Alpha Force: Fault Line Read online

  Alex felt the beam like a searchlight on his body. He tried to remain calm. He put one hand up and raised the injured one as far as the sling would allow.

  ‘You’re the Indiana Jones guy who fought off the tomb robbers.’

  Alex realized they were looking for his injury. ‘That’s right.’

  The torch beam lowered and the voice became human. The loudhailer had been switched off. ‘You can put your hands down. That’s the high security area of the museum you’re in. Why are you down there?’

  Alex called out, ‘We think we heard some of the children down here. We’re worried they might have hidden here and got trapped.’

  ‘There are injured people up there too,’ said Li. ‘Can you get medical help?’

  ‘We’ll do what we can,’ said the policeman. ‘But it’s chaos in the city. All the paramedics are busy. Shops are being looted. It’s a state of emergency. Now we know you’re here we’ll try and send people your way, but I don’t know how long it will be. Good luck.’ Footsteps crunched on the rubble as they receded.

  They were alone again.

  Señora Marquez let out her breath in a long, slow stream. ‘I don’t know how you guys knew what to do, but I think you saved our lives.’

  Li looked at Alex. At least it sounded like the teacher trusted their judgement now. ‘I think we’ll be waiting a while before any official rescuers get here.’

  ‘It’s down to us then,’ said Alex. ‘Come on.’

  ‘You know, I’ve never liked confined spaces,’ said Hex. He had calmed down a little. His heart was no longer hammering like a bird trying to get out of his chest. He was going to be here for a while and he just had to accept it.

  ‘I hate them,’ said Susana. She spoke fast; anxiously. ‘I never use lifts. I never go in narrow spaces on digs.’

  She looked awful. Her face was wet in the glow from the light stick, her breathing shallow.

  ‘What about the jungle?’ said Hex.

  She snapped at him. ‘If you can’t think of something else to talk about, shut up.’

  Hex felt like he’d been slapped. He knew he wasn’t good at small talk but he was only trying to make conversation to pass the time. He was about to answer back when a spasm crossed Susana’s face and she closed her eyes.

  Something was wrong. She had opened her eyes again, but they were staring and her breathing was fast.

  She rubbed them and sighed loudly. ‘Why don’t they get us out?’ She raised her voice to a shout. ‘Hello? Can anybody hear me?’

  There was no reply. Only the drip, drip of sand.

  Hex was no medic; he had only basic first aid skills. He knew when to get help and what to do until it arrived, nothing more. This looked serious. In any other situation he’d have kept her warm and still and got her an ambulance.

  She fidgeted, then collapsed back with the effort, breathing fast.

  ‘Does it hurt?’ he said. He felt helpless.

  She half closed her eyes. Was she trying to think how to accurately describe her symptoms or was she just irritated?

  ‘Have you got any water?’ she said. ‘I’m really thirsty.’

  Hex shook his head. He couldn’t even do that for her. I’ve got to get her talking about something else, he thought. That’ll take her mind off it. Even if she doesn’t want to.

  ‘So you’re not with the school?’ he said.

  The answer was snapped back at him. ‘No. I work here.’

  ‘What were you doing here?’

  ‘I was working late. I went to sleep in my office. I have a deadline.’ She moved and winced.

  He remembered her then; coming out of her office as he climbed out of the dinosaur. If he hadn’t called to her, made her come out, she might have been OK.

  ‘Do something useful. Don’t just lie there. Try that thing of yours, that computer.’

  Hex got out his palmtop. He knew there was no point – but perhaps there was a point, he thought. It might keep her happy. Plus, they had to fill the time until help arrived.

  He powered up the little machine. Its screen cast a blue glow in the tiny space. It made the dinosaur bones around them more clear and real. He called up the e-mail program; it came up with the same message: no signal. The state-of-the-art machine was no more use than a games console. ‘No,’ he said. ‘There’s still nothing.’ He put it away again carefully.

  Susana let out an exasperated sigh and shivered. ‘I’m parched. Have you got any water?’

  Hex shook his head. She’d forgotten she’d just asked. It was a bit disturbing, as if her wiring had gone wrong.

