility of protest and putting her hands on Virgil's broad shoulders gave a hop on her good leg and ended up piggyback.
"You can hold me tighter." He threw back over his shoulder as he and Brains broke into a quick trot down the uneven corridor. Marie wound her leg and a half around his waist and her arms tight around his shoulders, their heads close together so that her lips were close to his ear. "I hate this." She muttered more to herself.
Virgil grip on her legs tightened fractionally. "I know." He said shortly saving his breath for the half run. Initially, the weight of carrying Marie wasn't too bad. But, soon sweat was pouring off him and he felt as if she was stuck onto him.
When Brains stopped abruptly, he almost plowed into him.
"H-here." The scientist pointed up. " An air v-vent." A grill was set into the wall. One good wrench was all it took for Virgil to pry it out.
"Brains first, then Marie, I'll take up the rear." Whatever the other two thought about the order they recognized Virgil as the leader and took his words as orders.
Luckily the vent was a fairly good sized though they had to crawl on their bellies. Only the ever freshening whiff of air let them know they were gradually escaping their underground prison. They passed several smaller side shafts before coming to a large vertical opening. There was a tantalizing piece of blue sky far above them. And a lot of black pit below. Virgil measured himself on the opening. With a lot of stretching he could possibly climb it, but it was impossible for Marie and would be just as hard for the much shorter Brains. Any slip would be instantly fatal.
"You…could…leave…me…"Marie said softly.
"N-no!"
"Not hardly!"
The two men spoke at once.
"We c-can back up t-to a s-side sh-shaft." Brains said.
"We'll do that." Virgil now found himself in the lead with Brains bringing
up the rear.
"I have some good news." Penny began right away. "There was no trace of human remains with the car. I suspect that they have been kidnapped and are still alive."
"I know. Alan got a message sent on our frequency. It is the Hood all right. But…" Jeff looked worse than grim. Penny was sure that he had not slept in the past few days. "He says that they will be dead in 24 hours. Buried under tons of rubble, and that there is no way we will find them by then."
"We'll find them Jeff. We must!" Penelope allowed some of her pain and frustration into her voice.
"Virgil and Brains can find some way to escape. They are resourceful." Jeff added trying to convince himself.
"Father?" A worried and rumpled Scott appeared on the vidscreen with his father. "You have to get some rest. Let us help."
"Just a few minutes.."Jeff muttered.
Scott faced Lady Penelope on the screen. "We have nothing to work with. Darn!" Scott and Virgil were probably the closest of the brothers. It had fallen to their shoulders the care of their little brothers years ago when their mother had died. When it came to problems or rescues they were there for each other. Now, Scott felt lost without his brother. "What about the Ryker woman? You said you'd have something for us."
"I have." Penny said just as sadly. "I'm afraid that Marie was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have found out that she spent most of the last year in the hospital. She was very ill and has had to go through extensive physical therapy. The poor girl lost her leg and uses a prosthetic limb."
Scott's face fell.
The shaft they were in began to slope steeply upwards. The three of them had to jam themselves in and there was a lot of slipping and sliding and mild cursing. As last man, Brains often found a foot in his face. Even Virgil found himself stretching not to land on everyone. The shaft took a sudden 90 degree turn. It was hard for Virgil as the bigger person to make the turn. At one point Marie was pushing on his backside. "You can slap my face later." She grunted at him. The smaller Marie and Brains found it easier, though they all left some skin and material on the walls. The three of them could now smell salt air. Then an ominous rumble below them caused them to pause for half a breath and then adrenalin reserves kicked in and all three were scrambling as if their lives depended on it - as it did.
Virgil came upon the opening to the outside just as fast as he barrelled
through it rolling down a sharp slope to land in a small stream of water.
He looked up in time to have Marie come rolling head over heels towards
him. He snagged her as the mountain belched, shivered and collapsed on
itself throwing them back into the water. Brains was literally shot out
of the ventilation shaft to land into thick bushes on the other side of
the stream. Virgil had Marie tucked firmly into his chest as the
mountain rumbled a few times. They held onto each other shaking with left
over adrenalin and the near death moment. Virgil raised his head slowly
and looked down at the woman in his arms. The kiss just seemed to happen,
but then something seemed to change. It was Brain's groan of pain that
brought the two back to their predicament.