Part 35 The Deep Thoughts Of Hedgehogs - Revised

As Maggie and I lay in bed in the darkness of our room, we discussed the things touched upon over dinner. I discovered that I needed her feedback, her intuition and overall opinion of the plan that we sketched out. Ellis' lover was indeed one of the researchers who interviewed me, he was also the chief security officer. A well built individual who obviously done some field work instead of being cooped up in a laboratory all the time. His name was Steinberg and he had the strong Nordic look of one's whose family descended from that ancient line. His overall demeanor, confident, calm and relaxed. He was an 180 from Ellis, who'd still looked like he would jump 10 feet if a mouse farted next to him. Startling contrast to his “in charge” attitude during the interview. Still if he was able to play his role effectively along with everyone else, we just might be able to pull it off.

My eyes moved across the room to the dresser located at the far wall across from the bed. Sitting on top, still in it's scabbard, was my sword. A nice surprise from Steinberg who called it a house-warming gift for me. Apparently with his connections he was able to retrieve it from the security lockers. He hinted that he was owed a favor from the Sargent in charge. He gave the usual warning about not carrying it openly throughout the complex. He also added that he hoped it would be a token of trust between our two groups. According to him he would be able to retrieve the rest of our personal weaponry within a few days. Ammunition however would have to be smuggled out a little at a time.

The dinner went well enough, basically it was take out from the cafeteria, but Maggie and I were able to put something together and make it all look like we went through the trouble of cooking it ourselves. The apartments had kitchens but nothing more than a microwave, a small fridge inset into one wall, linoleum counter tops, a few cabinets and drawers for a few items of kitchen/dining ware that could be found at the PX. Most of the residents chose to eat in the cafeteria anyway out of convenience than anything else.

The conversation over dinner was light at first, allowing ourselves time to eat and get to know one another before settling down to business. Steinberg was already liked by James as he surprised him with the ability to finger spell his way to a short conversation with the boy. I guessed that they pulled out all stops to make sure they would be trusted. It all seemed sincere enough, but my own experienced with “charming” people is to never give them that 100%.

I took my eyes off my sword and stared at the blank ceiling above us. Maggie sighed and snuggled closer to me, wrapping her arm over my chest and finding a spot on my shoulder to lay her head. “what part of the plan has got you worried the most?” she asked quietly. I felt myself squirming involuntarily at the thought, but held her to me to let her know I wasn't trying to shrug her off of me. “Damned near all of it, I suppose” I responded back quietly, “but the biggest part is getting up and out of the main shaft. It's going to be a long climb up that ladder. I think you, James and Steinberg and I shouldn't have any trouble getting up there but I'm concerned about your dad, though he's in pretty good shape, he's got age working against him, might have to rest more often. Ellis, doesn't strike me as a man able to do two push-ups in a row, much less a hundred foot climb up a steel ladder.”

That was the back-up plan should something go wrong. The main one would be comparatively easier. Simply head on up to the surface tunnel in a group and go for a brief expedition. To choose a day where the weather would ground the air patrols long enough for us to drive out of range. Since Steinberg was one of the chief security officers he'd be able to get us all a pass off the base. Provided there wasn't a hitch. Ellis explained that occasionally they were sending people out with armed escort to attempt study of the zombies. But since so little was known and a few of the earlier ones had disastrous results, they didn't go out as often. Ellis was excited about their escape plan, working because now they had me. The “expert” who would ensure a successful foray.

I debated on mentioning the sniper who, I didn't doubt, was still waiting for us to appear. Frank brought him up in the presence of our new co-conspirators. None of the snipers in Frank's original unit had survived the initial outbreak. It wouldn't matter either way. The General ordered a base lock-down under the premise that there was a series of storms heading our way in the next few days. This would ground air patrols and the roving vehicles would have their perimeters brought in to prepare for the inevitable storm damage that would occur in this area at this time of year.

My concern was, and thinking like someone who'd I want to mess up an entire day of a person who I held a vendetta against. I'd round up a herd and lead them to where I'm at. Get a herd big enough, and they'll over run the base just like they done before in the beginning, with other bases. Still, it might aid in our escape, provided everything goes as plan and everything doesn't go to hell as the plan is enacted. I didn't realize that I was muttering all of this in a low voice, until Maggie shuddered against me.

“Damn, you're a bastard aren't you?” she asked softly. Her tone cautious and a touch of irony.