  All he had to do was keep her talking, keep her calm. Any minute now they might hear the chink-chink of pickaxes and then they could start getting out.

  20 EVACUATION

  Li climbed the fire hose that Paulo had left. They’d retraced their steps to just beyond where they’d hidden from the police, got into a small utility room that housed the main fuse boxes – and found a situation that was depressingly familiar. Jagged pieces of masonry filling the corridor. No spaces to squeeze through, and no sign of any space beyond. It was impassable. They listened but they heard nothing, just shifting masonry, as constant as the creak of rigging on a ship. The only positive point was that they’d been able to turn off the electricity properly. But it wasn’t the rescue they were hoping for.

  Li reached the top and began to thread the fire hose through the abseil harness. A sound made her pause.

  A torch beam illuminated the front wall and there was a crunch of footsteps: someone was climbing through the hole.

  The torch was too bright for Li to see who was holding it. The night vision goggles were still down at the bottom, with Alex and Señora Marquez. The light became steady, focused on the ground. Now the footsteps were coming towards her. She was about to call out but something about the figure made her skin prickle. It walked slowly, with assurance, as though completely used to that environment. Everyone else had been picking their way hesitantly. She saw a shadowy bulk. A man. A big man. He knew what he was doing and he moved with purpose.

  A looter? Come to get the mask he’d seen on TV?

  ‘Hello,’ he called. His torch flashed over her, as if assessing her. Sizing her up to see how much trouble she’d be?

  He loomed out of the darkness – a tall figure with a thick neck. Li moved her feet surreptitiously. How firm was it underfoot? If she had to do a throw on him would she end up in the pit too?

  He stopped beside Li and looked down at the makeshift abseil gear in her hands. She was getting ready to strike when a piercing voice came from the doorway of the axe room.

  ‘Daddy!’

  Beatriz was standing in the doorway with a light stick.

  The man walked lightly across to her and picked her up in his strong arms. As he turned in the doorway there were more delighted shouts from the children in the room. Soon a scrum of small figures was attempting to hug him.

  Li finished attaching the abseil harness, laughing quietly at herself. She was getting too jumpy.

  Beatriz’s father helped Li haul the others out of the basement and into what remained of the lobby. Soon Alex was in the axe room, where Paulo and Amber gave him a warm welcome.

  ‘About time,’ said Amber, looking him up and down.

  ‘You lazy git,’ said Paulo, slapping him playfully on his good arm. ‘What have you been doing all this time? Having a lie down?’

  ‘Building up my strength, biding my time,’ grinned Alex.

  But then it was back to work. There was still so much to be done. ‘Did you find anyone down there?’ said Paulo.

  Li shook her head. ‘It’s blocked. We couldn’t get through.’

  Alex took something out of his pocket. ‘I got this. It was on the wall in the utility room.’ He unfolded a big piece of paper.

  Beatriz’s father knew what it was immediately. ‘Firemen’s plans.’

  Alex nodded. ‘We should be able to find another way into those inaccessible plac
es.’

  ‘Are we going, Daddy?’ Beatriz looked up at her father. ‘Did you bring the van?’

  He ruffled her hair. ‘Yes, I did, and Mummy’s outside waiting.’ He turned to the four members of Alpha Force. ‘I’ve got a van with blankets and medical supplies. It’ll be a lot more comfortable and safer than staying in here.’

  Paulo, Amber, Li and Alex looked at each other. ‘Great – let’s get organized. Are you from the emergency services?’

  ‘Not exactly. Sorry, I’d better introduce myself. I used to be a fireman. Now I always make sure I’ve got equipment for emergencies because you never know when a disaster will happen. My name’s Miguel.’

  While they did the round of introductions, Li smiled to herself. Well that explained why he looked so comfortable walking into the wrecked building.

  Señora Marquez had been quiet but she recognized the cue to swing into action. Clapping her hands for attention, she addressed the room in confident classroom tones. ‘Girls and boys, listen up. We’re going to be moving out of here so I want you to form a queue here by me.’

