words uttered sparks sprayed up from several inspection grates that ran the length of the floor and what had been to all intents a dark tunnel on the way out, now took on another entirely different character. This time what had been: in the harsh light, impenetrably black corners were now backlit by a red glow.
From behind panels and inside equipment, fountains of yellow sparks rose or fell: less often but more frightening, were the small explosions that threw burning material across and down the pod making Mathew let Kyle down and move away from anything that looked as if it could conduct electricity. “Are we safe in here?” he said nervously.
Alexandra looked back at him but didn’t reply.
Suddenly Andrews voice took on urgency. “The both of you need to get to the refuge as soon as possible.”
Mathew answered, “What’s wrong?”
“Were getting a surge in the particle count. It looks like a solar flare is about to erupt.”
Alexandra’s voice only had a trace of concern. “I need more time. I’m almost finished.”
“Leave it.” Demanded Andrew. “We can fix it later.”
“I can’t leave it half done; it could destroy the thing completely.”
“You only have a few minutes, Mathew you need to leave.”
Matt looked at the woman; he couldn’t just leave her alone.
“I can manage,” she said without turning. “You go.”
“No, I’ll…”
Andrew cut him off. “Mathew we’re missing one of the guests. We think she went back to room twenty-six.”
“Why did she do that?”
The reply was almost snapped. “How should I know, but she’s not accounted for.” The voice softened. “Use your pass key; quick as you can; race and check if she is there?”
“And if she’s not?”
“Then you get to the refuges as quick as you can.”
Mathew was well aware that room twenty-six was in the completely opposite direction to the refuge so he broke into a fast jog. A few minutes later he slipped his pass into the lock and the door opened. Inside was in darkness so he scanned the room with his flashlight. Seeing it was empty he felt the urge to close the door and get to safety, but he knew he couldn’t: what if she was in the bathroom or bedroom? He was reluctant to burst into the shower: finding her naked, or asleep would cause untold problems, but this wasn’t a normal time, If she was asleep, and oblivious to the cosmic rays they could be powerful enough to kill her: he reached without looking for the light switch. As the light came on it confirmed that the room was empty: but untidy as if one of the occupants had been looking for something.
Even at the price it was costing the guest, the cabin was smaller than a budget hotel on the surface so he was at the bathroom door in a moment. He knocked loudly. “Is there anyone in there?” barely waiting for an answer he flung open the door. It was too small to hide and he didn’t switch on the light. Moments later he was at the bedroom. This time he knocked and called as he was opening the door. He knew the layout of the compartments; a central bed; a dresser and a chair, and a wardrobe: there wasn’t room for anything else. The wardrobe was open, and even though it appeared full of enough dresses for more than just a new one every day it was obvious she wasn’t there. A wave of relief swept over him as the quick glance confirmed the bedroom was as empty as the bathroom: he closed the door again and was turning on his heels when he hesitated; something didn’t look right and he turned back and opened the door again. This time he switched on the light and immediately he was looking at what he had dismissed. A small cylindrical fire extinguisher was on the floor; too far away from its cradle to have dropped or even rolled there.
“Mathew; did you find her?” Andrews voice reminded him of the time.
“I’m in the room now, she’s not here.”
“Then run; the particle count is doubling every minute.”
“On my way.” A second time Matt went to close the door, but the extinguisher just looked too wrong. He stepped inside and picked it up, there was a small wet patch on the red surface; looking at his hand he saw it was on his fingers; it was blood. Immediately he dropped the extinguisher and went around the bed.
The woman was laid on the floor. She was dressed in a white evening gown, and was tucked up close to the bed base completely out of sight from the door.
“Mathew, how far are you away?” Andrew sounded anxious.
“I’ve found her, she’s…” Matt wanted to say it looked like shed been knocked out, but after their last conversation it sounded too paranoid. “She’s passed out?”
“Wake her up…. You both have…. as fast as you… the …ull …orc… the … is … Tell… she ha… run?”
