Hostage

by Chris Ryan

  Hex held the phone to his ear with one shoulder while he reached for his palmtop and began keying in the information Gina gave him. 'OK, Gina, I'm sending it to you now. It's all edited and ready. Just patch it straight in.'

  'Oh, man!' grinned Amber, as Hex ended the call. 'I wish I could see it.'

  'You can,' said Hex. He tapped instructions into the palmtop and they all gathered round as Daniel Usher's live broadcast appeared on the screen.

  'Shouldn't you contact the police, too?' asked Amber, as Usher appeared onscreen.

  'Already have,' whispered Hex. 'And the press. They should be arriving just about when his broadcast finishes. I couldn't let him miss his moment of glory.'

  As Daniel Usher smiled out from the screen, he looked the very image of a decent, successful man. His suit fitted him perfectly. The grey wings of hair at his temples only made him more distinguished and his blue eyes were frank and open.

  'What a dangerous man,' muttered Paulo, gazing at the handsome face.

  'Here we go!' crowed Amber as the big screen in the studio flickered into life. As Usher talked about his commitment to the environment and making things better, Hex's footage began to roll behind him.

  'How many people are seeing this?' asked Alex.

  'Prime time evening television?' smiled Hex. 'Millions.'

  'Good,' said Li. 'Oh, look! He's realizing something's up .. .'

  Daniel Usher stopped talking and stood up from behind the desk as a young woman with a head mike and a clipboard hurried on and whispered in his ear.

  'Hello, Gina,' grinned Hex in his New York accent.

  Usher turned to look at the screen behind him, then turned back to camera. His face was brick-red with fury and his blue eyes glared out from the screen. Gina was pointing off-camera. Daniel Usher's face changed again as he tried to assume an air of authority once more, but the two police officers coming up on either side of him were not impressed.

  Alpha Force cheered as the police marched Usher out of the studio.

  'Look!' laughed Alex. 'The camera's following! Even his own television company's turned against him.'

  'He's just another criminal in the news, now,' drawled Hex, with a satisfied smile on his face.

  Alpha Force watched as Daniel Usher walked out into a familiar scene of popping flashbulbs and strobing police car lights but then, suddenly, the little screen went blank.

  'Blast!' muttered Hex, grabbing the palmtop. 'We lost the connection with the satellite. How did that happen?'

  'I think we have interference,' said Paulo, pointing at the sky.

  They all looked up. 'Oh,' breathed Amber. A curtain of shimmering light was pulsing across the dark sky above the trees. As they watched, the colours flickered, changing from green to violet to gold and back again.

  'The northern lights,' smiled Alex. 'Amazing.'

  'Nothing amazing about them,' grunted Hex, still disgusted that the atmospheric interference had cut short his television show. 'Streams of charged protons and electrons hitting particles of gas in the upper atmosphere, that's all they are—'

  'Shut up, Hex,' said Amber. 'And listen. You can hear them.'

  Hex subsided and they listened as a faint, faraway sound, like the ringing of thousands of tiny bells, sounded in the air.

  'Remember what Papaluk said about the northern lights?' asked Paulo, smiling down at Li. 'Spirit torches, held by the people we love, come to lead us home.'

  Li nodded and gazed up at the shimmering ribbons of light. She leaned back against Paulo's chest and the colours danced across her face as, finally, she cried for her friend Papaluk, who had walked upon the land.

  'Hello, Mom; hello, Dad,' said Amber softly. 'If you can hear me, I just want to say, I'm doing fine. Really, I am. And, well, we got him for you.' She eased herself up on the sled as a thought occurred to her. 'Guys? Remember when we first met?'

  'Who could forget it?' said Alex, thinking of those first, tense days of squabbling on the sail-training ship.

  'You were so angry at the world,' said Paulo. 'You were wearing your parents' wedding rings around your neck in an Omega sign.'

  'Omega. The end,' said Amber. 'It seemed like the end to me then. But – not to get too mushy here – we made a new beginning with Alpha Force. And now . . . Now I feel as though we've come full circle. We caught the guy who killed my parents. So . . .' Amber hesitated, gazing around at the others. 'So, have we reached another end? Should we, you know, disband Alpha Force?'

  'Do you want us to disband?' asked Alex, looking at Amber.

  'Hell, no!' said Amber. 'But it gets a bit dangerous at times—'

  'Understatement alert!' cried Li.

  '—and I just want to make sure you guys want to stay on board. You know, if you wanted to call it a day .. .'

  'And leave all this behind?' said Hex, spreading his arms to take in their filthy, battered state.

  'We cannot disband,' said Paulo. 'We have a new recruit.' He reached out and ruffled Ice's fur, then hastily withdrew his hand as the big dog sat up and looked at him coldly.

  Alex felt a thrill of dread run through him at the thought of losing the rest of Alpha Force. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he said firmly.

  'Sorry, Amber. You're stuck with me for life,' said Li.

  'It's unanimous,' said Hex. 'Alpha Force is here to stay. Happy now?'

