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Chapter 16

The infected young woman and the others had left suddenly, heading up to the higher levels according to my tiny informant. I moved closer to thank it and the mechanical moved hurriedly out of reach, as if I was going to cause it harm.

Considering how many of its brethren I had stomped and smashed in the past I had to accept that was to be expected. I gave it a quick burst of Binem and went to move on to the Burrow when it sent me one last cryptic message.

It roughly translated as: "Only Eleanor-Child can save you. She can save us all. She must be protected"

I had no idea what the Skitterbug was trying to tell me and the machine vanished into the upper reaches of the shaft before I could ask it to clarify. The last part was obvious enough and that was a promise I had already made.

Pondering the message I made my way to the outer bulkhead of the Burrow. As on my previous journey, a heavy airlock style door faced me with a communications panel inset to one side of the armoured hatch. A pair of cameras watched me from overhead, new additions that showed the heightened security of the underground complex.

"David, is that you?" a voice crackled from the comms unit. I looked up into the cameras, as if I had a face that could be recognised.

"Yes, it's Sheriff David from Deep Below" I announced to the unseen voice. "Is that Matron King?"

"Welcome once again to the Burrow, David" she responded. "Please do not take this the wrong way but we have been forced to take extra precautions. Once the outer door opens please step inside and await further instructions"

I gave my agreement and when the hatch cycled open I stepped into the first chamber. It was much as I remembered it, a reinforced airlock with bare walls and floor. The only difference was another pair of cameras above the next hatch and two rectangular blocks fixed to either side of the chamber, about halfway up the walls.

They were a pair of anti-personnel mines, rigged for remote detonation. If they were loaded with Ceramite flechettes I would be in danger but they were most likely standard steel balls. Lethal to Organics and only mildly inconvenient to armoured mechanicals.

"Please lay your weapons near the inner door and then move to the back of the room"

I did as Matron King requested, putting my back against the outer hatch, arms hanging loosely at my waist. The inner hatch opened and a pair of nervous looking people in robes stepped into the chamber. One took aim at me with a home-made Pulse gun while the other scooped up the rifle and shock rod, then both backed away into the space beyond.

I half expected them to simply close the inner hatch until Amanda King appeared in the doorway and gave me a welcoming smile. She looked tired and invigorated in equal parts, as if the threat of the Rebacks and Rachel MacPhee had somehow validated all her hard work.

"I'm sorry about the safety measures, David" she greeted me. "My followers are somewhat on edge after the past few days". She gestured for me to walk beside her as we headed for the central building where the dormitory and other facilities were located, her small escort following behind with my weapons.

"I understand, Matron. I am glad to find you and your people still here. We had feared the worst when we could not contact the Burrow. Did you recover the Tunnellers that were sent out?"

Her face clouded and she paused, facing me so that I had to stop as well.

"They were ambushed as soon as they left the hangar, Sheriff. The machine that the MacPhee girl had infected led the attack and nearly got inside. It was only by the sacrifice of one of the Tunnellers that we held it at bay long enough to seal the outer doors"