Chapter nine Hard work.
Jeff sat looking at the Map of the base, Brains was with him and so was Scott. Their minds were totally on clearing of the base of water. The last check had told them that the water level had stopped rising.
"There's got to be a way to clear it," Scott said. Brains suddenly looked up from the map and smacked his hand against his head.
"Of course," He said, in a voice tinged with annoyance. " Why didn't think of it before,"
"What's that Brains?" Jeff asked the young man.
"The water level must be half way up twos hanger doors by now," He told them. Scott laughed when he realised what he was saying; "Opening twos doors won't get rid of all the water in the base. But at least the machines will be clear,"
"And the pumps should be able take care of the rest of it," Scott said. And then he looked at his father. "Good job that Virgil and Kathleen got out, once we open those doors the rush of water will be powerful," Jeff nodded.
Jeff called all his sons down to the room and explained the plan to them.
"Scott and Gordon you will go down and release the re-enforcements we should then be able to open the main doors from the flight control centre," Jeff could see that Virgil was about to protest. "No Virgil your not going down," Jeff had noticed as soon as his son had come back into the room he was looking pale, "You had that bump to the head and being trapped in the lower levels was no picnic and to be honest you look awful," Virgil gave awry grin and held his hands up in surrender.
"Okay dad," He said. "Kathleen noticed to and made me take something;" Gordon looked across at his brother.
"Considering that we can't use our normal lightweight stuff, as its taking swimming lesson on its own," He said seriously. "We've got to use the heavy stuff from the house; it would be to risky to let Virg go any way,"
"Okay, Okay," Virgil said somewhat irritability. Scott grinned at him.
"Just so that you know bro," He said. Virgil scowled at him.
"Right Scott, Gordon go and get what you need. Alan you go and help them," The three men nodded and left Jeff turned towards Brains, "You'll have to tell them what to do when they get there,"
"What can I do?" Virgil asked. Jeff looked at him.
"You can go and help your Grandma up stairs," Virgil would have protested again but seeing the look in his father's eye he knew better than to protest too much. Besides it gave him the opportunity to keep an eye on Kathleen and make sure that she didn't do too much either.
Scott, Gordon and Alan fetched the air tanks and wet suits from the upstairs storeroom.
"Virg didn't look too happy about being told to stay put," Alan said to them.
"No he didn't," Gordon shrugged. "But he has to realise that there is only so much one person can take," Scott agreed with his brother.
"Once we're sorted out I'll have to remind dad that he still hasn't had a proper vacation," He said putting on the wet suit.
"I think that when everything is sorted out we could all do with a vacation," Alan said. Helping first Scott to put on the air tanks then Gordon. Scott gave a quick grin.
"Right lets get on and get the water out of here," Gordon nodded.
It was awkward trying to swim thorough the water filled corridors using the bigger equipment and it took a while for them to reach the hanger doors.
"We're here dad," Scott told his father through the radio system that was built into the suits they where wearing.
"Okay Scott," He heard his father reply. Scott waited for a moment and Brains came on the radio.
"Okay Scott," He said on the right there ssshould be a red lever?" Scott looked round and quickly found it.
"Got it Brains,"
"Good. Gordon there should be another down at the other end of the hanger doors,"
"On it Brains," Gordon said to the scientist. He swam down to the other side of the doors and located it. "Got it,"
"Ookay," Brains said carefully. "Both levers need to be pulled at the same time,"
"Okay Gordon, "Scott said. " On the count of three," Scott checked to make sure that Gordon was in position. "One, two, three," They pulled down with the strength that they could manage. Slowly the shield began to move away and fold down. "Done,"
"Okay now the pair of you get out," Jeff told them.
"Fab," Scott said and looked to his younger brother. "Come on Gordon lets go,"
"Right behind you Scott," Gordon said.
They had just gotten clear.
"They're out father," Alan said. Helping both Scott and Gordon out of the water.
"Good work," Was their fathers reply. Looking back at the water they had just got out of. The depth of it suddenly dropped.
"Well that's something you don't see every day," Gordon muttered. Scott smiled.
"Under the circumstances I'm glad," Both his brothers grinned back. Then they heard their father's voice.
"Right boys back to the house," He told them. "Time to get something to eat and then sleep, we can start sorting out the damage in the morning.