  'No big deal,' said Amber, settling back on the sled with a sigh of relief. 'Just checking.'

  CHRIS RYAN'S TOP TEN

  TIPS FOR SURVIVAL IN

  CAVE SYSTEMS

  Alpha Force travel through underwater tunnels up near the Arctic Circle, but there are many different types of cave system in the world. They can be horizontal, vertical, flooded, dry, hot, cold, humid, draughty, muddy, sandy . . . sometimes several of these features can be found in one single cave! They all have one thing in common, though – exploring them means going underground into natural tunnels and caverns in the earth's rock.

  Man may have once lived in caves, but you should treat any expedition into caves or tunnels with great respect. Every year, all over the world, cave rescue authorities have to deal with people who have gone underground without adequate preparation or equipment. Don't be one of them! Many caving trips are carried out every weekend all over the world with people enjoying a safe and fun time. Proper training and common sense go a long way. If caving is something that interests you, why not ask your library if there are any local clubs you could join to learn the basic skills and techniques?

  1. Planning

  First and foremost, do plan ahead. Many of the big cave systems have maps available and these should be studied in advance and stored carefully (in waterproof bags or covers). My advice to you is to stay clear of any caves that are prone to flooding because cave diving is one of the most dangerous sports known to man. Make sure you find out in advance if the tunnels do flood and, if so, when. For example, you could discover that some tunnels close to the water are flooded during the period of high tide, so you will be fine in the system if you can just sit tight until the tide falls again. Or perhaps the tunnels will be flooded if there is heavy rain, so check out the weather forecast, not only to find out if it's going to rain, but also if it recently has rained, as this can cause a flash-flood effect that could happen hours – even a day – after heavy rain. You'll need more than an umbrella to survive a downpour if you're stuck in a tunnel with the water rising fast! It can be extremely fierce and dangerous, powering through the tunnels like an express train and taking everything with it.

  Make sure you tell someone responsible what your plans are. Tell them your route, your planned time underground and any essential medical facts (e.g. if one of you is diabetic, like Amber), so that if you don't return on time, someone will know and a search party can be sent out, armed with all the necessary information to find you. Never even consider going underground on your own. If you should have an accident, your chances of survival are very slim and you might well even put others' lives at r
isk as they try to find you.

  In the SAS, advance planning is always key to the success of an operation. Time taken in preparation can save lives, so don't skip it.

  2. Equipment

  Underground caving requires varied specialized equipment, depending upon the kind of system. Alpha Force know that they are going through tunnels flooded with freezing water, and wear vulcanized rubber dry suits and full face masks.

  An absolute minimum of equipment I would want with me if going into any cave system would include:

  ropes: to rope yourselves together and, if necessary, for climbing down steep slopes. One of approximately five metres in length each should be sufficient

  a beta light: a light-emitting crystal about the size of a small coin. It's expensive, but everlasting and I've found it invaluable in the past. Alex always carries one in his survival kit.

  a torch and a spare, stored in waterproof containers.

  chalk, again stored in a waterproof container

  a watch with a luminous face and waterproof casing; this is essential if you need to keep an eye on the timing of something like a high tide

  a compass: the type with luminous buttons

  protection for your head, preferably a caver's helmet with a light fixed on it, so your hands are free

  first-aid kit for essential injuries: include bandages, plasters, aspirin and water-sterilizing tablets

  waterproof outerwear

  thermal underwear! Yes, I know it sounds like something your granny would tell you, but thermals can be a real life-saver in a cold, dark cave if you have to stay there overnight!

  3. Don't panic

  Underground in the dark, in a tunnel that is only as high as your body when you lie face-down on the ground, with a huge amount of rock above you, it is very easy to feel claustrophobic – and claustrophobia can turn easily into panic. Panic helps no-one and you could injure yourself and lose or damage vital equipment. If, like Hex, you feel yourself beginning to feel claustrophobic or panicky, try and slow yourself down, breathe as calmly as possible and focus on something very specific to take your mind off the general situation. And remember – claustrophobia is no joke, so don't try and spook others with you if you feel OK yourself.

  When I was in Belize, a number of guys from our boat troop who were qualified divers took me into the jungle to dive the blue hole – this links a large cave system that comes out into the sea. We swam in there with air tanks for approximately one hour and it was very claustrophobic and cramped. It took all my strength and concentration not to panic. I just kept getting reassurance from the other guys who were trained divers.

  A positive mental attitude – much easier if you know you have the skills and knowledge to survive – can also really help here. Even if everyone else in your group is feeling scared and negative, you can make a big difference if you remain calm and confident.

  4. Don't get lost

  Getting lost is the biggest danger underground. It's very difficult to keep any idea of direction when tunnels turn very gently and, in the dark, you can easily miss openings in the rock. Ideally, try and retrace your steps to your original entrance, and mark any turns or forks very clearly from the moment you enter the system. You can use chalk-marks, piles of pebbles or both, but make the signs very clear and understandable. This will also help any rescuer who follows you. If possible, have one person check each side of any tunnel as you move slowly along it, and it can be a good idea to rope everyone together. That way, you can't get separated and no-one can fall down a hole either!

