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The Tunnel

Chapter Six

Ma-Ti watched with mounting anger as a small group of boys no older than 12 were herded past his large cell, carrying buckets of heavy rocks and dirt while dodging frequent slaps and kicks from their captors. As the disheveled children made their way up the uneven steps, one of the boys began to lag behind the others, stumbling and obviously experiencing difficulties. Gesturing at his acquaintances to continue, one of the men who had been trailing the group now stood with his back to the Planeteer, observing the exhausted boy who was now crouched on all fours and wheezing heavily. Even without his ring, Ma-Ti sensed that this man was clearly enjoying the power he held over the youngster, who by now had curled into a foetal position, frightened and gasping for breath.

The man was heavily muscled, oil and sweat gleaming over every part of his body (including his shaved head). Flexing his biceps for a moment, the man then crouched down as if to help the frightened boy up. Then without warning, he backhanded the unprepared boy sharply across the side of the head, sending him careening across the other side. Laughing, the man ignored Ma-Ti's objections, exiting the room and muttering loudly in what seemed like a German accent. Feeling utterly helpless, Ma-Ti sunk to his knees and rested his forehead against the metal bars of his cage, hoping that the others were having better luck than he was.

"EARTH!"

Kwame aimed his ring at the ground, while forming an image of his ultimate objective in his mind. Opening his eyes, he stood on the edge of the cliff face and admired his handiwork.

"Not bad, 't you have made it a little smoother?" Wheeler asked sourly, noting the jagged rocks jutting out from the makeshift, 100 foot dirt slide located at the other end of the bustling tunnel entrance.

The trio stood in silence, each knowing that the other were contemplating who would ride this suicidal carnival ride first. Wheeler peered over the edge further, slightly worried that the end of the earth slide couldn't even be seen from their vantage point. By now, Kwame had snuck up behind the oblivious American after exchanging glances with Gi. "WATER!" A steady stream of the liquid cascaded down, effectively turning Kwame's creation into a muddy waterslide!

"After you, Wheeler." Kwame commented sagely, before shoving Wheeler over the side, sending him careening headfirst at a break-neck pace. "YOU GODDAMN BAST......" was all that the others heard before a sharp turn literally knocked the breath from his lungs. Twisting and turning madly, Wheeler barely noticed the sharp twigs and stones that scratched his body as he continued his reckless, out of control journey. After what seemed like an eternity, the end came quickly into focus as he gained speed, hit a bump and became airborne for a moment, before hitting the ground hard and rolling. When the sky had finally stopped spinning, Wheeler unsteadily rose to his feet and glanced upwards, only just able to make out Kwame's form hurtling down the side of the cliff. The African man hit the ground much the same way as Wheeler had, but somersaulted across it, narrowly missing out on collecting his friend.

"You all right?" Wheeler asked with little sympathy in his voice, still feeling pissed off that they had conspired against him. Standing up with difficulty, Kwame stood up, opened his mouth to say something, then rushed away and threw up behind a shrub. Shaking his head and feeling slightly better, Wheeler turned and watched Gi land ungraciously. Lying spread-eagled on the ground in front of him, she grinned excitedly up at him.

"Can we do that again before we leave? Linka would love that! Oh Wheeler, you're filthy!" She giggled, before looking at the state of her own body, the smile quickly dissipating. Getting to her feet, she looked around for a water source. Shrugging her shoulders uncertainly, she tried anyway. "WATER!" The woman commanded, drenching the trio in a steady, airborne stream. "Plenty more where that came from" She commented as they began the long walk towards the entrance. "They must have it in storage somewhere underneath" Gi elaborated, nodding towards the tunnel.

After 20 minutes, Kwame expressed the shared concern that they were now clearly visible to the hundreds of workers moving in and out of the mine. Ducking behind an earthmover, the group contemplated their next move. While Gi and Wheeler volleyed ideas back and forth, Kwame noticed an old woman hunched over in an assembly line nearby, passing and receiving rocks and debris by hand. Squinting to allow for better vision, Kwame recognised her immediately. Breathing in deeply, he grabbed Gi by the arm and strode confidently from their hiding space despite the harsh protestations of a shocked Wheeler. Walking towards the captives, he drew glances from their surprised attendant, a weedy looking man with a moustache and a pathetic looking goatee, carrying a leather whip and a holstered gun. With Gi stumbling in surprise alongside him, Kwame addressed the surprised man.

"You there! The boss wants the old woman out. Productivity is down: he says she's ready to croak. He sent a replacement." With that, Kwame threw Gi down violently, sending her sprawling into the dirt. Grabbing the elderly woman, he removed her from the line of emancipated people. Ignoring the intense death-stare Gi was sending in his direction, Kwame turned and walked away with Linka's relieved Grandmother, calling out over his shoulder: "Good job, man! The boss is pleased with the progress in this sector." The weedy man smiled a toothless grin and waved goodbye jovially, before pulling out his gun and waving it at Gi, motioning for her to take the empty place. As Gi reluctantly joined the line, Kwame dragged Linka's nan out of sight behind the earthmover, sitting her down on the foot-step.