  The children obediently lined up next to their teacher: Rosa, Gabriel, Pedro, Consuela, Beatriz, and two more who had recently been dug out – Sofia and Andreas. Vicente and Alejandro were out too; Paulo had been keeping a close eye on the boy and once he was warm and calm it was clear he was not injured.

  Amber thought of the teacher under the rubble. ‘If you guys go with the evacuation I’ll stay with Señora Zapata, make sure she’s OK.’

  Señora Marquez caught the mention of her colleague’s name and gave Amber a challenging look. Paulo took her elbow and said to her quietly, ‘Your colleague is injured and can’t get out, but we’re looking after her.’

  She looked torn for a moment, then professionalism took over. She glanced at the group of children in front of her. ‘Are all the children you’ve freed here?’

  Paulo admired her focus. She was doing her duty and putting the children first. Friends would have to wait until later.

  ‘Put your light stick in your right hand and hug the wall as you go along,’ called Miguel. The children were in a line, ready to embark on the tricky walk out of the building.

  ‘I’ll go first,’ said Li.

  Miguel had been about to volunteer to lead the way, but something about Li’s confidence made him stand down. ‘I’ll bring up the rear,’ he said.

  Li trained her torch on the ground at her feet and moved forwards. With the number of light sticks, the area was now bathed in a bright glow and Miguel could see what had been concealed when he came in with just a torch. All that was left of the floor was a ledge one metre wide. A lot of people would have been unnerved by the thought of being so close to a big drop but Li was walking along it as calmly as if it was a pavement on the edge of a road. It was a while since Miguel had worked in the fire service, but some of his colleagues had never achieved the level of coolness under pressure that he was seeing in Li.

  And it was having a beneficial effect on everybody. Her certainty communicated itself to the rest of the party. Gabriel was right behind her, following quietly and sensibly. Then came Jose; then Rosa. Imelda followed her, then Sofia. Each child had an adult nearby to reassure them. Señora Marquez was next, followed by Consuela. Then came Alex, who was followed by Vicente. Paulo came after that, carrying Pedro because of his injured foot. Alejandro came next, and Andreas. Finally, Miguel brought up the rear, with Beatriz grasping his hand tightly.

  Li’s torch skimmed over the ragged hole left by the girder. She peered through, then turned and took Gabriel’s hand. ‘Just climb through and wait on the other side.’

  He climbed through and Li heard a woman’s voice greet him. One by one, Li ushered the children through the hole and out of the dangerous building. When it was Paulo’s turn, he lifted Pedro through and Jose helped him out on the other side.

  Miguel stepped through with the three members of Alpha Force. A small, neat woman was guiding the children towards a white van parked next to a fallen tree.

  ‘Come and meet my wife, Thalia,’ said Miguel.

  The road was deserted, eerily empty, but there was a wail of emergency sirens. The sky was dark except for occasional flashes of blue in the distance as ambulances and fire trucks fought through the streets.

  ‘Listen to those sirens,’ said Paulo. ‘The city must be in chaos.’ He flicked his torch back at the museum building; it caught the ragged hole they had climbed through, the render flaking off the walls like crumbling icing.

  Alex was nodding. ‘But we’ve got these kids out.’

  ‘Four more to go – and Señora Zapata,’ said Li. ‘And Hex.’

  Amber stuck her head into the little hole. ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘Fine,’ said Señora Zapata. But she didn’t sound fine, she sounded worried.

  ‘Are you in any pain?’ said Amber.

  The teacher shook her head. ‘No, I’m all right.’ She smiled at Amber weakly. ‘Isn’t it quiet, now the children have gone? I thought you were all leaving me.’

  ‘We wouldn’t do that.’ Amber crawled into the small space and made herself comfortable. The area under the concrete slab was different now; frightening and bleak without the sound of the children’s steady chatter and the glow from their light sticks. How horrible to be trapped in here, unable to move.

  ‘Have you found everyone?’ asked the teacher.

  ‘Most of them,’ said Amber. ‘Four of the children still haven’t been seen.’

  ‘I know there’s someone dead under that rock over there.’

