Saving Time

by Jenn Lees

  “Mr Macintosh—” Angela pushed stray strands of hair behind her ear.

  “Please, call me William.” The man placed the finished bowl of porridge on the table.

  “William, you have been so busy with the computer geeks, if that’s what you call them, you haven’t had a look around our compound, now have you?”

  Uh, oh. What if this guided tour gets as personal as the last one? How embarrassing. Angela looked desperate—cringingly so.

  What was she after?

  Murray would have to keep tabs on his ambitious big sister today.

  After Angela had finished breakfast, she escorted MacIntosh out of the control-room. Murray ditched his unfinished porridge and followed, keeping his distance. Angela walked MacIntosh to the room where the Chief Council met.

  Showing off their tables they line up to look like a boardroom?

  “And in here we make all our important decisions regarding the governing of our Community.” Angela waved MacIntosh into the meeting room, then followed. Murray stood outside the still open door, out of sight.

  “I, myself, have been on the Chief Council for the past six years now, since my mother passed away.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” MacIntosh sounded respectful.

  “Caitlin Murray-Campbell, my mother, was a founding member of the Community. And indeed, of the Community way of life and system of government. She groomed me for leadership from a young age, having seen my potential. They say I am very like her.” Angela’s voice wafted through the doorway.

  Yep, except Mum was humble.

  “Here we adjudicate disputes and make informed and important decisions affecting the Community. And as you know, we are concerned about those who live outside our Community and any incidents which may impact us and them. The present situation with the nuclear problem is an example of our dedication to the welfare of Scotland.”

  “Hmm.” It was hard to tell if it impressed MacIntosh or not.

  “Let me take you to our meeting hall, where we assemble the whole Community.” Angela strode out the door.

  Murray ducked back into the doorway behind him. When Angela and MacIntosh moved off, he continued his tail.

  “For a young person I have a great amount of experience in governing and making important decisions.” Angela’s voice echoed in the hall. “The other members of the Chief Council find my leadership skills impressive. They would be the first to tell you I am an asset to this Community and, indeed, would be an asset in any form of government.’

  What did she want?

  “I heard you speaking to my younger brother, Murray. You mentioned taking him back to the Government Bunker.”

  “A young lad with those skills, it would be a shame to waste them.” MacIntosh sounded enthusiastic once more. “We could teach him a great deal.”

  “So, you want him to visit the Government Bunker?”

  “Yes, that would be wonderful. But he feels he needs the permission of his older brother, Rory.”

  “I may be able to persuade Rory.” There was a suggestive note to her tone.

  “Oh, I’d appreciate it greatly, Miss Murray-Campbell.”

  “And you would want someone with governing experience to return with you? Surely the Government needs someone who has experienced life out here and knows how to survive, and has a deep knowledge of the people up top, as you call us?” Angela’s voice dropped. “A valuable resource, a team member who would be an ideal representative of the Communities when the Scottish Government rules overtly, once more?”

  “Well, those sorts of decisions are not up to me.”

  “But you could put a good word in for me, couldn’t you?” Angela’s tone was unusually soft.

  A silence came from the room as Murray stood behind its door.

  What’s goin’ on?

  “Miss Murray-Campbell! I’m a married man!”

  “Oh! Okay. Beg your pardon.” Angela’s sharp authoritative voice returned. “Let me show you our science facilities.”

  The sounds of Angela’s clicking heels, followed by MacIntosh’s footsteps, made their way out of the assembly hall. Murray dashed inside and through the hall in time to see MacIntosh disappearing into the barn where they stored the scientific equipment, meagre as it was. Compared to the equipment the Government brought, it was an embarrassment. Why would she want to show MacIntosh that?

  Murray snuck along the corridor that Angela had taken her guest into. Why was she showing him their archaic computer equipment in the almost bare technical room? Well, at least the old computer had more RAM now.

  Still so unimpressive.

  Murray ducked into a side room once more as Angela guided MacIntosh out of the small room and led him along the corridor to...oh, no!

  In her enthusiasm, Angela strode fast and the large man behind her easily kept up with her pace. Murray caught up as they entered the room where they housed The Time Machine.

