Chapter 4: Beyond Thunderdome

“Scout troop leader to Captain Abbazia,” said the voice over the radio. “We have made contact with hostiles. How should we proceed?”

Abbazia gave a hand signal to the Communications Officer indicating that he wanted to reply. “Say again, troop leader.”

“There are people here, sir. Do you want us to kill them?”

“You haven’t already?”

There was a pause before the reply. “No, sir. They’re very clever, sir.”

“Have you seen any sign of that energy source we sent you down there to find?”

“Not yet, sir. We haven’t finished securing the place yet.”

“In that case, troop leader, try to apprehend rather than eliminate the hostiles.”

“Sir?”

“I know, troop leader. It goes against all my training as well. But this comes directly from Her Ladyship herself. If you can’t bring her back the power source, she wants some people to interrogate. Better them than you, troop leader.”

“Yes, sir. Live capture if possible. Sir?”

“Yes, troop leader?”

“There’s more than one. Does Her Ladyship want all of them? I only ask because the boys are a little worked up, sir. Do them a world of good if they got to blast one or two of them.”

“Better safe than sorry, troop leader.”

“Understood, Captain Abbazia.”

Chapter 5: The New Batch

The kitchen door shook with what sounded like a series of small explosions on the opposite side.

“That’s our cue,” Archie announced. “Where’s this secret passage of yours, Docian?”

“This way,” he replied. He headed toward one of the large fireplaces, beckoning the others to follow him. They did.

Haley asked, “How do you know so much about this place anyway? Were you a monk?”

“No, I… spent some time here as a child. Here we are!” Docian stepped over to a large metal grate in the floor, crouched down, and locked his fingers into the latticework. “Give me a hand with this,” he requested.

“You go ahead, Haley,” said Archie. “I’ll lift the next heavy iron grill.” Haley moved to the opposite side of the grate from Docian and took hold of it. Together, they heaved, but the grate remained fixed in place. “Lift with the legs,” Archie coached.

“Once more,” Docian said. “I think we almost had it. Ready? Lift!” Once again, they struggled, to no avail.

Archie asked, “Is there a lock or something?”

Docian shook his head. “It must be rusted shut. Look for something we can bang on it with to loosen it up.”

Archie spotted a poker by the fireplace. He reached over and grabbed it. “Here you go.” Docian took the poker, motioned for everyone to stand back, and swung it at the grate with all his might. The ringing of metal on metal filled the room, momentarily blocking out even the steady thundering at the kitchen’s main door. Again and again he smashed the poker all around the edges of the grate, hoping the shock would dislodge decades of oxidation.

Docian handed the poker, now bent and twisted, back to Archie. “Let’s try this again,” he said to Haley. “And… go!” The two yanked on the grate. Archie looked over at the door. It was starting to crumble a bit in the middle. “It moved! Again!” They pulled one more time. The grip of the grate on its frame finally broke loose. Haley and Docian spilled backwards as they launched it upward.

“Look out!” Haley cried to her grandfather. His attention thus grabbed, Archie ducked away before he even had time to see what had happened. The grate landed on the floor with a clatter.

“Good job,” Docian told Haley. “Let’s go.”

Archie looked uncertainly down the hole. “So, what’s down there?”

Haley tugged on his arm. “The way out, Grandpa. Come on.”

Docian sat on the edge of the hole, his legs dangling. “It’s perfectly safe,” Docian assured him.

“That’s not what I asked,” Archie pointed out. “What’s down there?”

“Nothing to worry about. Come along.” Docian slipped off the edge and let himself fall down into the hole. “See?” he called up to them. “Easy.”

Over the racket of the main door in its final death throes, Archie exclaimed, “Forget it! I’m not jumping down a strange hole. I could break something.”

“Grandpa,” Haley admonished, “you have to. It’s the only way. You’ll be fine.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You have no idea how long it takes for a bone to heal in someone my age.”

“Well, I’m going,” Haley announced, positioning herself by the opening. “I’m sure I won’t be raped and murdered or anything.”

“Yes,” Archie agreed. “You go ahead. I’ll see if I can delay them a little.”

“How, with your bullet-riddled corpse? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“They’re not using bullets. Go ahead.”

Haley stared down at the darkness. She nodded, stood up, and said, “I’m not going to leave you here alone.”

From below, Docian’s voice wafted up. “Hurry up! What’s taking so long?”

“Stupid girl!” Archie shouted. “Go!” He pointed down at the opening.

“Do you want to die, Grandpa? Is that it?”

The door exploded inward, showering bits of rubble across the kitchen. “Nobody move!” shouted someone from beyond the dust cloud.

“Archie said, “Now is not the time for that discussion.”

Half a dozen hulking figures stormed in through the remains of the ancient stone door. They surrounded the pair, weapons ready to fire. One of them said, “By order of Lady Effulgia, you are hereby under arrest."

“Well,” Archie commented. “That went better than expected.”