“Oscar, help me!”
But there’s not much the Navigator can do.
I point the brolly at the robot and flinch as I press down on the tase button, aiming for the raised section in its chest. Thankfully I don’t feel anything, but the robot relaxes its grip on my arm, its movements jerky.
I jump on it before it can recover.
I wrap my legs around its middle, reach behind for its neck, and stab repeatedly with the tool in my hand. Nothing. I struggle with the guard until I have a better view of the back of its neck. I swap the tool for another one from my bag, and slide the finer point carefully into the opening in the base of its neck. The robot pauses and its lights flicker. It drops its weapon.
I jump down just as the central compartment in its torso opens, revealing the tech inside. The lights go out, and the robot freezes in position. I grab the wheelchair and am about to rush off, when I glance again at the opening in its chest. I pull out and pocket what I think might be chips but could actually just be rubbish, and race away with Papa.
I retrace my footsteps, praying the entire way down the ramp that we don’t meet anyone. Luckily, nobody crosses our path except for the still-unconscious officer I’d tased on my way up. Exiting the ramp, I head for the chamber room. The door’s locked. Where’s McGregor? I swipe the lock with her card.
It refuses to open.
She’s been rumbled. It’s the only explanation.
My legs almost give way. I open up the tool bag and, remembering the instructions in Bia’s files, fiddle away with the lock. Nothing. I try again but it isn’t working. On discovering McGregor, they must’ve activated a locking system Bia’s lot weren’t aware of.
I stand, trying to think. “Oscar!”
The Navigator materializes. “Oscar, see if you can override the access system here. We need to get to the moon pool!”
The Navigator scans the access panel as I walk around and look into the chamber holding my vessel. Nothing. I peer past it, through its doors and into the moon pool room. That’s empty, too. The moon pool door’s still open, phew. But how do I get in!
And then surely my heart stops.
Because as I watch, a hand reaches out of the moon pool.
I can’t stop staring. Another hand, two arms.
And then a body hauls itself out of the water and onto the floor.
An Anthropoid.
And it isn’t Ari.
I stumble back. “Oscar . . .”
“Alas, my dear lady, I cannot seem to access this—”
I turn and grab the wheelchair. “Oscar, leave the damn lock. We need to hide! You may go now!” The Navigator disappears.
I scan the corridors around me and aim for a supply cove big enough to fit the wheelchair in. My heart won’t stop thrashing around inside my chest. I check on Papa and his condition hasn’t changed, his head lolling almost lifelessly to the side. I clasp my hands and lean down to whisper. “Inshallah, not long now, Papa.”
I risk edging my gaze around the wall. And freeze.
The Anthropoid stands still in the doorway to the chamber. It’s dripping wet and casts its eyes in every direction. It’s tall, slim, and muscular, with short bright-red hair. I swiftly duck back behind the wall.
“Oscar.” I place him on silent the moment he appears. “I need you to go back toward the chamber and to escort anyone you see there upstairs. Keep them occupied and out of the way until I summon you again. They are hostile; you will switch to safe mode as you converse with them. Say whatever you need to, to get them to go with you. Is this understood?”
The Navigator nods, and I take him off silent. He disappears around the corner.
I peek at them, and after a brief exchange, the Anthropoid actually nods and follows Oscar away from the chamber. What is it doing here? Before the Anthropoid leaves, it turns to the door and fiddles with the access panel. No, don’t lock it again! They both leave, and I slowly wheel Papa out from behind the cove. We edge down the corridor and it’s empty. I check the door to the chamber and the lock’s been destroyed. They wanted to ensure they could leave again. But what are they doing here in the first place?
I use the wheelchair to push the door open and hurry inside. They could be back any moment. And the moon pool door will shut any minute now!
“McGregor?” I call out. Nothing. Please be all right.
I place Papa in the sub; his limp frame slumps into the seat. Soon as he’s secure, I turn to run around to the driver’s side.
And stop in my tracks. My insides fall to the floor.
The Anthropoid stands inside the chamber, not five feet from me.
My hand automatically reaches for my arm, and I grip the brolly. My legs start to quiver. I can’t take my eyes off them.
It’s a guy, around my age I think. He watches me, eyes narrowed with a hint of . . . surprise in them. He isn’t like the ones who attacked Brighton Pier. His eyes aren’t cold at all. The surprised expression now switches to one of concern. Why? What’s he doing here?
And I have the strangest sense I know him from somewhere. . . .
He opens his mouth but before he can get a word out, voices sound from elsewhere, urgent, and headed in our direction.
“Go!” the Anthropoid urges, his pale-green eyes wide now as he sticks his head out of the chamber room door. “I will hold them off, but we don’t have long. Get in your sub and leave!”
“Who are you? Why would you help?”
He whips his head around to me. “I’m a friend. Look, you’ll just have to trust me!”
Trust. After they boarded the sub and attacked us. And after all the lies the government has been telling. I’m expected to just trust not only a complete stranger but an Anthropoid, no less. What does trust even mean anymore?
What I do know is right now there’s no time to waste.
And that I trust Ari.
I nod and scramble around to the driver’s seat, jump in, and start the vessel up. I want to start moving but I can’t help looking back again.
The Anthropoid struggles with two human guards. Oh no. The guards will be in here any second, and I’ll have failed Papa! Everything needs to speed up! I shoot Papa a glance, and he really doesn’t look well.
The Anthropoid really is struggling, dammit.
Something inside me twitches.
What might they do to him? I try to block out the thought and concentrate on the craft, but it’s impossible. I glance again at Papa, scream inside, and grab my brolly.
The guards don’t see me exit. I crouch low. The moment I’m visible in the doorway I lift the brolly and tase the guard who isn’t directly touching the redheaded guy. They all turn to me, eyes wide. There’s no time, though. So I press down harder and don’t lift my finger until he drops. Just as the remaining guard is distracted looking down at the unconscious man, the Anthropoid punches him hard and he drops immediately. Then several more voices echo from down the corridor.
“Okay, now we really have to go!” the guy yells, and we both rush back into the chamber.
I jump in the craft and I’m soon through the first hatch, willing the acclimatizing program to hurry up. Finally, we can move on. No sooner does the submersible enter the moon pool room, though, than a sixty-
second countdown sounds around the space: The entrance is about to close. Oh my God, I’ll be locked inside Broadmoor! Come on!