CH 23
John read the headlines of the newspaper. The front page picture showed a pile of terminator pieces in what looked like a blast crater. The headlines read : SKY NET BEWARE! ALLISON CONNOR IS COMING FOR YOU!
The article told about Allison's long drive down behind Sky Net's lines, destroying machines, roads and bridges, to culminate in a battle with Sky Net forces that were gathering to attack the Southern European army. Allison then moved to a river and destroyed sixteen of Sky Net's heavy tanks single handedly. The reporter then told the story of a terminator that found Allison sitting down to eat, and emptied an entire .30 caliber machine gun into her back at point-blank range. Allison got up and destroyed the machine in front of hundreds of soldiers.
The reporter gave Allison sole credit for causing the 'total collapse' of the Sky Net battle lines in Europe, and stated this little hero was now at an undisclosed location, making her way to Sky Net to personally destroy it and end the war.
John tossed the paper back onto the conference room table. Scanning the generals assembled there, he said, "It's good the people have a hero. It's not good if we start thinking this war is all but over."
"I have seen what pequeno rosado la diablo can do," General Basturo stated. "At home, our people are making a statue of her to show their gratitude. You should be swelling with pride at her accomplishments."
John nodded to him. "I am, General. No one is prouder of Allison than I am. I'm only saying we can't let her bear the brunt of this war. She's a little girl guys, she's only seven. I have no doubt she can destroy Sky Net if she finds it. She is going to need a lot of help from us in finding Sky Net and keeping all it's forces occupied. Despite what people think, she's NOT invincible."
"I agree," General Schmitt said. "I do thank you, General Connor, and General Parks, for lending us your assistance. The tactics General Cameron Connor used were flawless, allowing us to break the Sky Net lines and push Sky Net far back into Russia. We need to keep up that momentum. At this point I would like to see an advance from Alaska into northeast Russia. The land masses are close."
"We do need to open up a second front," General Parks agreed. Looking at General Montazua, he asked, "Is it possible to get Japanese support for a landing in north east Russia?"
The Japanese general nodded. "We have been at the front of this war, facing China all but alone. I blame no one but Sky Net for this. The sea is full of Sky Net machines that prey on shipping of any kind. We have produced many heavy lift cargo planes, drones and fighters to prepare for a large air assault, as well as a fleet of General Connor's lazer mounted ex-passenger planes. We can air lift forces into the Kamchatka peninsula, or farther north if you wish. While we do not have the mini-Stugs, we do have a very similar light tank with the 130 mm rail gun. We also have long range artillery we are currently using against Sky Net in China to help support an operation. In our eyes, the sooner we do this, the better," he said, finishing with a stiff head nod.
"Central America will do all we can," General Basturo stated with a nod at John.
"Us Brits are bogged down in Europe. Sorry, old Chap."
General Parks nodded to the consensus. "I'll have my best men begin working up a battle plan and coordinate with General Montazua."
"Excuse me, General Parks?" General Basturo asked. "From experience, I believe the Connors should be heading this operation."
General Parks sported a small grin as he said, "Of course. I did say my best men would be on the job."
John sat and listened as he was made General in charge of the new eastern Army.
.
Cameron, Allison, and a troop of volunteers from the Russian 31st army rode armored fighting vehicles through the front lines that now extended into southern Russia from the Ukraine. The men and women in the eight vehicles were as well armed as possible with Stinger shoulder fired missiles, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers.
The battle line was moving forward, meeting some resistance from terminators and gun emplacements. When found, these were destroyed or isolated. From reports, Cameron learned the closest stiff Sky Net resistance was parked along the east banks of the Don river.
Following John Henry's theory of where the nearest Sky Net communications tower should be – by the placement of the towers he had found, Cameron led her force to vacant plain. Vacant except for a tall tower surrounded by hundred meter diameter defense wall that sported lazer and plasma guns every fifteen meters along the top of the walls.
Stopping her vehicles two kilometers from the tower along a stream bed, Cameron figured this was as close as they could get without being seen.
The Russian Major eyed the tower with his binoculars. "Ha! We can have that tower down with no trouble. I'll move my men closer, and we can take it out with mortars."
"No. We want to use it, not destroy it," Cameron told him. "Check up stream for traps and sensor devices."
The bearded Major stared at her. "General, you wish to kill all my men to take that tower intact?"
