by Derek Haines
‘Michael, I think we’d better leave. I think we are in deep, deep trouble if they’ve taken and replaced Claire. Everyone we know is disappearing.’
‘Yes, Milo. Understood.’
‘I’m very sorry madam. It must be my mistake. Probably the wrong apartment. No need for alarms, I’ll leave right away.’
‘Thank you,’ the woman said, as Michael made for the door. Closing the door behind himself, and making his way back down to the street.
‘What do we do now, Milo?’
‘Okay, Michael. Let’s be calm. Let me think,’ and they both started to conclude that they had serious problems now.
‘Right! First thing to worry about Michael is our third eye. We’re probably being tracked, so it’s not going to take long to find us. We need to find somewhere where we aren’t able to be monitored.’
‘Yes, but if we’re monitored, they will know where we’re heading. So even if we head for the edges of Sootere, they will be able to follow us as we make our way there.’
‘The bin! The bin, Michael.’
‘What bin, Milo?’
‘The garbage bin. Let’s see what we can find.’
‘You do have some crazy ideas, Milo.’ but Michael dutifully trudge off towards the garbage bins at the side of his building.
‘What are we looking for, Milo?’
‘A balaclava.’
‘A what?’
‘Oh here we are. This will do just perfectly,’ Milo said, as he held up a black plastic bag full of kitchen waste.
‘Oh it smells, Milo!’
‘Just wait, I’ll empty it.’ Milo emptied the contents and shook the bag as best he could to remove all the rotting pieces of food scraps.
‘I’ll turn it inside out. It’ll be fine.’
‘Fine for what, Milo?’
Milo pulled the bag over Michael’s head and tied the plastic tie straps around his neck. He then pushed his fingers through the front of the bag to create holes in front of his eyes, and one for his mouth. He did the same for himself.
‘Now, Michael, if we keep extra quiet, we might have a chance of not being tracked.’
‘It still smells, Milo.’
‘Come on, Michael. Let’s get a move on. We need to get back near G Sector. That I think, is where we need to start if we want to get out of here without being terminated first. Do you still have the duct plans?’
‘Yes, they’re in my bag. Why?’
‘Because I think we are going to set up home there for a while.’
‘Milo?’
‘Yes, Michael.’
‘I miss Claire already.’
‘Me too, Michael. Me too!’
Keeping to unlit areas as much as possible, Michael made his way towards G Sector. It took nearly an hour to get there, and then another half an hour to crawl along enough distance of ducting to feel relatively safe.
‘What now, Milo?’
‘Find a duct that leads to food, Michael!’
‘Can we take the silly hat off now?’
‘I think another hour, just to be safe. Study your maps. Find food. I think we’re starving.’
‘There’s a food distribution point a little to our right and then left. About four hundred meters. There’s an air duct leading into the storeroom.’
‘Right. Let’s get going.’
‘And the hat?’
‘A little longer.’
Guided by their torch, it took nearly an hour and a half of stooped walking and mostly crawling to get to the duct junction that led to the food storeroom. Michael made his way down the narrow chute. He was surprised to see in the distance that the grill covering was not in place. He approached slowly, sensing danger.
‘Michael?’
‘Shut up, Milo.’
‘Okay!’
Just a meter or two from the opening of the duct into the room, Michael could see light. He crawled slowly and carefully so as not to make a sound. Finally he could see the ceiling of the room. A little further and his viewpoint improved and he could see the walls and storage shelves and refrigeration cabinets. Inching forward slowly and being extra careful to be quiet, he finally arrived at a point where he could see almost all of the room. He saw a shadow in the room moving on his right. He held his breath, more out of fear and expectation than any sense of skilled espionage. The shadow moved again, and appeared to be someone moving about just under him and to his right. He waited, hoping that whoever was making the shadow would come into his view. More movement, but still only a shadow. He tried to gain a few valuable inches, making sure he was still well away from the duct exit. He waited. Breathing as shallowly as he could. The minutes passed, and still only the occasional shadow, until finally he saw the back of someone heading towards a refrigeration cabinet. It looked like a woman. He wasn’t sure, as she was wearing overalls over a protective body suit and a thermal hood.
