〃You will e。 Quickly。〃
We dogtrotted； including the dog； to the grove； then followed Dreadnought down the ladder into the tunnel beneath the slab。 Fido barked； and when I looked up launched itself down at me。 I caught it； then dropped it。 Looked gloomily into the darkness as Indefatigable closed the lid。
I just hoped that we had made the right decision because my days were still running out。 Going underground like this was a little too reminiscent of the grave。 '
And it would be my grave if I didn't get the antidote in time。
CHAPTER 24
Once my eyes had adjusted to the darkness I saw that a thin line of light ran along at shoulder height on each side of the tunnel。 The floor was smooth and hard； as were the walls when I brushed my fingers against them。 We walked in silence for some time until we came to a cross tunnel。
〃No talking now！ Breathe silently…do not stir；〃 one of our guides whispered。 〃Back against the wall。〃
We stayed that way for long minutes。 I saw that there were glowing numerals on the walls where the tunnels crossed。 I added to my store of useless knowledge the data that we were in tunnel Y…82790 at the place where it crossed NJ28940。 I leaned against the wall； and was thinking seriously about going to sleep； when I heard the thud of marching boots from NJ…28940。 I woke up and remained silent and unmoving as a squad of about twenty men exited from the tunnel on our right and marched straight across and into the same numbered tunnel on the left。 When the sound of their footsteps had almost died away we moved out to the whispered mand。
〃Turn left； after them。 Quiet as you can。〃
This was apparently the only dangerous part of our journey； because once we had left this tunnel for another our panions whispered together again。 I wondered if Fido teas still with us。
〃Don't bark；〃 I said as softly as I could。 〃But if you are still there； man's best friend； and hearing this with your super hearing； a tiny growl is permitted。〃
A guttural grrr sounded from somewhere around my ankles。
〃Great。 A double growl now if you are reading the tunnel numbers and memorizing same。〃
A quick grrr…grrr reassured me。 So I did not have to keep track of our many turnings。 After this we marched in silence for a tiresome period； my strength still wasn't what it should be。 I was more than grateful when I saw a glow of light ahead； almost ran into our new panions when they stopped。
〃Silence！〃 Dreadnought whispered。 Floyd and I silenced and listened…then heard the running footsteps as well。 They thudded close； then stopped suddenly。
〃The sounds of deadly battle…〃 the newer said。
〃Echo with the cries of the dying；〃 Dreadnought answered。 Password and countersign。 Pretty depressing though。 〃Is that you； Irredeemable？〃 Dreadnought asked。
〃It is。 I was sent to warn you。 A message was passed on from you…know…who that you were detected exiting and reentering the tunnels。 Search parties are out and you must avoid them。〃
〃How？〃 Indefatigable asked。 With just a touch of hysteria to his voice。
〃I do not know。 I was sent only to warn。 May the God of Battles go with you。〃 With this blessing the footsteps thudded again into silence as he ran back the way he had e。
〃What do we do？〃 Dreadnought asked unhappily。 His panion was just as assertive。 〃I don't know 。 。 。〃
I swear that I could hear their teeth chattering。 Whatever else they were； these two young men were not plotters or planners。 Time for a pro to step in。
〃I will tell you what we must do。〃 Speaking as an unhumble old plotter and planner。
〃What？〃 They spoke the word together。
〃If they are searching the tunnels…then we must leave the tunnels。〃
〃Wonderful；〃 Floyd muttered。 It may have seemed pretty obvious to him but these lads weled the idea as they would have orders from the God of Battles himself。
〃Yes！ Leave…before they find us！〃
〃Out of the tunnels！〃
Good so far； I thought。 When the silence lengthened； and I realized that was the end of their contribution； I asked the vital question。
〃Out of the tunnels； right。 But where do we go？ Above ground again？〃
〃No…all exits will be watched。〃
〃Only one other way；〃 Dreadnought said； with rising enthusiasm。 〃Down； we must go down！〃
〃To the Cultivastings！〃 his panion added； just as filled with enthusiasm。
〃Let's do it；〃 I said wearily； not having the slightest idea of what they were talking about。 〃The God of Battles wants it that way。〃
They double…timed and we followed。 Around the bend into the next tunnel where a glowing outline revealed that there vas a metal door inset into the wall。 Neither of our hosts tugged at the handle so there was a good chance that it was locked。 Indefatigable stepped forward to face the illuminated keypad set into the wall beside it。
