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“Then these. We must get them into this bucketbil and out of here without being seen.”
He kicked a tarpaulin aside, let the worklight play over them for an instant, then covered them again.
They were two frames made of rebar. They were shaped like coffins and were the same size as coffins. The finger—thick lengths of reinforcing bar were closely, placed and crossed at right angles, then had been welded into place to form the cages. One side of each cage was hinged so it could be opened. Open this and crawl in. Close and turn the latch. Then—what he pla
I took a deep breath, then let it out in a long, slow sigh. “Let’s do it,” I finally said. “The quicker the better because I don’t want to have time to think about it, or estimate our chances to get Out alive instead of being pulverized.”
Chapter 19
This was the last bucketbil in need of repair. We stretched the work out as long as we dared. Knowing that when it went back to work—so would I. In the rockpit. Before that happened we had to make our break together. One man could not do it alone. All our preparations for escape had been made long since. It was just the idea of getting crushed along with the rest of the rocks that had been holding us back. I ran the file over the protruding bolthead. Stepped back to admire my work—then threw the tool onto the ground. “Let’s do it—and quick.”
Berkk hesitated a moment, then nodded grim agreement. I dug into the scrap pile and found the cosh that I had made. I pulled its strap onto my wrist and slipped the thing up my sleeve. It was just a plastic tube filled with ball bearings but would surely do the job.
Berkk looked at me and I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile and a thumbs—up. He wheeled about and stabbed the button that would summon our keeper.
Who was very slow about arriving. Undoubtedly involved in some other sordid task. Minutes slipped by and I saw the beads of perspiration form on Berkk’s forehead—even though the workshop was chill.
“Press it again,” I said. “Maybe he didn’t hear it the first time.”
Again. And a third time. I slammed the cosh against my palm, testing it. Behind me the door rattled open and I just had time to get it back up my sleeve again as Buboe appeared. “What you ring so much for?”
“Finished,” Berkk said, slapping the metal flank of the bucketbil. “Take out,” Buboe said, turning his key in the lock. Cold wind blew in and he turned to glare at me. “You out of here. Go work.” He continued to stare at me, his back to the bucketbil, slapping the bioclast against his trouser leg.
“Sure, whatever you say.” I smiled insincerely instead of screaming.
This was not going right. He was supposed to be looking at Berkk so I could work my will upon him without getting a bioclast blast at full power. Behind him I could see Berkk climbing up the ladder and dropping into the control seat. The motor hammered and burst into life. And our captor still stared at me. And stepped forward.
“Out, go,” he commanded. Lifting the bioclast towards me.
The bucketbil’s engine idled roughly and died.
“Something’s very wrong here,” Berkk called out, staring down in horror.
We stayed that way as long seconds ticked by. The bioclast waving before me, the brute’s eyes fixed on mine, Berkk clutching the steering wheel not knowing what else to do.
Luckily our thuggish warder’s brain was incapable of entertaining two thoughts at one time. When the meaning of Berkk’s words finally penetrated, he turned around.
“What happen?”
“This,” I said, released from frightened paralysis, taking a single step forward. The cosh dropped into my hand, I swung—and he dropped heavily to the ground. I raised the cosh again but he lay, unmoving. Not stirring even when I pried the weapon from his grip.
“Let’s do it!” I shouted, pulling the tarpaulin from off our horde.
Berkk lifted the first rebar cage and heaved it up into the bucket. I used the prepared lengths of wire to bind the unconscious man, ankles and wrists, then wired his legs and arms one to the other. He could untwist the wire when he came around, but it would take time. While we, hopefully, would be long gone. I tied the gag into his mouth and dragged him back just as Berkk was heaving up the second cage. I pulled the tarp over the bound man and straightened up. Berkk had the big outer door partly open, held it that way as I clambered up the side of the machine and dropped into the bucket.
“Anyone out there?” I asked as he got into the driver’s seat.
“No machines, no one in sight.” He started the engine again and I could see his hands trembling.
“Slowly now, take your time. A deep breath, that’s it. Now—go! And don’t forget that you have to close the door once we’re outside!”
The way he had revved the engine told me that he had forgotten the next step, driven now by panic and not intelligence. But having been reminded, he now did just as we had pla
As we drove into the darkness, I pulled myself up so I could look over the lip of the bucket. Lights and trundling machines were working in the open pit ahead.
“Did you… did you kill him?” Berkk asked.
“Far from it, skull like rock. He’ll have a headache—”
“And we’ll be gone. There’s a bucketbil dumping right now.”
“Only one?”
“Yes.” “Go slower, take the long way. Don’t get there until it’s gone.”
We slowed and rumbled on; I ducked back down as headlights washed over us. Moments later we stopped. The engine died but the headlights stayed on, illuminating the black bulk of the hopper.
“Let’s go!” he shouted and jumped to the ground.
I realized I was still holding the bioclast. I threw it far out into the hopper and it vanished from sight. Then I heaved the first cage up and over the side onto the ground, bent and dragged up the other one. It followed the first and I went right after it.
We had pla
“No ..,” He pulled back. I balled a fist and hit him on the jaw. Not enough to knock him unconscious—I hoped!—but enough to addle his thoughts.
It worked. I hauled his limp body into the cage and was dosing the sealing hasp when he began screaming and tearing at me through the bars.
“Keep your hands inside!” I shouted as I kicked the cage off the ledge. It rattled down into the hopper and vanished from sight.
Now—could I do that to myself?
“Good enough for him, Jim. It better be good enough for you”
Easy enough to say; harder to do. I opened the hinged side and looked down into the cage. It was like looking into a rebar coffin.
I don’t know how long I stood like that, unable to move, unable to commit myself to the destiny I had so easily tipped my partner into.
Headlights washed over me. “Bowb!” I grimaced between grated teeth. Dropped down, crawled in, locked the gate. Took a very deep breath. Reached through the bars to grab the edge. Pulled myself over. Dropped into darkness. As we go through life we should learn from experience. Some of us never do. I have done a number of foolhardy and very dangerous things in my lifetime. One would think that I would have learned by experience. I never have. I cursed loudly as my cage banged and clattered down the wall, held tight to the inside handles.