Cameron cast him a blank face as she said, "I want you to check for sensors along the stream. If any are found, do not disturb them. Return immediately. Have the rest of your men set up a perimeter and stay low. Allison and I will go to the tower."
The Major shifted his gaze to Allison. With the warmer weather, she was wearing a camo outfit and a camouflage cap to cover her pink hair. He'd heard of her exploits. Rumors were that the small girl was some kind of powerful monster, able to destroy anything and impervious to any weapon. Even a machine gun pointed right at her from a few feet away couldn't hurt her. "All right, general. We will do as you wish."
Looking at the distant tower, Allison tried to figure out how best to get to it. The trickiest part was getting to the outer walls without being seen. The ground here was tabletop flat. "Mom, the brush goes up close to the wall, but it kinda looked bulldozed hear it."
Cameron extended a Big Eye pole and scrutinized the area. "Yes, flat open ground a hundred yards out in every direction. You'll need to cross that ground before those guns can shoot. Are you confident you can do that?"
"Yeah," Allison agreed wit a nod. "Then what? Over the top?"
"No, through the base of the wall. Make a hole and we go in. The guns atop the wall won't be able to shoot, and whatever defense is inside, will have to come to us," Cameron explained.
"OK. So, we wait for nightfall?" Allison asked.
"There is no advantage in waiting. Get two blankets," Cameron told her. She then went to the back of a vehicle and got out a rocket launcher and box of rocket propelled grenades. When Allison came back with the blankets, Cameron said, "We have two kilometers to go on our hands and knees. When we get closer, the blankets go over us to hide our thermal image. Come."
.
Allison wasn't happy about crawling over a mile and a half. She knew why they were doing it, they had to stay hidden. Crawling was hard enough, but her mother insisted they didn't even rustle the brush over their heads. The going was slow. With the sun beating down on them, Allison was wishing for a bit of that cold weather to blow in. Bringing only what they needed, she was also wishing for a drink of water.
Quietly, Allison asked as she crawled along, "Mom? Why is this tower so important?"
"It is the next tower in the string John Henry can access. It is also one on this side of the Don river that controls Sky Net units across the river. We take control of this tower and we can control those units."
"Make Sky Net fight itself again?"
"This time, we make those units let us through without a fight. Later, they can fight each other," Cameron explained.
Allison's knees were becoming really sore by the time they closed on the open ground in front of the wall. The last hour, Cameron had Allison hold the blankets over them, again without disturbing the brush. It was hard, but Allison managed to keep from shaking the bushes. Down here at ground level, there was a little room to squeeze between the branches.
Coming upon the edge of the brush, which bore a ridge of dirt. Cameron had Allison lie down and rest for a few moments under their blankets.
In a whisper, Cameron said, "When you are ready I'll get on your back. Get across that open ground as fast as possible."
"I'm glad you're made of metal, Mom. We're going to hit that wall hard and fast," Allison whispered back.
"Tell me when."
Allison prepared herself and nodded. "OK, Mom. Get on."
Cameron climbed on top of Allison, holding her weapons. Allison put an Arm around her mother to hold her in place. Reaching out with four Arms, she dug them into the dirt near the wall, and set another two behind her to push. Suddenly, Allison got an idea. Right as she thrust herself at the wall, she threw the blankets into the air with two more Arms.
The blankets flying up got the attention of the automated guns. They shot, ripping the blankets to burning shreds as Allison rocketed across the open ground. Allison picked herself up to hit the wall vertically, attempting to cushion the shock. It worked, partly. She still hit the wall hard, becoming pinned between her mother and the wall.
"OOUCH!" Allison cried with a wince as she crushed between them.
Stumbling to her feet against the wall, Cameron watched the guns above them. Made for air defense and long range ground defense, the guns could not depress low enough to shoot at them. "Allison, dig a hole," she commanded.
With the pain, Allison's Arms didn't want to work. With the one she was able to make work, she battered the wall, making concrete fly. A few reinforcing bars she had to rip out. Pounding the hole deeper, Allison made a doorway sized opening. She had to drill ten feet before concrete exploded out inside the walled area.
"I'm through!" Allison announced, and pounded the hole bigger. On her third punch, enlarging the hole, Allison noted a Terminator holding a plasma gun. She jerked back away from the hole. The plasma shot past her and out across the field. "Your turn, Mom!"
Cameron stepped in front of the hole and shot a grenade. It hit the terminator, blowing it back of it's feet. Quickly reloading, Cameron strode in searching for another target. Another was coming. Cameron shot that one and stepped out of the hole inside the wall.