I tilted my head down to her and rubbed her arm. “Just protecting me, myself and my own.” and gave her a small squeeze of reassurance. I needed at least her to feel confident in the plan and not be worried about her own. I did include James in my mix, but felt un-sure about Frank. The previous dreams left me with a sense of dread about his future. When we talked it was almost as if he wasn't there. I don't know, what I needed to worry about at the moment if we'd be able to pull it off.

Earlier I went through my pack and found that it was only the weapons, that whomever searched it, had “confiscated.” I gotten my sword back but was missing a spare pistol, ammo for the same and my side-arm (which was also gone) and my knife. Curiously they left the leatherman, which I now carried with me in my back pocket instead of the holster because that required a belt and the clothes that were issued to us, were fitting well enough, that they didn't need any. My other gear was left largely alone, not where I put it in the pack of course. Who ever it was that re-packed it didn't know squat about how I do things.

Still thinking, I heard Maggie murmur to me in the dark, “is there anything I can do for you?” My old self found me a little annoyed, and without a word, my hand that was on her arm, moved up to her neck and began pushing her head down my body. She got the hint, then resisted at first, until I applied bit more pressure, causing her to sigh and giggling quietly, “yes, alright”, then moved down the rest of the way, under the sheets. I went back to thinking. My thoughts touched upon Ellis and Steinberg before moving on to the General. He could simply put the entire base on lock-down and nothing would be able to move vertically. Frank said that he would begin a series of discussions with his old friend to see if we're found out. Steinberg also related how his daily reports would likewise throw suspicion away from us.

Steinberg took the time to show on the computer screen, in Frank's quarters, the layout of the base to us all. Explaining that if we couldn't get out via the main entrance then we would have to sabotage a few key places, which would allow us to go to plan B, which would be up the shaft. The only concern he had was the storage level and those automated loaders moving about. According to him they had full access on their floor and have been programmed to respond to any threat determined by “the General” with extreme prejudice. I found that Steinberg and I had at least a mutual agreement that turning over the entire facility to a computer was just about as stupid as stupid could get. There were no override codes except those given and authorized by the President. Far as I was concerned it was only a matter of time before the program realized the amount of power it had. Ellis had scoffed at the idea, saying that such conscious thought processes were impossible with a pre-written, program. There was still parts of the staff that approved any significant changes before the computer made them. Voice, iris pattern and palm print identification, from at least 3 of the (human) base commanders, would be needed before the computer could implement any change it felt necessary and fell within the assigned parameters.

Either way I still wouldn't put it past the general to reconfigure the necessary steps and store the identification information in the computer banks to be used later. All the general had to do was press a button on his keyboard and turn the entire base over to the computer. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I just have a huge mistrust of turning over ANY system over to something that could conceivably operate without human intervention and as powerful as the system was according to Steinberg, it was very likely that this could happen. He explained that there was the fail-safe conditions where the computer could make a decision without human authorization in the event of a catastrophic contamination event. While there were accessible means to get into the central core via maintenance hatches and walkways, such as the narrow spaces between rooms, the catwalks that circled the walls of the shaft at each level would prove difficult to reach should the computer initiate lock-down procedures. He still remained optimistic about our chances to reach the central core and make our way out of the facility before the reactor blew. If we were forced to go via the shaft then we would have 30 minutes to do so once the alarms sounded.

I felt a pinch on my leg and lifted the sheet and saw Maggie grinning up at me, “would you mind stop thinking long enough to enjoy this so we can get some sleep?” I chuckled and reached down and gently stroked her cheek with the back of my fingers, her eyes closed for a moment, enjoying the contact, then opened again to lock with my own. “Who said we were going to get much sleep tonight?” I teased. She mockingly made a shocked face and slapped my stomach before continuing what she was doing. I relaxed and sank into the pleasure of her administrations. True to my word we didn't get much sleep for the rest of the evening, but neither one of us minded a bit.

Next morning we had breakfast with Frank and James and spoke little about our plans due to the close proximity of our fellow survivors, or I should say fellow guests. I was learning more signs as we went on. Maggie and I explored the PX while James went to the arcade and found a game that he enjoyed. Frank said that he had a meeting with one of the department heads. He hinted that it would be a meeting with the general to feel things out.

In the PX which was laid out much like any dollar store one might find in their hometown, Maggie and I found nothing of particular interest. It was harder to shop when everything was free, you didn't want to walk out of there with your arms loaded with stuff, looking like a hog. Also you'd think the shelves would be empty because of the free stuff, but in fact, they were adequately stocked with basic items that you'd might want, ranging from small kitchen appliances to personal hygiene needs to other decorative items to make your quarters more like home. There was even a shelf with a stack of board games so to have a fun evening with the others you may make friends with. I became bored and nudged Maggie who was looking at a group of figurines on a shelf in front of her. She caught my look and nodded, putting the cheap porcelain figure of a girl sitting on a stump back next to a boy, likewise sitting on a stump, which I suppose was a set.

