Evil Machines by Terry Jones

Author:Terry Jones [Невідомо]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: antique

The Rocket to Hell

‘You stay out of this!’ said Jack to his father. ‘I’ll find her.’ Jack and his father were standing outside the great iron doors through which the train, that was going to lead them to Annie, had disappeared.

‘What are you talking about?’ replied Orville. ‘We’re in this together.’

‘If it gets tricky,’ said Jack. ‘I don’t want a handicap.’

‘Are you implying I’m not capable of looking after myself?’ demanded Orville.

‘I’ve no idea,’ replied Jack. ‘I don’t know what you’re capable of.’

‘Let me tell you I can more than take care of myself!’ said Orville, prodding his son in the chest.

‘I don’t care!’ replied Jack. ‘She’s my sister.’

‘She’s my daughter!’ pointed out Orville.

‘Not that anyone would’ve noticed,’ muttered Jack.

‘Look! We should be working out how to get through these doors – not raking up the past!’ said Orville, and he

started grappling with the massive handles that hung on the doors like a pair of lifebelts.

‘I’m not raking up the past,’ responded Jack. ‘I’m talking about what happens next!’

‘What happens next depends on us getting through these doors!’ said Orville.

‘If only we had the code for that!’ said Jack, pointing to a keypad on the side of the doors.

‘Oh! Of course!’ said Orville. ‘I’m so stupid! We can just ask the man in the green overalls to give it to us,’ he groaned.

‘Ha . . . Ha . . .’ said Jack without laughing. And then suddenly he did laugh. ‘But wait a minute! Maybe he already has!’

‘What d’you mean?’ asked Orville, as his son started punching letters into the keypad.

‘Well, what was the station called and what was written on that strange man’s overalls?’ asked Jack, as he waited for the code to go through.

‘Er,’ said Orville.

‘No! It wasn’t “Er”!’ said Jack. ‘It was “Maurice”!’

‘Too obvious,’ said Orville. At which point there was a slight click, and the massive gates swung open.

‘I don’t think our friend in the green overalls has much imagination,’ said Jack.

‘There’s something odd about him,’ said Orville, following his son into the dimly lit tunnel that appeared in front of them.

‘He seems to have a problem with personal relationships,’ replied Jack. ‘But from my experience that doesn’t seem to be particularly “odd”.’

Orville didn’t reply. He was too busy looking round at the tunnel. The walls and ceiling and floor were all made of iron, and thick cables ran under foot, making it difficult to walk. There was a constant hum and the whole tunnel vibrated.

The occasional dim light bulb showed them a little of the way ahead but not enough to see where they would eventually find themselves. Then, suddenly, there was a rush of air, as the doors clanged shut behind them. All the lights went out, and they were plunged into darkness.

‘Look!’ said Jack. ‘I’d really rather do this on my own.’

‘Well, you can’t,’ replied his father.

‘What right have you got to tell me what I can or can’t do?’ said Jack.

‘I’m your father,’ said Orville.

‘Huh!’ snorted Jack.

‘Let’s just find your sister,’ said Orville.

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