Telstar 4

Chapter 10.

Chapter 10.

After what seemed like days on end the rain finally stopped. Sia had made an almost full recovery following the sting and she and Harvey were getting suited up to carry out an external check of the Colony. Full protective gear was now essential on any trips outside if only to offer protection against the bugs.

"Turn round, Sia. I'll sort out your last straps then you can do the same for me."

"Will do, Harvey. What do you think we're going to find out there?"

Harvey shrugged. "We'll know soon enough."

As they stepped away from the Colony walls both Sia and Harvey found themselves sinking. For a moment Sia felt real panic. She couldn't think of anything worse than to be swallowed by quicksand, being sucked down to a slow death of asphyxiation. She stopped her downward movement when the ground reached just past her knees.

"How are we going to be able to get anywhere in this?"

"Slowly," Harvey answered. "Very slowly, indeed."

It was painfully slow progress but eventually they made it as far as Sector C. The insects were clearly visible, lying dead on top of the sludgy ground. As they made their way closer to the vent Sia became aware of a faint buzzing. One of the mutant butterflies was still alive, trapped in the vent and unable to escape. Sia reached out towards it, as though she was going to pick it up. At the last moment she made a fist and brought it swiftly down onto the insect, crushing it instantly.

"I owed you one," she said, then turned away.

"Looks well sealed still." Harvey inspected the outside of the fan casing. "I don't think any more will be making their way in from here."

After Sia radioed in their report, they carried on with their inspection of the outer walls, looking for damage or any way that the insects, or anything else for that matter, could gain access to the interior of the Colony. It seemed to have held up very well to the constant deluge of water. Even the drainage channels were more or less clear with just a few spots being blocked by sodden sandy soil.

Back inside both were feeling the effects of having waded through the thick muck for so long.

"I don't think I'm ever going to be able to walk again," Sia said to Erik Storr.

"Me neither. Not on these legs anyway." Harvey rubbed at the aching muscles in the back of his calves.

"Well, I hate to break it to you but tomorrow you are going to have to get an Explorer out there and have a look around a bit further out." He held up a hand to stop them from making any protest. "We've been caught out once. If there are any more surprises on the way I'd sooner know before they reach us. And you two are the most qualified to carry this assignment out. Arno might accompany you, and if you promise to keep them inside the Explorer you can take a few of the guests. They are getting a bit restless now."

"Aiden, Tony, Riley and Susanah are definitely welcome to come." Sia said.

"What are we actually looking for, Commander?" Harvey was still rubbing at his cramped leg.

"I don't know. But I don't think the bugs are going to be our only surprise and it bothers me how we haven't found any sign of anything else."

"Any particular direction you want us to go in?"

"Take your pick. Where you don't go one day you'll have to go on another."