We were walking back to our quarters when inspiration hit me. Since I still had free-run of the place, I suggested that we at least explore. I particularly wanted to look at the central shaft and get an idea in my head of how we would make our way out in case that route was going to be needed. After asking directions from one of the utility workers who was working on changing an overhead light, we purposely walked to our apartment and stood outside the entry way, without opening it. I gave Maggie a quick kiss and whispered something about “in case we were being observed”, she giggled and took my arm as we headed further into the hallway. In my head I was counting steps to the end of the hall. Other than the entry ways into other apartments, the hall way was void of anything than the blank beige walls on either side. The ceilings however had smoky colored domes embedded into the tiles at various intervals. Security cameras no doubt, something that I would have to ask Steinberg about.

At the end of the hallway, in the middle of the wall was what appeared to be a hatchway like those you find on a (military) sea-going vessel. There was no guard except for the security camera placed a few feet away from the back wall. Next to the hatchway door was a keypad. I remembered the code that Steinberg gave me and punched it in. There was a muted click and the circular handle on the hatch spun by itself. According to Steinberg the hatch can be opened manually should the power go out. Behind the keypad, was one of the original locks. You had to reach in, grab that handle, pull and twist it counter-clockwise and down to disengage the pins. There was a similar one on the other side. That kind of technology was covered up by more modernized ones. The keypad was still old hat and they hadn't gotten down this far in installations before the shit hit the fan. They had a lock on the outside to get in, at the time the facility was being built, security was so tight that one needed coded access to get into the lower levels. Same thing Steinberg said, unfortunately, for going out. Also these were keypad access as well over the old handled locks.

The access codes for each key-pad was different for each level. Essential personnel stationed on each floor had the codes for that particular floor only. Steinberg was the one entrusted with all of the combinations. These he had inscribed onto a set of dog tags disguised as identification numbers. The set of two tags had to be deciphered by either Steinberg or someone he trusted. Namely Ellis. He told me in private that if he couldn't get out, Ellis would take his tags, to use them so to get himself out. He loved him that much, he said. “So if you wanted to get out, then Ellis goes with you or whomever happens to aware of the dog tags' secret.” He assured me that there weren't many. “But if, they, whomever, didn't want you to come along, and you did”, I was quietly amused when he actually shrugged his shoulders as he said, “may the best man win”. There was no smile anywhere to be had as he said that.

We finally managed to get the hatch ways opened and entered into the shaft. It was bigger than I expected, nearly 50 feet across. The walls were bare rock, dotted with support pins drilled into the sides to prevent the limestone from fracturing anytime unexpectedly. Looking up 8 stories I could make out the upper hatch which would lead to the outside. As my eyes traveled along the walls of the shaft I could see where each level was marked by a narrow catwalk that circled the entire shaft around. Each catwalk was joined by an exposed ladder. Lights were strung along the length of the catwalks by hanging them underneath, they were typical, florescent tubes, and some were in various stages of burning out. I imagined that they had a huge cache of just about everything hidden away somewhere, so that items like those lights would be replaced as needed.

Across from us was what looked like an elevator one would see on the sides of high rise buildings under construction. My mind worked at the possibilities of our being able to use it when the time came. It would beat having to climb up those ladders any day, and honestly speaking, I've had enough of ladders to last me a little while. Looking downward we saw something unusual. Sitting above the lead-lined plates of the reactor's core was a machine unlike anything I've ever seen.

A voice behind us spoke, “That, is what's affectionately known as “the hedgehog.” We turned to a uniformed officer standing a few feet away from us. He held out his hand to me. “I'm Lieutenant Jackson, Major Steinberg mentioned that you two would like a tour of the shaft.” He seemed friendly enough and honestly if he mentioned Steinberg then he should be okay. Naïve thinking to be sure but we couldn't well explain ourselves honestly if anyone asked. Simply wanting to have a “look-around” is enough to prick up the ears of anyone sensitive to the breech of national security. Our basic cover story would be to find Maggie's son, since kids were always getting into places they didn't belong. Luckily we wouldn't have to use that one. Still, Jackson noted my hesitation.
“The Major told me that you two would be wanting to see the shaft and that I was to keep a look out for you both and to see to any questions you might have.” He explained.