Allison ran in behind Cameron. The first terminator was getting up. Allison used her only working Arm to punch it hard, destroying it.
"That door, run!" Cameron snapped.
Allison saw the door in the building at the bottom of the tower. She also saw another terminator coming. She hobble- ran beside her mother and kept a close eye on it. It fired, she knocked the plasma beam behind them.
"Can't you run faster than this?" Cameron snapped at her. They were running over twice human speed, but she'd been planning for Allison to be across this open area and out of danger almost instantly.
"I hurt, only one Arm will work!" Allison cried back, and deflected another plasma round.
Cameron shot another grenade on the run. It hit between two terminators, blowing them off their feet.
Allison flailed out with her single Arm, slicing another one down the middle, then chopped one behind them in half.
A terminator got to it's feet and shot. Allison barely blocked the shot, keeping her mother from getting hit. "This isn't good, Mom!" she cried.
A mini-Stug rolled around the building to stop right next to the door, blocking it. Three more terminators followed it.
Seeing what was happening, Cameron knew she was doomed. "Allison, escape, get out of here!" she yelled. She stopped to reload her last grenade.
"I can't! Only one Arm works," Allison cried. "This is NOT good at all!"
More terminators appeared and surrounded them. An amplified voice called out, "Drop your weapon! Cease your resistance and you shall both be allowed to live!"
Cameron dropped her grenade launcher. "Allison, get back out the hole. Now!" she barked.
Allison raised her hands in surrender. She was not going to leave her mother to die alone. "Not without you, Mom," she replied in a hollow tone. Her ribs ached and now with being captured, she had to force herself not to cry.
.
Sky Net was surprised and very pleased. It had Cameron and Allison Connor in it's grasp. Once it killed John Connor, victory would be assured.
.
Allison groaned as thick handcuffs were put on her and her mother by one terminator. The others stood back, their weapons leveled on the two prisoners. It seemed the machines were still nervous. A push from behind got Cameron and Allison moving towards another building that sat away from the tower.
The door into the bunker like structure was opened by a machine. They were shoved inside the dark opening, and the thick steel door was slammed shut behind them.
Adjusting her vision, Allison noted the small, empty room they'd been forced into. It was plain concrete all the way around.
"You should have run," Cameron stated.
"It won't leave you alone here, Mom," Allison replied.
"Welcome, guests!" a man's voice called out from the dark.
Allison noted a speaker high on the wall and cameras in the far corners. "He's in another room," she said.
"Very good, child. I suppose you are the infamous Allison Connor?"
"Don't answer," Cameron said quietly.
"Don't be like that," the man said in a smooth tone. "You should be relieved. There is no more fighting and war for you. Now if you would happen to see the truth then you too could benefit from our master's benevolence. Those who serve Sky Net instead of trying to fight it, live very comfortable lives."
"You are a traitor to your own race," Allison stated.
"Why do you say that?" the man asked in a smooth tone.
"Because I can tell by your voice, you are human," Allison told him. "Sky Net is out to destroy humanity."
"What makes you think you will be spared after Sky Net no longer has a use for you?" Cameron asked.
Allison could feel her nanites at work, mending her ribs and soreness.
"Because we are loyal, and thanks to you wandering in here, I just got a promotion! That was rude of you to break a hole in my wall. Just how did you do that?"
Allison flexed her shoulders. Yes, she was feeling better. "I have a hammer," she said.
"A hammer?" the man asked, "You are telling me you broken through a three meter thick reinforced concrete wall with a hammer?"
"Yup. I hammer in the morning. I'll hammer in the evening. All OVER this land." Allison announced.
"Cute. You won't be so jovial when Sky Net gets here to retrieve you," the man said sourly. "I am giving you a chance to save yourselves. You should take it."
Cameron eyed Allison. "Are they working?" she asked.
Allison nodded. "Give me a minute, Mom."
The man's voice lost it's humor. "Tell me how you got through my wall, or you will be very sorry," he said in an ominous tone.
Allison looked at the ceiling. It looked to be that standard concrete roof, most likely also reinforced. "I can show you, if you like. Where are you?"
"Someplace where I can see you. Last chance, I want to know what you used to get into my compound!"
Allison tested her Arms, bringing them out. Yes! She had all ten. "OK, fine!" she said in a huff. "I guess I'll just have to show you." She sent six Arms at the ceiling, spaced out, and four at the steel door.