  “Angela, no!” Murray’s voice rang out in the high raftered barn.

  MacIntosh stepped over the cables taped to the hard-packed earthen-floor and cast his gaze over the console containing the controls for The Time Machine.

  “What do we have here?” He ran his hand along the metal console then glanced up at the fibreglass cubicle, which had once been an old shower recess.

  “Angela. No,” Murray said, his voice firm.

  MacIntosh’s eyes flicked up to Murray’s, they held curiosity. MacIntosh faced Angela.

  “Tell me—”

  “Only if you promise to let me come to the Government Bunker.” Angela’s response was lightning fast.

  “No, Angela!” Murray’s voice rang out in the barn. He ran over the cold, dirt floor to where the power chords connected to their electricity supply and pulled them out.

  “Okay. He’s all riled up. You’ve got to tell me.” MacIntosh’s tone was suddenly greedy, his left eye twitched as his stare bore into Murray.

  “No, Angela.” Murray’s nails dug into his palms as he faced them both.

  “Quiet, brother. You don’t know what’s at stake here.” Her eyes were wide as she turned to him.

  “Angela, you don’t know what’s at stake here. Don’t!” He shook his head so hard his neck hurt.

  “Time Machine.” Angela barely spoke it, her throat convulsing in a swallow.

  “What?” MacIntosh’s hands paused on the control console.

  “Nothing.” Murray fought to calm the adrenalin surge. “Just something we’ve been playing with.” His throat tightened with an anguish and an anger at his sister, like nothing he’d ever experienced.

  Shut up Angela, leave it at that.

  “It’s a Time Machine and it works. My brother Rory has used it twice.” Angela gulped as she stood straighter.

  Yep, and that same brother, Rory, is going to kill you.

  “You can have permission to examine it if you promise to take me with you when you return to the Government Bunker.” Angela’s eyes narrowed.

  Murray’s breath began to falter. She’d done it. She’d really done it. Sold everyone out for her ambitious desires.

  Oh, hell.

  Chapter 20

  Loch Ewe

  Rory sat beside Siobhan on a log by the water’s edge. Siobhan had stopped crying but still looked distressed. Her face, rosy from sunburn, was now even redder. A sea otter played nearby, his splashes and dives stirred the water and caused more ripples as his miniature waves hit the shore. At any other time, his antics would have been quite amusing. Rory had followed Siobhan when she retreated to the loch’s side once Antony had finished his little speech. His cutting, accusing, embarrassing speech.

  Bastard.

  Traitor.

  Madman.

  Rory was now convinced years of living underground had warped the man’s mind.

  Rory had to get on with it. Time was wasting.

  “Siobhan, I’ve got to speak with Sanjay about this nuke.” He sounded apologetic as he took his arm from around her shoulders
.

  “I’m so sorry and slightly embarrassed—” Siobhan’s moist eyes looked into his.

  “Don’t be. I think the man is unwell. Well, it’s what I’ll say for now, anyway.”

  Rory stood and walked across the grass to the table where Sanjay looked at a computer, the light emitting from its screen and reflecting on his face hid none of his pallor. Angus hovered over him.

  “Sanjay, you okay?” Siobhan had followed him and now rushed to the IT tech’s side.

  Sanjay shook his head and grimaced. “I need to let whoever will sort out the nuke...” He grabbed his shoulder and gasped. “I need to let them know what to do.”

  Beads of sweat dripped down his face. Siobhan placed her hand on his forehead.

  “He’s boiling.”

  ‘Infection?’ Rory mouthed over Sanjay’s head. Siobhan nodded.

  “I’ll go get some antibiotics.” Siobhan half turned to go.

  “No. I need to tell you all this now, please.” Sanjay looked to Rory with pleading eyes.

  Rory moved closer to view the computer screen. The sound of footsteps came behind him. He turned to where Xian, Kendra, and Callum stood.

  “Oh, no. You three are on guard duty.”

  “No, we’ve handed that over—” Kendra began.

  “Guard duty and no arguments!” Rory said, his voice as loud and firm as he could make it without yelling.