‘That looks like your uniform, Michael.’
‘Shut up, Milo!’
‘Okay. Just saying, that’s all.’
The woman turned from the refrigeration cabinet with something in her hands and her head lowered, so Michael still was unsure who she was. Then finally, as she moved towards Michael’s position he caught a glance of her face. He recognised her and moved closer to the duct opening to try and see if there was anyone else in the storeroom. Although not one hundred percent sure, he knew he had to move soon. His legs were starting to go numb. He decided to make his move. He tore a larger opening in his plastic balaclava.
‘Anne,’ he whispered. The woman looked up immediately and saw Michael in the duct opening.
‘Now what are you doing up there, Michael?’
‘Are you alone, Anne?’
‘Sort of.’
‘What do you mean? Sort of.’
‘Come on down and I’ll explain. It’s safe.’
‘Right. On my way.’
Michael struggled, as he had to turn himself around in the small cavity to be able to go legs first out of the duct, which was located half way up a wall. It was a meter and a half drop to the floor. Finally managing to turn and get his legs through the duct opening, and then plopping to the floor, as his numb legs failed to execute a perfect landing.
‘Hardly an elegant entry, Michael. And, eh, nice bonnet!’
‘Nice to see you too, Anne,’ Michael said, from his prone position of the floor.
‘Hungry? I was just about to have some dinner. I’m starving.’
‘You read my mind, Anne.’
‘Both of them in fact, Michael.’
‘You too, Anne?’
‘Yep. Meet Mary Seaton. Ex filing officer with Alpha Reality Control.’
‘Eh, nice to meet you, Mary.’
‘So, I suppose I should introduce Milo. Milo Moon Ex um? What were you, Milo?’
‘I made nuts.’
‘Okay. Umm well, meet Milo Moon. Ex Nut Maker.’
‘Well, nice to meet you, Milo.’
‘Er, you too, Anne, eh and Mary. Did you know a guy called George Smithe. With an ‘E’.’
‘We certainly did, Milo, eh, and Michael.’
‘I have a feeling our conversations will be very interesting,’ Anne said, and Milo and Michael wondered if it was Anne or Mary. ‘But it looks like we had the same ideas. Cover the third eye, get to G Sector and then find some food.’
‘Yes, it seems so, Anne. Looks like we have the same maps too.’
‘Right, let’s eat and then stock up. We might be in for a bit of a stay in the duct system,’ Anne said.
Little conversation passed as they ate. They were too hungry, after what had been a very bad day for all of them. Anne’s husband had also been removed and replaced, and she had also tried to contact George with no luck. She wasn’t at all surprised when Michael told her that he thought he had been terminated. He was going to show her the file, but Milo asked him to wait for a while to make sure Anne could be trusted. Michael agreed.
‘Have you found a place to camp
yet, Michael?’
‘No, Anne. Only got here a short while ago, and food was a higher priority.’
‘Same here. Do you want to have a look at the maps and see if we can find somewhere suitable? We certainly can’t stay here for too long.’
‘Okay. Let’s have a look.’ They opened their maps out on the floor, looking for somewhere large enough, but also remote enough.
‘They’ll certainly be looking for us now,’ Michael said.
‘Yes, I know,’ Anne replied.
Chapter 9 - Two To Tango
‘This’ll have to do then, Michael.’
‘Well, not much to choose from in a ducting system,’ Anne replied.
‘Enough space to lie flat at least. Is there an exhaust vent nearby?’
‘Why?’
‘In case we need somewhere to hide when they come looking for us.’
‘Right. Let me have a look. Umm, here,’ Anne said, as she pointed to the map. ‘Should be just behind us here.’
‘Okay, I see it. I’ll check on the vent cover,’ Michael said, as he moved to the vent just a few feet behind them. He undid the latches and removed the cover.