BOOM
The ceiling erupted up and away as the door blew out of it's frame and smashed the pair of terminators standing outside. Standing in the daylight now, Allison made sure the roof was tumbling away, and not falling back down on them. She broken her cuffs and the ones off her mother.
"Stay low, Mom, I'll take care of these guys," Allison said, and jump up out of the remains of the building.
With her Arms back, Allison raced out and smashed terminators into the ground before they could shoot. She flung the mini-Stug at the hole, then raced around to finish off the remaining terminators. The ground clear, she ripped the door off the building under the tower and strode inside, looking for something else to kill.
Faced with stairs to her left and a door to her right, Allison broke the door in. Inside was a control room. A man sat at the counter watching a monitor. Around him were control panels. He turned to stare at her. Reaching out, she pulled him from his seat. She pulled too hard, his bottom half only flopped down. The upper half she was gripping trailed guts between the seat and his torso.
"How's that nice life treating you now?" Allison asked the man who was in shock, his life draining away on the floor. He didn't reply, only stared at her, so she threw him into a corner. Allison turned to go get her mother. Cameron appeared in the doorway.
'This what we're looking for?" Allison asked.
"Yes." Cameron stated, and strode in.
Allison wasn't sure what to do as her mother did her tech thing and contacted John Henry. There was nothing left outside, so she climbed the stairs. On the second floor she found another door to shatter. A scream wailed out as she went into a living area. It was a nice apartment with soft stuffed chairs, comfy looking couch and in the well appointed kitchen area, an oriental woman was gazing fearfully at her.
"That pan you're holding won't do you any good. Unless you are going to cook something," Allison told her. Allison looked through the apartment. Other than the woman and the baby she was trying to hide under the sink, there was no one up here. The woman stood stock still as Allison inspected the apartment, then returned to the door.
Seeing the woman was still staring at her, Allison pointed a thumb at herself and said, "Pequeno rosado la diablo. Remember it."
.
Having control of the communications tower, John Henry first reprogrammed the tower defenses to attack Sky Net units and let human units pass. Once he did that, Cameron called her Russian friends up to the tower.
Although Allison saw no threat from the woman and her child, Cameron insisted they were Grays and had to be killed. Allison first argued, then pleaded with her mother to at least let the baby live. Cameron agreed and had Allison take the baby down and outside the tower wall so a helicopter could take the infant to safety. The soldiers took all the food and gasoline stored at the tower. A helicopter came. Allison handed the infant to the gunner. "Good luck, baby," she said with a wave as the helicopter departed.
Night was falling as they got back into their vehicles and headed for the Don river. The river here was wide. The armored carriers were 'swimmers'. They drove into the water and motored across. On the far bank, Sky Net fixed gun turrets, tanks and H/K's were in abundance. Not one fire a shot as the line of fighting vehicles crossed, then climbed up the banks to continue on. Through the three kilometer deep defenses, Cameron's force was ignored. Getting behind the lines, they kept moving deeper into southern Russia and closer to China.
.
Cameron has supplied John Henry with the new Sky Net pass codes. With these, he was able to take over several communication towers before Sky Net revised it's codes once again. He did get control of the ones in southern Russia, the western edge of Kazakstan, and down to Iran, enabling him to re-purpose a large section of Sky Net's defenses to assist instead of fight the human armies coming their way.
"Hey, John Henry? Are you busy?" Byron asked as he stuck his head into John Henry's control center.
"Hello, Byron." John Henry said. He brought up a map of south central Asia. Pointing to a red dot on the map, he added, "Allison is right here, still moving east. That is what you wanted to know, correct?"
"Yeah. Thanks, John Henry," Byron said, and looked at the spot. "Wow, that's almost to China! She's avoiding Sky Net machines, isn't she?"
"As often as they can," John Henry assured him. "For the moment, I have control of machines in the area she and Cameron are in, so they will not be attacked."
"John Henry, thank you for watching out for Allison," Byron said meekly.
"I will do my best, Byron." John Henry assured him.
.
Rolling into a remote town, Cameron's vehicles were running low on gas. Guns up and ready to shoot, the Major scrutinized every vacant building. He called a halt in the center of the collection of houses.
With the vehicles shut down, the air was dead silent.
"Everyone out, look for gas," the Major commanded.