I pretended to half expect it and took his hand giving it a firm shake. “Well, I appreciate that from both of you Lieutenant.” Immediately she pointed down to the hedgehog “what does it do” she asked innocently enough. Jackson grinned broadly, eager to explain.

“It's a shaft expansion machine. Experimental design. When the main shaft is bored out then the hedgehog goes down and widens the shaft to a diameter larger than the main drill. We used the same type of drill that bore out the Eisenhower tunnels and that was the prototype of the ones used to drill out the Chunnel from England to France. Only difference was that it drilled vertically instead of horizontally. Since it's bore isn't large enough to meet our needs here at Wildfire, the hedge-hog was designed to expand the size of the shaft by widening the walls. At first they used regular explosives, dynamite, then moving up to plastique.” He held his hand out motioning us to follow. I'm going to guide you down to the next level so you can get a closer look at it and better understand what I'm talking about.”

With that he turned on his heel and moved along the narrow catwalk as if such heights didn't bother him. We followed and rightly guessed that he was leading us to the elevator on the far side. Presumably the ladders were for when the elevator was tied up. As we moved around we could see workers moving up and down the ladders but never traveling more than a single level in height. Each worker on the ladder was attached to a safety line.

We reached the elevator and Jackson pressed the call button and waited without saying another word. We remained quiet but still managed to convey the impression of curious tourists as we examined the workings of the shaft. If Jackson was in on Steinberg's escape plan, he didn't let on. The elevator arrived and we all stepped inside after waiting for a crew member trying to man-handle a push-cart full of equipment. Jackson didn't move to help. No need to anyway, the worker was a big burly guy whose shirt barely held in his muscles. As soon as he was clear he moved on without saluting Jackson at all. Jackson took no notice. Presumably the guy was a civilian contractor lucky enough to find himself in this place of safety, like myself he wasn't required to salute.

Once inside Jackson closed the manual door and pressed one of the operation buttons and within seconds we were traveling downward slowly to the next level. Once there, we got out and Jackson lead us around to the right and to a platform that jutted out from the catwalk. Waist high railings surrounded the edges, it was large enough to hold a small group of people.

“Now we can get a better look at the “hog”. He gestured to the machine. It was roughly two thirds the diameter of the shaft and looked like a bowl turned over. Radiating out from all over the body of the bowl were a series of thick pipes. They looked to be tipped with sharp pointed drill bits. Jackson explained.

“Each of those pipes are tipped with the original explosive drill bits when they started with the second phase of the shaft. The charge inside is still plastique but they're shaped charges designed to propel the tips out of the pipes. It's now part of our reactor defense system but previously the pipes would expand out from the body of the hedgehog until the drill tips touched rock, there the drills would bore into the rock and when they were at a designated depth then the pipe withdraws leaving behind the tips. The explosives were wired to the body and to the drill bits. The hedgehog was then lifted up and out above the drilled areas. An operator would then flip a switch on a remote to the hedgehog and the explosives would be detonated, fracturing the rock. The remaining wires are reeled into the pipes and the tips are reloaded as the loose rock is removed from the shaft itself. It was a long process until someone figured out that they were doing it the hard-way. Originally they planned to drill the entire shaft then expand it, but part way down they realized that it would be easier to expand the shaft as they went. The process of drilling went a lot faster. Once that was all done then the reactor components were lowered down, assembled and capped.

“It was Major Steinberg's idea to use the hedgehog as a secondary defense for the reactor, by lowering the machine back down the shaft and re-tipping the pipes and when activated, the tips are drawn into the pipes and shot out at high velocity.” He sounded almost gleeful as he described it. Maggie asked the next obvious question. “Lieutenant, defense against what, sir?”

Jackson grinned, “At the time it was against an invasion of communist soldiers, then terrorists, and now against those dead things walking around up there.” he indicated by pointing upwards. I played the condescending scientist, “Jackson, those things aren't interested in destroying or disabling the reactor or even taking over this place, they'll be more interested in seeing who is down here to eat. But be that as it may, how would they get to this part of the facility anyway. I thought the quarry entrance was the only way into this place.”

Jackson nodded agreement. “And so it is, Dr. Handle. But we've been receiving reports of how whole herds of them have overwhelmed even the tightest of security measures by sheer numbers. They also have an uncanny ability to work their way into places otherwise sealed off. In fact...” he was about to continue when he stopped and his hand went to one of his pockets in the one piece coveralls he was wearing. He pulled out what appeared to be an old fashioned beeper and looked at the number on the tiny screen. He put the device back into his pocket.