  If squeezing through small gaps do remember that you should turn round if you want to go back. If you try to move backwards, you could get clothing or equipment stuck on projecting rock.

  If you have to travel through a system, use your compass to make sure you keep heading in the direction you want. It's possible to wander round and round in circles in a forest: you can easily do the same underground. In some caves, the rock formations have a high metal content which can affect your compass bearing so it is very important to constantly check your compass in case it is being pulled off.

  One tip: check the cave walls regularly for any signs of water-marks. An underground river could partially flood some of the tunnels and your marks would be washed away.

  5. Dealing with injuries

  If you've ever banged your knee on a rock, you'll know how unforgiving rock is. You are likely to suffer bruises, cuts and scrapes underground – and watch your head for low-hanging bumps (that's why you should wear a helmet). With an uneven surface, falls are also possible and either you, or a friend, could be unlucky enough to break a bone if you fall awkwardly.

  If a limb is broken, it will need to be immobilized so that no further movement makes it worse. The best way to do this is by strapping it to a splint. You could make one of these from anything available – a piece of wood, a branch, even a roll of newspaper. Put something soft between the splint and the limb and make sure it's not too tight – you don't want to cut off the blood supply. If no splint is available, you could strap the limb to the person's body or another uninjured limb – e.g. strap both legs together. Obviously, if someone has broken a bone in their leg and you've then strapped their legs together, they won't be able to walk any further so you may then need to improvise a stretcher to carry the person with you. If possible, in these circumstances, designate someone as the advance scout and let them go ahead (carefully and making sure they don't pass any forks or turns) to check the route before you all move off as a group, carrying the injured person.

  It really is worthwhile getting some first-aid skills if you are likely to travel in any dangerous areas. Every serving soldier in the SAS is trained in basic first aid and we carry essential basic treatments with us on all operations. During my career in the SAS, I was a trained medic and I was constantly treating colleagues who had been injured. It is an invaluable skill which will be called upon when training in arduous conditions. Another commitment we had was a project called Hearts and Minds: we would travel into remote areas and give medical help to the indigenous people. Why not ask at your school or library and find out if there are any first-aid courses you can take in your area?

  6. Light

  It's virtually impossible to move about underground without light and no experienced caver would dream of exploring without a helmet with a light on it – and spare batteries. Without light, you really will be in deep trouble! A beta light will also help with map-reading. Tread carefully – caves and tunnels can have uneven surfaces, sudden holes or loose, shingly ground that slopes away suddenly.

  If stopping for a rest, try and save the light by turning all but one off – you want your batteries to last as long as possible. And watch for outside light entering the system; it could signal your way out.

  7. Air

  The air within cave systems can be musty and damp, depending on how far you are from the open. It is also a good indicator of where there are openings to the outside. Cool air usually blows into a cave, so use your noses and try to follow the air to find an escape route.

  8. Water

  Many cave systems have underground springs, but it is still a good idea to use water-sterilizing tablets before drinking any of the water. In any survival situation, finding freshwater is a number one priority – you can only last about three days without water. If you find a source of drinkable water, make sure you mark it clearly on any map you have – and check you can find your way back to it if necessary.

  9. Safety when swimming or diving into underwater cave systems

  Alpha Force are in the Arctic area to train – but also to have fun, which is why they take diving equipment with them on their trip into the interior. They hoped to do some ice-diving – an extreme sport where a hole is cut in the ice of a frozen lake and you then dive underneath it.

  You could run across short sections of flooded tunnels, but swimming through cave systems is really only for experienced cavers who have trained properly. In any cav
e system, however, you could discover underground rivers or pools. These are likely to be very cold (no sun), so do take care. Ice-cold water can be a killer. If you should fall into cold water – especially through ice – it will literally take the breath out of you. Your body will curl up, you won't be able to use your muscles and you'll be shivering. If you can't get out, you could die in 15–20 minutes. In the Arctic region, where Alpha Force were operating, the sub-zero temperature would kill someone who fell in within minutes! However, the body shuts down so revival is possible after a longer period than normal. If you have to pull an unconscious companion out of cold water and they seem to be dead, do still try artificial respiration as you warm them up (or while you wait for the emergency services to arrive, if possible) as they could still survive. One doctor, an expert in reviving people, has said: 'They're not dead until they're warm and dead.'

  10. Signal for rescue

  A mobile phone will be useless underground but it is still possible to do as much as possible to help rescuers.

  Mark your route clearly and, if possible, leave notes in waterproof bags to let rescuers know the number in your party, any injuries, the time you passed etc.

  If you find an exit coming out high on a cliff, a fire can produce smoke and attract attention.

  BE SAFE!

  Chris Ryan

  Random House Children's Books and Chris Ryan would like to make it clear that these tips are for use in a serious situation only, where your life may be at risk. We cannot accept any liability for inappropriate usage in normal conditions.