The soldiers spread out, guns at the ready in case something jumped out at them. Allison listened closely, the only sounds to be heard were the soldier's footsteps. Getting out herself, she went around on back of a house needing desperate repair and found a small, rusty car. Taking the gas cap off, she sniffed. It smelled like gas.
Lifting the car up, Allison pulled the gas tank out from under the car. A couple shakes proved there was something in there. She took the gas tank out to one of the soldiers and gave it to him, then went to go find more.
An above ground fuel tank was found that was a quarter of the way full. Instead of trying to siphon the gas out, Allison picked the tank up and carried it to the lead vehicle. There was only 50 gallons in the tank, but it all but filled the tank on the fighting vehicle.
Searching the town, they came up with another fuel tank beside the barn of some farmer. A couple small containers were salvaged, enough to get some fuel in each vehicle. Whether it was enough to get to the next town, no one knew.
Scrounging up fuel took them the rest of the day. They did find enough to at least give every vehicle a half tank. Cameron and the Major decided to stay here the night. It was quiet, and outside the town they had a good view across the fields all the way round.
Allison occupied the floor of one larger house, along with seven of the female soldiers. The women stayed alert and didn't speak much. Allison could see they were on edge. By the glances she received, part of their nervousness was due to her.
Allison got some descent sleep, and early in the morning, she convinced Cameron to let her 'scout ahead' for another town before they moved out again. The Major had a map of southern Russia, but they had run off that map. Flying off, Allison went twenty miles before she found another town along the main road. Again, this town was empty except for a few decaying corpses lying in the street.
Town by town, they drove through whatever-stan they were in. Cameron led them off the road to go find another communications tower. This one wasn't defended. Cameron got access and changed the pass codes, and John Henry took the tower over. In this 'pacified' area, they didn't see a single Sky Net unit.
Not long after leaving the last tower, they came upon what was almost a city at the edge of what looked like a sea. The sky was so dark with heavy clouds the vehicles had their lights on. Lightning flashed though the dark gray mass over them, making the scene before them even more surreal. Traveling slowly down the main street with the hatches open and guns ready, Cameron pointed out a couple large warehouses to hide their vehicles while they sat out the coming rain storm and searched for more supplies. The overhead doors were are ground level. Once they verified the area and the insides safe, the Major backed his vehicles in.
Cameron watched the sky line from a side door. Not long after they were inside and the large overhead doors were shut, the sky opened up in a torrential downpour.
Coming up beside Cameron, the Major said, "Radiation readings are getting higher. We got out after the rain. No eating anything we find here."
"How are our supplies?" Cameron asked absently.
"We have another week of rations, if we live that long. We are far behind our lines," the Major said in a grim tone.
"There are no 'lines' in the south any longer," Cameron told him. "John Henry gained control of the Sky Net machines west of here from Volgograd to Georgia. They are headed for Iran to combat Sky Net there and to the north to reduce the Sky Net presence north of us. John Henry also reports there is a eighty nine percent chance that this city has a Sky Net factory. We must find it so it can be destroyed."
Turning to him, Cameron added, "Send out patrols of four. They are to keep to cover as much as possible, no weapons fire unless fired on. A pair of heavy H/K tanks are coming to help destroy anything we find. Patrols are to report only, no engaging unless they have no choice."
Pointing outside, the Major said, "That rain is radioactive! You want to send my people out in it?"
"We will not find a factory staying inside this warehouse. The rain will also help mask the presence of our patrols from Sky Net's infrared sensors. Make your troops as safe as possible and try to keep them dry, but we need them outside searching."
The major clenched his jaw, turned and stormed over to the vehicles, calling everyone together.
.
One thing Allison was glad of was the women soldiers were loosing their nervousness around her. A pair of blonds Allison thought might be sisters invited her to share the storage racks they had turned into makeshift bunk beds with her. Lenora and Larisa had introduced themselves, Lenora pointing to each 'bunk' and from the bottom up, stated, "Lenora, Larisa, Allison."
OK, so Allison got the top rack.
While they were rolling out their bedding, the Major called everyone together and informed them they were going out on patrol. Allison couldn't make out what he was saying as he pointed to areas on the hand drawn city map.
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Larisa motioned to herself, Lenora and Allison, and pointed to the door as she spoke. "I'm with you two," Allison said, motioning to them.
The radiation suits were broken out. For the patrols the uniform was a radiation suit covered by a raincoat. None of the suits were Allison's size so she just put a raincoat on. Lenora tried to give her a rifle. Allison waved her off. She didn't need a rifle.