  But he would yell at them if he must. Callum blinked. Rory gave him a look and Callum turned and walked to the tents. Kendra still had her mouth open and a hand on her hip. He narrowed his eyes at her. She closed her mouth, turned, and followed Callum.

  Rory looked at Xian.

  Xian shook his head. “You may just need me, man.”

  Angus’ shoulder brushed against Rory’s as he peered at the screen.

  “So, we board and set the timer on the detonator. We may have to do it on each one.” Angus’ green eyes were wide, either from excitement or fear, Rory wasn’t sure. But he was sure Angus would join him in wearing a silver suit.

  “You must remove a missile from its torpedo bay, one from each rack, and change it from contact detonation to timer detonation.” Sanjay took a few breaths; speaking was exhausting him. “There can be up to sixteen missiles, depending on how many have already been deployed.”

  “Sixteen!” A shiver passed along Rory’s spine. Unbelievable.

  “How much time do we need?” Xian asked.

  “Enough time to clear the sub from mainland Scotland and the Isle of Lewis,” Rory answered.

  “And more.” Sanjay took another deep breath. “You need to be well away from the landmass to not disturb the fault line which runs almost horizontally right through Scotland.”

  “What fault line?” The cold shiver was getting icy.

  “The High Boundary Fault line which traverses Scotland through Arran, along the Firth of Clyde and Helensburgh in the west, runs through Perthshire near Dunkeld, to Stonehaven in the east.” Sanjay leaned forward a little and took a long slow breath. Rivulets of perspiration made their way down his face.

  “Oh,” Rory swallowed.

  “To sail past Lewis is almost one hundred miles.” Murdo had joined the line-up surrounding Sanjay and his laptop. “Submarines travel at forty miles per hour. That’s nautical miles. You’ll need to set the timer for about eight hours to get into the North Atlantic Ocean.”

  “But the sub will have to be under before you can detonate the nuke or nukes, so the ocean absorbs the impact and the radiation.” Angus pushed his glasses further up his nose.

  “Do they have automatic dive?” Xian asked.

  Murdo screwed up his lips and looked at Rory. “Not really. It’s an old Russian sub remember. Och, and dinnae forget anyone could ha’ made those nukes. North Korea bought them, after all. They could be Pakistani, Indian or any of the non-NATO countries.”

  Rory pursed his lips.

  Someone may have to drive it. And dive it.

  “I’ll taxi ye tae it.” Murdo offered. “I’ll leave ye with a rubber dinghy, aye?”

  None spoke as they gathered around Sanjay and the computer.

  “Well, show me how to set the timers, Sanjay.” Rory leaned closer to the screen as Sanjay brought up the illustrations and explained to Rory, Angus, Murdo and Xian.

  Rory squinted. “Ahh, could you also show me on the detonators we have? In case the nuke is nae the same as in the illustration? Then we’ll use those, aye?” He turned to Xian. “Can you go get me the gadget, so he can show me on the actual timer and detonator, please?”

  As Xian turned and walked toward the equipment piled near the tents, Rory remained turned in Xian’s direction and caught Siobhan’s expression out of the corner of his eye. She blinked away tears and swallowed. Their eyes locked.

  Siobhan’s expression was one of ‘why you?’. He gave a brief shake of his head. She turned and walked away. To get medical supplies for Sanjay, he guessed.

  Xian returned with a detonator and timer and placed them on the table in front of Sanjay. Sanjay lifted his hand to the detonator; his movements were slow as he showed the sequence for disengaging the ‘on-impact’ mode. He winced often.

  “And then the timer,” Sanjay said, his voice husky as he explained the procedure.

  Along with Rory, Xian and Angus leaned over Sanjay’s shoulder, watching every detail. When he finished, Sanjay sat back heavily in his chair, his arms limp by his sides, a grimace fixed on his features.

  “You won’t have to do all sixteen. Probably only two.” Sanjay’s chest rose as he inhaled. “One on each rack should be enough. Those going off will simulate impact causing the others to detonate. But you still must activate the others. Switch them on if they aren’t already. Sort of thing...” he let out a slow, ragged breath.