〃Avert your eyes；〃 he said。 〃The access code is top secret。〃
〃Get it； Fido；〃 I whispered。 Aida reacted instantly； our plastic pet extruded sharp toenails； leaped high then climbed up my clothes； scratching my ear painfully as it jumped onto the top of my head。 I resisted the temptation to say ouch and stood steady so it could read the punched…in numbers。 The door creaked open and the creature jumped back to the ground。
A gentle breeze blew out through the doorway as we passed through it； smelling fresh and summery。 Here underground？ We stumbled in the darkness until the door clanged shut and the lights came on。 We were in a small chamber facing a spiral staircase。 Our hosts instantly started down it and we followed。
I was beginning to get dizzy from the round…and…round when we finally got to the bottom。 The open door here glared with light。 Blinking my tired eyes； I followed the others。 Outdoors into a field of ripening corn。 Startled birds flapped away when we emerged； while something small and furry disappeared among the stalks。
I knew that we couldn't possibly be outdoors； not after all the cave crawling that we had been doing。 So this had to be a really giant cavern； with some kind of brilliant light sources above。 These people really were independent of the surface…no wonder they hadn't been spotted before。
Dreadnought led the way between the rows of corn and we followed。 It was hot and dusty； my fatigue was still there…and some species of tiny gnat kept trying to fly up my nose。 I sneezed and rubbed and walked into Indefatigable's solid back when he stopped。
〃Hail the Home and Joy in Survival！〃 he called out。
〃Hail； hail and wele； brave Defender；〃 a voice answered。
A sweet and high…pitched woman's voice。
We started forward again and I stepped out from behind my guide's massive form； rubbing my nose and sniffling。 I had a quick glimpse of a woman and three or four children working with hoes。 It was a very quick glimpse…for the instant that she saw me she screamed。
〃Invasion Day！ 〃
It all happened incredibly fast。 The children dived to the ground and she grabbed at the heavy pistol that hung from a ！ lanyard around her neck。 Raised it and began to fire at us。
We all hit the dust faster than the children had。 Dreadnought was shouting； the gun was banging； rounds screamed by and exploded among the crops。
〃Stop！ No！ No Invasion！ Enough； enough？〃
I don't think she heard him at all。 I tried to crawl down through the topsoil while I saw her squeezing and squeezing on the trigger； her eyes round and terrified； white teeth sunk into her lower lip。 The only thing that kept us alive was the fact that the gun kicked hard and the muzzle rode up into the sky； with the last shots vanishing into the zenith。
It ended just as quickly as it had started。 The children had disappeared。 Indefatigable had grabbed the gun away from her and was patting her on the back as she sobbed hysterically。
〃Well trained；〃 Dreadnought said approvingly。 〃Irreproachable is a fine woman； a good mother 。 。 。〃
〃And thankfully a rotten shot；〃 I said。 〃Would you like to tell us what all that was about？〃
〃Training。 Survival。 For to these many generations。 With the galaxy at war we seek only peace。 We survive。 They will kill themselves； but we will survive！〃
He was winding himself up into a rallying speech so I broke in before he got into full spate。
〃Stop！ One minute…enough。 The galaxy's wars and the Breakdown ended centuries ago。 There is no more war。〃
He lowered his clenched fist and sighed； rubbed his knuckle across his nose。 〃I know。 Some of us know。 Most won't face the knowledge…cannot face it。 We are too trained for survival and nothing else。 Nothing in our programming and our lives has ever prepared us for a time without war。 Without the threat of invasion。 Some of us assemble； we talk； make decisions。 About the future。 We have a leader…I dare not tell you more！〃
He broke off as Indefatigable came running back。
〃The message has arrived…it is time to leave。 The search has widened。 If we move now we can stay behind the searchers and get to the meeting place。 Quickly！〃
We quicklied…and I was beginning to get very tired of it。 The circular staircase had been a lot easier to e down than it was to climb up。 Floyd saw my condition and if he hadn't half dragged me I doubt if I would have been able to make it。 Once more into the black tunnels。 I was only vaguely aware of our two