‘It’s small, but if you’re feeling a little bit friendly, it’ll be fine.’
‘Was that you, Milo?’ Anne asked.
‘How did you know?’
‘It’s okay, Milo, you and Mary can cuddle, Michael and I will try and save our skins.’
‘Speak for yourself!’
‘Oh, so you don’t agree, Mary?’
‘It’s all right, Milo. At least we’ll be warm.’
‘Have you two finished?’ Michael asked, as he looked for a way to secure the vent cover from the inside. He was greeted by silence.
‘Can we fit our food supplies in there?’ Anne asked.
‘Good idea. Let me have a look.’
It took a little work, as Michael and Anne worked to remove a panel on the side of the exhaust duct to make a small storage area. If they had any unwelcome visitors, they at least now had all their supplies hidden, plus a place just big enough to hide.
‘Right, time for some rest I think,’ Anne said, in a tired tone. Michael took out the file from George, and gave it to Anne.
‘Some bedtime reading for you,’ he said, as he passed it to her.
‘What’s this?’
‘Read.’
It had been a long day for Michael and Milo, and equally so for Anne and Mary. Michael fell asleep quickly. Anne slept fitfully, after being shocked by what she and Mary read before trying to sleep. Sleep did arrive however, and although less than comfortable on the aluminium floor, they got some hours of rest before being woken suddenly by metallic footsteps.
‘Anne! Quick! Wake up. Into the exhaust chute, fast!’ Michael whispered, as he partially dragged a half sleeping Anne towards the opening of the chute. He took down the cover, and helped her, more like pushed her bodily, into the chute, jumping in behind her and pulling the cover closed and turning off his torch. They waited.
It was quite a few minutes before they heard the footsteps approaching, and a voice.
‘Nothing to report Control. We’re almost at the limits of G Sector. Over.’
There was a crackling sound, and an electronic voice, hardly audible. ‘Continue to D27a D, then return and commence a search of F Sector. Over.’
‘D27a D. Then F Sector. Copy Control. Over and Out.’
It was impossible for Michael to see through the grating of the vent cover, as the mesh was too thick and finely slotted. He could hear the footsteps moving to his left however. He put his finger to his lips to tell Anne to remain silent. They had to wait until the patrol returned and headed back toward F Sector before they could move. It was a full fifteen minutes before the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching from their left, and another ten to hear them pass and head off too their right.
‘Is i….,’ Anne started to say in a whisper, before Michael put his hand to her mouth, and shook his head. It was another twenty minutes before Michael thought is was safe to move. He lit his torch and hoped.
‘Okay, quietly though,’ he whispered, as he opened the vent and lowered himself. Helping Anne as she followed him.
‘Oh, nice breasts.’
‘Thank you, Milo.’
‘You two are going to be a real handful I think,’ Anne whispered.
‘Sorry, Anne. Milo can be a bit, well, Milo,’ Michael replied.
‘But I’m not used to having nice breasts yet,’ Mary interrupted.
‘You tell them Mary,’ Milo offered in support.
‘Sorry?’ Michael asked.
‘Well, I was rather flat chested before I got put in here with Anne, so it’s a bit of a novelty. Sorry.’
‘Better than me. I was just smelly and ugly before I got moved into Michael.’
‘Hey, enough you two! We’ve got more important things to worry about,’ Anne said, in a firm whisper.
‘Yes. Get a grip you two.’
‘I wish I could,’ Milo whispered. Mary giggled.
Anne and Michael trudged off to get to work, leaving Milo and Mary to their daydreaming.
‘I don’t understand why our third eyes are not being tracked?’ Anne asked Michael.
‘Luckily, I think we’re just out of range. George told us that there was a problem with tracking on the edges of Sootere. Seems like he was right.’
‘Poor George. What do you think happened?’
‘Terminated it would seem. Anyone we spoke to today had been wiped and reloaded, and had no idea who George was.’
‘But he did put us together.’
