Terminus by Adam Baker Read Free Book Online Page A

what it takes.’
    Nariko stood and began to walk away.
    ‘I can help you find Ekks,’ said Lupe.
    ‘You know where he is?’
    ‘I know exactly where he is.’
    ‘You can take us to him?’
    ‘I’ll show you on a map. If you want to chase after the guy, it’s up to you.’
    ‘He’s close by?’
    ‘Yeah. He’s real close.’
    ‘Tell me where he is.’
    Lupe held up her ankle chain.
    ‘Uncuff me. I’ll give you Ekks if you set me free.’
    ‘Fuck you.’
    Lupe shrugged. She leaned back, head against the pillar and closed her eyes.
    ‘Come on,’ demanded Nariko. She kicked Lupe’s foot. ‘Enough games. Where the hell is Ekks?’
    Lupe smiled. A gold incisor.
    ‘Can’t say I know much about radiation. But you guys are on a clock. All of you. You’ve taken on a shitload of rads already. Few hours from now, you’ll feel the first effects. Few hours after that, the sickness will take hold for real. The longer you stay, the worse it will get. How long before the damage becomes irreversible? How long before you shit yourself blind? Puke your entire digestive system over your shoes?’
    ‘You’ll get sick too.’
    ‘Then I guess we’ve got ourselves a standoff.’
    ‘Want me to talk to Galloway?’ asked Nariko. ‘Maybe I could arrange some time alone, just you and him. Pretty sure he could engineer a little attitude adjustment.’
    Lupe smiled and shook her head.
    ‘You won’t do shit. Haven’t got the cojones. Face it, girl. I’m holding all the cards.’

14
    Cloke’s watch beeped.
    ‘Meds,’ he shouted.
    He distributed potassium iodide and anti-nausea capsules. They passed round a bottle of mineral water and knocked back pills.
    He reset his watch and started a four-hour countdown.
    Nariko unzipped a backpack and shook out the contents. Toiletries, fresh underwear, fresh T-shirt. Each member of the team had brought personal possessions, stuff they might need for the duration of the mission.
    She took out a battered leather fire hat. She polished the captain’s badge with her sleeve and set the helmet on her head.
    ‘Nice hat,’ said Cloke.
    ‘Belonged to my stepdad.’
    ‘They’ll burn it, once we get back to Ridgeway. You know that, right? They’ll have us strip naked for a decon shower. Probably shave our heads. And while we get hosed down, they’ll scrub down the chopper and incinerate our clothes. Torch everything. Your watch, your earrings. They won’t let you keep a thing.’
    ‘I’m going to wear this hat into the shower. If they give me any shit, I’ll break their arms.’
    Cloke crossed the hall. He shouldered the fire exit door.
    Jammed.
    He kicked until he forced a six-inch aperture, then shone his flashlight into the stairway. Steps and door blocked by massive chunks of concrete.
    ‘How the hell did you make it through?’ he asked.
    ‘Whole lot of squirming.’
    ‘Got to be six, seven tons of debris.’
    ‘This whole place is a death trap.’
    Donahue climbed the steps to street level. She unzipped a backpack. She unfolded a tripod antenna and set it facing the curtained entrance. A mesh dish supported by a skeletal rod frame.
    ‘Hey, babe.’
    Tombes watched her work.
    ‘Bitch to get a signal down here,’ said Donahue. ‘Schist bedrock capped with reinforced concrete. Smothers any transmission stone dead.’
    ‘How did Ekks and his team get coverage?’
    ‘I heard they used steel cable. Ran it out the gate into the alley. Tethered it to a fire escape, turned the ladders and balconies to a big antenna. Ingenious.’
    ‘Maybe we should pull the same trick,’ said Tombes.
    ‘You want to go out there? Take a plutonium shower? Be my guest.’
    Rain crackled against the opaque polythene sheet lashed across the entrance gate. They could hear ragged fingernails rake the plastic.
    ‘Check it out,’ said Tombes. ‘It’s got our scent. Trying to force its way inside. Tough motherfucker. Must have absorbed a dose strong enough to kill ten men. Just won’t