Icebreaker
Part XIV - Following Orders
"He wants her to do what!?" Bennett nearly yelled at the man on the other side of the table.
As soon as Jackson returned to the engine room he had directed Hes and Bennett into the counsel room. It was the only place where he felt relatively sure no one overheard the information he was giving to them.
"Destroy the track." Jackson replied, handing the note to Hes first. "While he was supposedly innocently reassuring her, Wilford passed that note to Eliah in a small capsule. The instructions on it are very clear."
"But surely she won't do it." Bennett stated hopefully. "She can't."
"She has no choice in the matter." Frank replied in a solid tone. "If she refuses, Wilford will target her as a traitor."
'She can come stay on Snowpiercer then and be perfectly safe."
"And we can not afford to lose her as a contact on Big Alice. In addition, a great many people on that train owe their safety to her being in the position she is. Through her position she is able to keep Wilford in check and curb many of his more lunatic ideas."
"If she destroys that track, there is no way back to Melanie and Layton."
"That is incorrect, Mr. Knox." Jackson pointed out. "Mr. de La Torre has already confirmed that the track Ms. Cavill and Mr. Layton are on rejoins the main track in Moscow at a westward juncture. Also, if we continue back to the main track, that will put Snowpiercer in the lead again as we move forward once more. That should allow us to make the turn at the juncture and be several mile up the track before Wilford is even aware anything is amiss."
Bennett set a hard stare on the man. "That juncture is two and a half days away. And traveling up the other track to where Melanie and Layton are is another two days. They're battery packs will have run out long before then."
"If they managed to access the train, that is no longer a concern." Jackson replied.
"If there was a train to access!"
"You yourself stated there was no indication anything Wilford said was true. We detected no explosion nor any radiation. That indicates the train was not destroyed as he suggested."
"She would still have to get the train working. Get the systems up and provide them with a safe environment."
"Ms. Cavill is a very capable engineer, Mr. Knox." Came the same level reply. "I am sure she and Mr. Layton have survived this ordeal."
Throughout the exchange, Hes had simply stayed silent, letting the two argue out their points and carefully weighing the information. There was no doubt the main goal was rescuing Melanie and Layton. The problem was deciding which was the safest method for everyone to do so.
Hes turned to Bennett. "New track could be dangerous. Are track Scalers still on main track?"
"They should be." Bennett answered cautiously, unsure of what the train's newest chancellor was thinking.
Hes turned to Jackson. "Tell Eliah to destroy the track."
Bennett all but exploded. "What!?" He stepped right up to the blacksmith. "How can you authorize that?! Do you understand what you are doing in regar..."
"Will temper explosion." Hes stated in a low, level tone, meeting the man's anger. "Snake is clever. Will know if explosion happened or not. But is not smart enough to know how much charge is used. Now, have contact with Trak Scalers still?"
Bennett pulled back some, then gave the man a curt nod.
"How many?"
"Three."
"Will contact them." Hes instructed him. "When Snowpiercer clears side track, will send two up track to do repair. Third will run in front of Snowpiercer to Moscow. Once we get to other side of side track, will send Trak Scaler up track to make sure is safe. Need Trak Scaler to keep good distance in front of Snowpiercer. Can not have any hesitation when train makes turn onto new track." Hes turned back to Jackson. "Make sure snake is secure with no windows. That one can tell day of the year by sun's position. Not needing him to know plans too soon."
Jackson gave a nod in response to the orders.
"The Trak Scalers are no where near a resource station." Bennett quickly put in, none of the anger having left his voice. "And they likely used everything they had onboard already doing the first repair. They'll need parts to repair the side track."
"Make list of what is needed." Hes answered in a level voice. "Will see it is ready and put off side of train at switch. Will have reason then to stop for few moments as train prepares to reverse. Not alert snake to anything being amiss. Trak Scalers can then pick it supplies there. Will also leave other supplies along with new batteries for Trak Scalers to pick up. Once repairs are made, will continue up track. Try and find Ms. Cavill and Mr. Layton. They could also act as a survival capsules for them if needed."
Bennett tempered his look slightly before turning and leaving the room. At least, he reasoned, Hes was trying to help Melanie and Layton as best he could.