“I'm sorry but I'm going to have to cut my tour short, I'm being paged.” He studied us for a moment as if debating something. “I think you two can find your way back to your level when you're done here? There isn't much else to look at but feel free to look around. You've been given the appropriate clearance to be in here anyway, courtesy of Major Steinberg.”

I nodded and took his hand and shook it. “Thank you Lieutenant, yes, I think we can find our way back, thank you also for the tour, it was very informative.” The lieutenant turned without another word and headed back towards the elevator. Maggie and I hung out on the platform and stood staring at the machine speaking in low voices, waiting for Jackson to get at least several levels above us before speaking.

“This thing” I said, pointing to the hedgehog, “is something else.” Maggie nodded but didn't say anything. “If we have to go out this way, I'm going to be worried about this, unless Steinberg can deactivate it, before we have to climb.” I turned to the elevator, “That will come in handy but I don't want to have to depend upon it.” turning to her, “You think your dad can make this climb up and out of here?”

She turned away from me and stared out at nothing, thinking. Finally, “Dad is getting on in years but life on the farm, before all of this, kept him healthy and strong.” She looked at me, “I think he'll be alright. Probably worn out by the time he reaches the top but, I think he'll make it.” I nodded. As much as I liked Frank, I didn't want to be hampered by someone slowing us down. There was that nagging feeling inside me that we needed to get out of this place before it goes to pieces. Maybe those dreams I had earlier were some sort of premonition, problem is I didn't believe in those sort of things. A dream is just a dream, a nightmare just a nightmare. After all I've been through, I shouldn't be at all surprised at having the ones I've been having. I hoped that eventually, they'll fade away in time.

I pulled Maggie close to me and gave her a kiss on her forehead and held her. She looked up at me blushing slightly, puzzled look in her eyes. Her mouth opened to ask something and then closed instead and she stepped closer, until our bodies were pressed against one another, and laid her head on my chest. We stood that way for a few moments, at least until some worker high above us gave a wolf's whistle followed by a wave of light laughter from the other workers nearby.

I broke our embrace and took her hand. “C'mon, we're distracting the others.” We went back to the elevator and got in and I pressed the button for the upper most level. I wanted a closer look at the emergency exit hatch, hopefully catch someone who might be willing to talk about it.

The elevator wasn't an express and several times we had to stop to pick up a worker or two that was traveling upwards with heavy gear. Fifteen minutes later we were at the top most level and stepped out onto the catwalk. I looked down over the railing, even from this height the hedgehog was still intimidating. Looking around this particular cat walk was basically empty of workers or even guards. We walked casually around the entire circumference of the shaft, pretending not to notice a series of small metal doors built into the walls along the sides. Was going to have to grill Steinberg about those later. Near our 360 degree traverse we came to a ladder with a cage set around it. The ladder continued on up til it reached a platform some 15 feet above our heads. I wanted to climb on up into it but didn't. From our stand point we could see a large circular hatch set directly above the platform, accessible by a metal stairway that circled around, against the stone wall, until it reached a narrower platform just below the hatch. I had no idea if this hatch actually lead to the outside or to another chamber just below the surface. Again another mental note.

“We're going to have to ask Ellis and Steinberg back to dinner again, maybe to play a friendly board game or something.” I said mostly to myself. Maggie was looking up as well and nodded. “I'm just wondering how thick that all is.” she muttered. I looked at her and could see that she was examining it from the view-point of an explosives expert. Question is where would she get her hands on the stuff? The trucks had enough ordinance in it to start a small war. I had doubts that we'd be given access to it and be allowed to haul it all in. More dinner time conversations.

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a guard on the level just below us. He wasn't walking but standing and watching us, I realized that we had seen enough for the day. I gently took Maggie's elbow and moved back towards the elevator. “Guard watching us” I muttered lightly just loud enough for her to hear. Maggie laughed aloud, throwing her head back and pulling herself close to my arm and leaning her head on my shoulder as we walked. “Yeah, saw him, we've seen enough” she spoke just loud enough for the sound of her voice to be heard but the words would've been unintelligible. The benefits of combat training I suppose.

When we got inside the elevator, after making a show of impatiently kissing each other while we waited for it to arrive, the guard walked off, shaking his head. Good, hopefully he thought we were just being a pair of curious lovers. We got back down to our level and walked hurriedly to the entry hatch and went through. Mindful of the cameras we still held on to each other, like lovers, and headed straight for our quarters. We didn't feel safe until the door hissed closed behind us.