Andrews’s speech frightened Matt. Already the radiation was strong enough to make the words incomprehensible. Matt had her in his arms; lifting her upper torso she remained unresponsive. “She’s unconscious?”
“Da … Ma… time…”
Mathew was lifting her in his arms as his only option came to mind. “We’ll go to the plunge pool. It’s in the next pod.”
There was no reply only the growing roar of static.
Mathew had been in the sauna area many times, mostly while working: and occasionally when not. His most memorable experience had been shortly after it had been first filled, when he and a group were… testing it. Then there was light and noise, people and laughter: it had felt like luxury; which it was, but as Matt let the woman down besides the plunge pool and pushed the plastic cover off; the water was anything but inviting. In the reduced illumination the water looked dark and forbidding; and on minimum power it would undoubtedly be cold. He stared in, wondering if he had made a mistake that would kill them both. He was taking the risk that the plastic and the water it contained would counter the high-energy particles, but would it be enough? Would the re-breathers even function immersed in liquid? If they survived would they then die of hypothermia? What choice had he?
Andrews voice shocked him back to life. “Mt… hap…g?”
The broken message and the severe interference told Matt he was really out of time. Quickly he took a re-breather from the wall cabinet. “I’m in the wet area, were getting into the plunge pool.” He said hoping they could hear him. He secured the mask over the woman’s face, taking time he didn’t have to make sure her long lair was clear of the seal. She gasped for air a little as she was forced to breathe deeper to get the air she needed, but remained unconscious.
From what he could make out Andrews voice didn’t sound convinced. “So… medi…”
Mathew didn’t bother responding as he lifted the unresponsive body and placed it into the water. Now she gasped loudly and in a reflex action struggled. Her resistance was feeble as Matt got in and forced her towards the middle of the pool and pulled the cover over them.
For a moment he was envious of her uncomprehending state as the claustrophobic darkness and the cold water enveloped him. As panic welled up inside him his subconscious mind reminded him that there was a small internal light in the mask. He switched it on but all he could see was blackness. Suddenly there was a scream and woman began kicking and fighting; trying to break away from his grasp: Holding her tightly he switched on her light. Centimeters away the darkness was broken by her face: the mask framed a face full of terror.
“Its’ okay, it’s okay,” he said over and over but she didn’t seem to hear. He gripped her tighter. “I’m not going to hurt you. Just a few minutes. There’s an emergency outside; we’re safe here. We have to stay until it’s safe outside.”
Slowly her struggles eased, and as they did his grip loosened. The expression on her face eased from terror to fear.
“I couldn’t get you to the refuge in time. You’ll die if you’re outside. Just a few minutes and it will be over.” He said reassuringly.
He knew the woman was Russian but her English was almost perfect. “What’s happening to us?”
“There was a Coronal Mass Ejection
. It hit us. The water and plastic should protect us?” He hoped he was right?
“Where are we?”
He saw her eyes look past him into the blackness. In the plunge pool.”
The fear drained away as she stared at him. Then a smile appeared. “We’re in a spa tub?” she said in disbelief.
“It was the safest place I could find in the time…” Slowly Mathew realized the humour of what he had done. “Yes were in the spa tub; and hopefully not for too long?”
“They are not usually this cold?”
He saw her lips were discoloring and had begun to tremble. Again he reached his arms around her. “I’m sorry: it could help… we both need to keep as warm as we can?”
She said nothing but he felt her body relax and mould to his. Another time and another place it would have been sublime.
Their faceplates were touching and he stared at her features. He had seen her numerous times, but always with her husband. Most of the time she had been quiet and demure, but there had been one occasion when her husband had been in conversation and she had giggled and laughed with another woman. He remembered he had thought her very attractive; but she was also another mans wife so the thought had been dismissed: but here, holding her as tight as her husband would have, and feeling her curves pressed against his body his mind began to cross the boundary. “What happed?” he said quickly trying to bring his brain out of its fantasy.
Her receptive smile eased and she looked puzzled. “To