‘But I wonder what has happened to William Drake. He was the third.’
‘Oh yes, I saw that in the file you gave me. I don’t think he’ll be helping us.’
‘Why Anne?’
‘I saw him this morning. He didn’t remember me.’
‘So you think he got wiped?’
‘I think so Michael.’
‘Sounds like they found one of George’s creations.’
‘So? What now, Michael?’
‘Up, Anne. Up!’
Chapter 10 - Digging A Hole In The Sky
‘George told us about two men he met that came from above us. It was on the edge of Sootere, a few years ago. They told him they were building a machine above us, and that they came from a place called Switzerland,’ Michael explained to Anne.
‘How long ago was this?’
‘Three years I think he said. Seems like he’s been working since then to try and find a way to contact them again.’
‘So, he created us pair of odd twins to do the job.’
‘Well, triplets in fact, but it looks like it’ll be just us four.’
‘Yes. Poor William.’
‘Did you read the whole file?’ Michael asked Anne.
‘Yes. Where do you think George got all that?’
‘I really don’t know, but clearly he’d been collecting for a long time. The records for you and Milo make terrible reading.’
‘Milo and I only glanced at them. We were more shocked by the secret document.’
‘Well, we were too, but Mary thought she knew the system.’
‘Yes Michael,’ Mary started. ‘I had no idea the treatments were so regular. It must have been that I was being blanked out or something. The files I handled normally had treatment or re-identification every ten or fifteen years. Or so I thought. But these files show that you and Milo were having treatment every few months. I don’t understand the notes all that well, but it looks to me as if every time you had a treatment, your memory was erased and replaced. There are a few mentions of a file reference to your memory data,’ Mary paused as she flipped through the pages of the file. ‘Here we are. M37-4565-78-alpha-22.mem for Milo Moon and M37-8976-71-beta-27.mem for Michael Fischer. The file references recur with notes about data modification and what I think are medical records.’
‘That’s what’s on our arms.’
‘W
hat, Milo?’
‘Those numbers are on my arm. Look! M37-4565-78-alpha-22.mem.’
‘They are, Milo,’ Michael said, as he looked at his own arm.
‘Well anyway, the information ties in with the reference to human experimentation in the copy of the old document,’ Milo added.
‘Yes,’ Mary agreed. ‘So what did George want us to do with this information?’
‘Take it to Switzerland?’ Milo asked.
Nodding of heads seemed to indicate that all four were in agreement.
‘I’m sure George selected Michael, Anne and William for their knowledge of the ducting system. To find a way out, and up. And Mary for her knowledge of the re-identification program. There’s no note in the file about William’s other self, so we don’t know. But I’m at a loss to understand why he chose me,’ Milo said, with some embarrassment in his voice.
‘There must be a reason, Milo,’ Anne said, trying to lift Milo’s confidence. ‘If we manage to find a way up and out, it’s clear that Mary was chosen for her ARC knowledge, and I’m sure we’ll know soon enough why he chose you, Milo. There’s obviously something special about you that we just don’t know about yet.’
‘Yes, I’m sure my intimate knowledge of nuts and bolts will be really useful.’
‘Oh, come on, Milo. Cheer up. We’ve got a job to do,’ Mary said, trying to lift Milo’s spirits as well.
‘Milo. Don’t you remember what George said?’
‘No Michael.’
‘He said, he chose you because you were precise and meticulous. And patient I think.’
‘Oh yes. That makes me feel a whole lot better,’ Milo said sarcastically.
‘Right, enough chat. Let’s get on with this,’ Michael said with determination, and rolled out his map of the ducting system. ‘Right. There was a collapse at A27 D in G Sector. It’s not far from here. That’s where we found some items referring to CERN. Maybe that should be our starting point.’
‘Maybe Michael. But a team will surely be sent to repair the duct soon,’ Anne said.
‘I’m not so sure. After I completed my damage report, there was only a circulation re-direction put into place. That normally means that repairs are not seen as urgent. It could be months before a repair team is sent.’