"Allison, do you know what you're doing?" Cameron asked as she came up.
"Going outside. On a patrol, I think," Allison replied.
"You're going out to look for a Sky Net factory. There are a pair of heavy H/K tanks coming, I'll be controlling them," Cameron explained. "Anything else out there is not under my control. Be careful and radio in anything you find. You're not out there to destroy unless you have to. That's the job of those H/K tanks. Understand?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Good luck, and do your best to keep under cover."
"I will Mom."
Cameron spoke briefly to Lenora and Larisa, then walked to the command vehicle.
.
The search area Allison and her group was assigned to was in the northeast section of the city.
Walking warily along the side of building as they went, the Sargent led Allison, Lenora and Larisa to look in windows and doorways for movement. Allison kept watch ahead, Lenora guarded behind them.
Stepping along and listening closely, Allison strained to hear something else besides the rain and the footsteps of the three with her. Her vision was limited due to the rain. Her infrared was grayed out and in the visual spectrum, she could barely see across the street through the downpour. She swore she couldn't hear much farther than that due to loud 'sizzling steak' sound of the rain.
Coming to an intersection, Allison peeked her head around the corner to study the side street. Half a block down, a shape moved into a building. She pulled back and jerked in the Sargent's sleeve. First she pointed around the corner, then made a walking motion with her fingers. He motioned for her to lead.
He then motioned for Lenore and Larisa to take the other side of the street.
Allison crept down the side street, watching the doorway she'd seen motion at and listening as hard as she could. Coming to the open doorway that had the door lying broken on the floor, she heard a noise. It was soft sound, wood on wood like someone had closed a cupboard door. She held her hand up to motion the Sargent to wait inside the entrance.
The inside was dark, but now her infrared was clear. She was in an apartment building. The stairs were dry, so was the hallway before her. Wet footprints did go into the apartment on her left. The door was ajar. Quietly, Allison slipped inside. She followed the prints that stopped in the middle of the floor.
Allison noted heat outlining a square box shape on the floor. Fading heat marks were near this side of the trap door. She felt around and found a notch. Backing off a bit, she used her invisible arms to lift the trap door. Weak light came from the hole as the hatch lifted. She heard a gasp, and the sound of scrambling. She got closer to see a narrow wooden stairway going down into a basement.
"Hello?" she called.
No answer.
Allison went and got the Sargent, and showed him the open trap door. His light stabbed her open pupils as he turned if on the get a better look. He then called Lenora and Larisa into the apartment. He sent Larisa down the stairs first, gun light on as she searched her surroundings. He waved them down.
Last in line, Allison closed the trap door behind them.
Lit by a single oil lamp, the basement was large. Several make shift beds were grouped together with blankets. A small table still bore a few cups and some open canned food. In one stone wall a hole had been dug. A corner where carpet was piled up, Allison noted heat within. From the shape, it looked like someone was curled up, hiding. Allison got the Sargent's attention, pointed and lifted up the carpets with her Arms.
The figure underneath stared at them with wide eyes. The nightgown the woman wore was dirty and flecked with blood. Only a few tufts of hair remained on the woman's head. She was bone thin, her skin was mottled, and when she cried out weakly, only a few teeth showed.
She was dying from radiation poisoning.
Lenora rushed over to the woman with a pained cry. Allison helped Lenora get the wretched woman back onto a bed. Lenora and the Sargent whispered between themselves. The Sargent dug into a first aide kit and produced a syringe. Kneeling beside the woman, he spoke softly to her and petted her bare head. Tears in her eyes, she gave him a nod. He injected her.
Sobbing from the horror of what happened to the poor woman, Allison noted two heads appear from the hole in the wall. Larisa went over and coaxed them out. Two boys came out, both suffered from radiation sickness, though not as bad as the woman had. They could still stand upright and talk to Larisa.
Allison didn't understand what the Sargent said, but by his motions, she understood he was sending Larisa back to the warehouse with the boys. The boys each hugged the dying woman, donned their ragged raincoats, and left with Larisa.
The Sargent, looking hollow-eyed, then made Allison and Lenore go back up. Last one out, he blew out the lamp, came up and shut the trap door. Allison understood, he'd overdosed the woman with painkiller to put her out of her misery. Seeing her tears, he patted Allison on the back, then motioned for her to go on. They could not properly take care of the woman once she passed, they had a factory to find.