  Rory and Siobhan supported Sanjay as he walked to his tent. On the way she grabbed a small container from her supplies. Once in the tent, Siobhan undid Sanjay’s bedroll and, after laying him on it, gave him anti-biotic tablets.

  “Where did you get those?” Rory asked. “We have nae seen antibiotics, well real ones, for years.”

  “We have a small pharmaceuticals lab in the Bunker. I’ll get something to cool him down.” Siobhan put the tablets back in her pocket and went toward the water’s edge with a facecloth as Rory walked back to the others who had remained at the computer.

  “Short straw?” Xian asked.

  “No question,” Angus stated matter-of-factly as he pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. “I’m the scientist. I’m going.”

  “Well, it’s a two-man job so I’ll be with you,” Rory was just as adamant.

  “No, Rory,” Xian crossed his arms and faced Rory directly.

  “Aye, Xian. Dinnae argue. It’s my job. I know it.”

  “But we need you.”

  “I’ve no intentions of not returning. You sound like I’m going tae die.”

  “But how will the sub dive?”

  “Automatic pilot I think they call it.” Rory shrugged as he twisted his mouth.

  A cry came from Sanjay’s tent.

  “Help!” Siobhan screamed.

  Rory and Xian sprinted to his tent. Sanjay’s breath sounded like wind whistling through a narrow tube as he struggled for air. Murdo brought a torch from out of the Government’s kit and lit Sanjay’s face. He was red and swollen, his neck thick, his tongue even thicker and poking out through his lips.

  “He must be allergic,” Angus said as he came up behind them. “Where’s your Adrenalin?”

  Siobhan ran back to the supplies to get a resuscitation kit. Rory turned Sanjay onto his side, but it had no effect on his breathing.

  “But that’s what you do, isn’t it? Put them in the coma position?” There was desperation in his own voice. He usually left the serious first aid to others.

  “No, clear his airway. Tilt his head back,” Angus spoke through the doorway of the tent.

  Rory did as Angus directed. In the torchlight,
Sanjay was now turning blue. Rory started pressing Sanjay’s chest and did it the whole time they waited for Siobhan. Sanjay hadn’t taken a breath for a few moments when Siobhan finally returned with a kit.

  She took out a tube-like instrument and pressed it onto Sanjay’s thigh. It clicked. Sanjay remained still, not attempting to take any breaths.

  “What’s meant to happen?” Murdo asked.

  “He’s meant to start breathing again.” Siobhan pressed the Adrenalin gadget once more into the IT tech’s thigh. Still nothing happened. She took his pulse. Rory compressed Sanjay’s chest again a few times. Siobhan shook her head.

  “No pulse. No breaths. Oh, I took too long finding it.” She sat back on her haunches, covered her eyes with her arm and shuddered.

  Rory placed his hand on her shoulder, wanting with all his heart to hold her, but not daring. Siobhan’s shaking shoulders calmed, and after a few moments she raised her head and wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand.

  “He said he’d had penicillin before, and he wasn’t allergic.” Disbelief filled Siobhan’s voice.

  “That’s how it works.” Angus’ grave statement came from behind them. “You need exposure to it to develop an allergy. Just because you’ve had it before and were okay doesn’t mean the next time you will be. Well, that’s what I remember from when we had real anti-biotics.”

  “Thank you for the morbid piece of information.” Rory said into Angus’ face as he turned. “You and I need to prep.” He pushed Angus out of the small tent, as easily as he pushed aside the hollow ache developing within him—he’d lost another team member.

  He was being callous. But what could he do for Sanjay now? Sanjay was dead. We all behave like we are immortal.

  But we’re not.

  No one can cheat the grave. His father was the proof of it. A wry smile touched his lips. Rory shook himself. He and Angus needed to get going so they all wouldn’t be dead.

  If they were lucky.

  Antony’s activities had delayed them. He’d thwarted them from the start with his team of bandits, and then his award-winning performance!

  Rory left Siobhan and the others in the tent to deal with Sanjay.

  At least he’s with his brother now.