"You've done it now, man..." Wheeler commented, checking the woman for injuries as Kwame stared wistfully in Gi's direction, hoping he had made the right decision. In the distance, a whistle blew, signaling the end of work for the day. As the daylight rapidly decreased, the men in charge herded the tired workers back inside the tunnel, including Gi who, with a parting look in their direction, allowed herself to be led inside.

"I'm going in to help her and Ma-Ti. I'm grating sure you have no objections to finding Linka?" Shaking his head, Wheeler bid his friend goodbye as Kwame sped stealthily towards the entrance. Grabbing Wheeler's arm with surprising strength, Tatiana Ivanova frantically tried to communicate with him using her scattered knowledge of English.

"Took her.....a man, please.....she only......I have left". Understanding the message intended, Wheeler moved to walk her to a safer area. Struggling against him, she stopped and concentrated for a second, unable to find the appropriate words. Pointing to the mine, she raised her hands together, palms down, then abruptly dropped them, trying to make him understand. A loud noise filled the air as Tatiana pushed Wheeler towards the entrance. "Oh shit, the gate!" He exclaimed, finally making sense of the frantic gesturing.

Tearing towards the mine, he lunged forward and rolled under the metal bars, just making it before they closed with a ricocheting "BANG!". Dusting himself off, Wheeler found himself presented with a variety of directions to head, each winding off into darkness. "Fire!" he whispered, setting off a dull red glow, before randomly choosing a tunnel and beginning his descent.

Linka also heard the faint whistle echo through the walls. Being constantly bathed in darkness meant that this inanimate signal was the only way to know the approximate time of day. As the sound of harsh voices accompanied the regimental marching of the prisoners, Linka risked her regular glance from the curtain, knowing that William would be currently supervising the movement of prisoners, always leaving an armed guard outside in his place. Each evening she had glimpsed sight of her Nonna and was extremely worried about her obviously failing health. Peering cautiously out, she watched for several minutes, to no avail. As the final stragglers were pushed into their cages, it was painfully obvious that Linka's Grandmother was not among them.

Slumping against the wall, she sighed heavily as the sounds faded away to nothing. Eyes downcast, she listened as William, Plunder and "Muscle Man's" voices approached, along with their erratic torch beams. Before ducking back behind the curtain, she glimpsed a small red glow moving quickly through a narrow tunnel to the right of her room. Looking up, Linka focused on the red dot that had now stopped dead, as if contemplating its next move. Linka watched breathlessly as the light began swirling quickly through the air, forming the letters 'OK?' in handwriting very familiar to her. Relief and happiness washed over her as she nodded her head vigorously in response to the question, knowing Wheeler had come to find her.

Excitement soon turned to horror as Linka realised that Plunder, having also recognised the illumination, was now pointing in Wheeler's direction, the "Muscle Man" moving quietly along the side towards the unsuspecting American. The ring was quickly extinguished as he understood his predicament, not to mention the realisation that machinery and petrol drums were scattered around in preparation for the next day's activities, leaving the 'firebug' weaponless.

Cursing petulantly, William barked further orders to "Muscle Man" who was now striding into the same passage way, cracking his knuckles in a menacing way. Moving towards a steadfast Linka, he ordered her back inside. Once again, she stubbornly stood her ground as he advanced rapidly upon her, grasping her throat firmly and pushing her backwards. She was ready for this. Summoning all her remaining courage and strength, Linka hitched her leg back and rammed her knee between his legs. Doubled over and yelping in pain, she pulled free and ran blindly into the cavernous central area with William's swearing still ringing through her ears. Squinting, Linka could just make out Plunder's dim form moving like lightning. She was ready for this too. Rushing towards him, she careened into his side, knocking the surprised Eco-Villain to the ground. Stumbling for several moments, she regained her composure and tore further downward into the tunnel at high speed, screaming Wheeler's name. Plunder by now had reached for his gun and sent off three parting shots in Linka's direction, feeling thoroughly disgusted at himself. William had by now limped up uncomfortably beside him, also feeling utter hatred for the Planeteers.

"They're a slippery bunch, all right." Plunder muttered, replacing his gun to the holster. Grimacing, William said nothing, shaking his head in frustration and pain. "Stuff her, son! You don't need the blonde, always thinking with your......"

"Shut the hell up, Dad." William replied menacingly.

Oooooh, anyone see that coming??? Yeah probably, but oh well. I'm kinda' getting into the storyline now so I'll try to update sooner than usual. Thanks to those lovely people who keep reviewing...........I've been writing this chapter from 2 o'clock in arvo to 11 at night, stopping only for dinner and chocolate breaks. The reviews make up for the lack of sunlight!

Sarah.