  Amber was stunned. They’d tried to keep that from everyone. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘When you’ve got nothing to do you notice a lot of things. Jose and Imelda – and you and that big good-looking friend of yours kept the kids away. It’s my colleague Señor Mermoz, isn’t it?’

  Amber nodded.

  ‘I knew something must have happened to him. Normally he’d have been out here organizing everyone. He’s a big personality. You notice when he’s in the room and you also notice when he’s not.’ Her hands were clasped together, the fingers fidgeting. The pads of her fingers were free of dust, unlike the rest of her hands. She looked like she’d been doing a lot of worrying.

  The teacher sighed. ‘My husband wanted to come on this trip, but he had to visit his mother. She’s not well. I’m glad he didn’t come; to get trapped in this. But I’m also worried I’ll never see him again.’

  ‘He might have got out,’ said Amber. ‘Don’t lose hope.’

  ‘I don’t mean him,’ said Señora Zapata. ‘He phoned me just after the quake hit. He was all right – he’s on his way.’ She drew her hands apart. In the glow from the light stick Amber saw something glint. ‘When he comes, will you give this to him?’

  It was a small circle of gold. A wedding ring. Amber was shocked. ‘Oh no, that’s not necessary. Listen, let me get you some water—’

  Señora Zapata cut her off. ‘Amber, I know why they haven’t freed me. They can’t. They daren’t. They said they need to wait for the ambulance. But when is an ambulance going to get through? Jose said the roads are blocked. No one’s going anywhere. How long can I stay like this? I can’t feel my legs.’

  Amber took a deep breath. She also took the ring and slid it gently back onto the woman’s finger. ‘Señora Zapata, you’re right that we can’t move you. But you’re still alive and we’re still fighting for you.’

  Señora Zapata closed her eyes and folded her hands one on top of the other. She looked serene, like an effigy on top of a tomb. ‘You’re right. I shouldn’t give up hope. You’re not giving up hope.’

  Amber caught the tone in her voice. ‘No,’ she agreed quietly. ‘We’re not giving up hope.’

  Li, Paulo, Alex, Jose and Miguel returned to the ruined museum and made their way back in along the ledge. Jose had the sledgehammer; Miguel had a crowbar. Li and Paulo had light sticks and torches. They had left Thalia, Imelda and Señora Marquez
with the children, giving out blankets and hot drinks from water boiled on a camping stove.

  ‘We’ll look at the fire plans,’ said Miguel. ‘In such a big building there should be another way into that basement, perhaps from outside.’

  Li stopped. ‘Don’t move,’ she said.

  Unquestioningly, Paulo and Alex obeyed her. Miguel did too. These kids really worked together as a team, he thought. They were like a tight-knit military unit.

  ‘What’s up?’ said Paulo.

  ‘I felt something,’ said Li. ‘Something moved.’

  They all felt the sweat freeze on their backs. Was it another tremor? An aftershock?

  Very, very tentatively, Alex put his hand on the wall.

  It was vibrating.

  He yelled, ‘Outside!’

  They turned like lightning and ran for the hole in the wall. They dived out, rolled on the ground and in moments were on their feet and running away across the cracked paving stones.

  Paulo called out. ‘Stop, guys. It’s not a quake.’ He stood and bent over, getting his breath. The others looked at him as though he was mad. ‘The ground’s not shaking,’ he gasped.

  Li and Alex looked at each other. ‘I definitely felt something move,’ said Li.

  ‘So did I,’ said Miguel.

  From inside the building there was a crash. The four observers threw themselves to the ground. The shocks reverberated through their bones. Screams came from Miguel’s white van.

  Slowly, Alex looked up. Then Paulo. Then Li and Miguel.

  Alex flashed the torch over the building. It looked the same but there had been so much damage already that spotting anything new was difficult.

  It was Li who noticed. ‘It’s the roof. Another section’s fallen in.’

  Miguel sighed. ‘Must have been weakened.’

  ‘And Amber’s still in there,’ said Alex.

  21 DYING WISH

  Hex heard a crash. He tried to sit up but the thump of solid masonry against his elbows, spine and knees reminded him that he couldn’t move. But what was that sound?