Hes turned back to Jackson. "Make sure Eliah knows what to do." He said. "Need Scalers to be able to repair track in case Ms. Cavill and Mr. Layton need way to escape."
Jackson gave a small nod before leaving the room.
With a deep sigh, Hes followed after him a few minutes later. Entering the engine room, he walked up behind where Bennett sat at the helm.
Placing himself against the console so he was facing the man, Hes met the still slightly tempered stare.
"Know do not like decision." Hes stated softly.
"Because it's the wrong one."
Hes shook his head. "Nay. Snake is in box. But still have to play by his rules."
"Then move him further down the train." Bennett suggested. "The further he is from the engine the less he is likely to know what is going on."
But Hes shook his head again. "Don't want captured snake too close to den. Snake escapes, he disappears back into hole. Others on Big Alice could take opportunity if he is further down train to try to get him free. Need him to stay secure."
Bennett gave the man a questioning look now. "Do you even think they're still alive?" He asked honestly.
"Ms. Cavill is a very smart lady. Mr. Layton is very determined man. If there is way for them to survive, they'll find it." Hes answered him with a smile. "Just may need a little help."
Over on Big Alice, Eliah sat nervously at the train's helm, waiting for her father to send her their decision. She felt like she had run through ever possible scenario by the time the little box sitting on the console lit up.
Watching it, Eliah gave it a questioning look as the lights stopped. Surely she had not read the message right.
Grabbing the phone she placed the call to Snowpiercer's helm.
"This is unwise." Came the familiar voice of her father. "You know others may listen in on this line."
"Surely I misunderstood you." Eliah stated, completely ignoring her father's warning.
"In what manner do you believe you misunderstood?"
"You WANT me to excute the order?" Eilah asked, keeping the conversation as cryptic as possible while still getting her message across clearly.
Frank didn't answer, which was his way of letting her know what she had asked was answered affirmatively.
"You can NOT be serious!" She stated more firmly. "There has to be..."
"You will not question this." He quickly cut her off in a firm tone, but quickly tempered it. "You will follow your orders as were given to you per our amendment."
Eliah gave a soft sigh. One thing she had learned growing up was that trust in her father never failed her. She may not always understand his reasons for some of the things he did, but they were always necessary ones and things worked out in the end.
Usually.
She just hoped this was one more of the 'usually' times.
Several hours later, with the train thundering down the track towards the switch, a small explosion suddenly vibrated through the engine room on Snowpiercer.
Running to the helm window, Bennett and Hes looked out at the retreating column of smoke rising from the track behind them.
Bennett turned to the man next to him. "Well, Wilford got his explosion." He stated none to happy.
Hes gave a slight nod. "Now lets go see if snake felt it."
Down in the area where he was being held, Wilford was looking innocently up at the two men through the bars of the cell he was being kept in.
"Gentlemen," he stated calmly, if not sounding a little confused, "I assure you I have no idea what you are talking about."
Hes and Bennett had just informed Wilford of the track explosion, though both were sure he already knew by the vibration through the front section of the train.
"The track!" Bennett all but yelled at the man. "You destroyed it to make SURE we couldn't go back for Melanie and Layton."
Wilford gestured to his guards. "Feel free to question these good men if you like. They will assure you I have not left this abysmal cell since they put me in here."
"Then someone else helped you."
"Gentlemen, who but those present in the engine room knew anything of the issues we were facing? And what was there to gain for anyone else but myself to cause damage to the track?"
Hes set a hard stare on the man. "Second Engineer." He suddenly stated. "Was in engine room. Had bone to pick. Could easily have put an explosive on track."
Despite his earlier acts of presenting himself as the concerned, protective leader of his people, Wilford did less than come to the aid of his Second Engineer. "If Ms. Elson did any such thing," he stated, "I assure you it was of her own volition."
Hes gave the man one last hard look before storming off with Bennett following closely behind. Neither one of them spoke until they were safely in the engine room.
"Do you think he bought it?" Bennett asked.
Hes answered with a smile. "Snake could barely keep smile off face. Thinks he is in control now." He quickly turned to the Third Engineer. "How far are we from the switch, Mr. de La Torres?"
"Seventeen hours, forty-three minutes, sir."
Hes started for the door to the engine room. "Will need to go start forge on parts needed to repair track. Mr. Knox will have the train."