Project Apex by Michael Bray

Author:Michael Bray [Bray, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnum
Published: 2015-12-22T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

BAGHDAD SEWER SYSTEM

IRAQ

THE BAGHDAD SEWER SYSTEM had fallen into disrepair. Despite promises from the US government that the military presence would lead to a better quality of life for the residents of the city, if anything things had gotten worse. Several sections of the sewer section were severely blocked and spewed their contents onto the streets. Others were cracked and broken, waiting for the inevitable collapse which was to come. Akhtar and Youness walked deeper into the darkness, both able to hear the screams and gunfire from above. Youness had calmed and held his brother’s hand as they delved deeper. "Not long now," he whispered to his brother. "Soon we will be home and safe."

Youness didn’t reply, he simply allowed himself to be led deeper, completely trusting of his brother. Akhtar should have been happy; however the fact his brother was so trusting scared him, especially with what was happening up on the surface. He had no concept of right or wrong, of who to trust and who not to. He would trust anyone who was an adult. Akhtar's thoughts turned to his parents, and not for the first time, he wondered how they were and what they were doing amid the chaos in the streets. He prayed they were safe. A dull explosion at street level rocked the sewer pipe, and the two brothers drew closer to each other as they inched further into the darkness. Youness emitted a whine, one of the involuntary sounds which Akhtar always took for granted on the surface. Down in the sewer, however, it was an incredibly loud sound, and it rolled away from them, echoing from the walls.

"You have to be quiet Youness," Akhtar whispered.

Youness responded with a blank stare, still not understanding what was going on. Akhtar was starting to think that was a good thing.

They went on, trudging through ankle deep water and trying to ignore the things which touched their legs as they waded. At every access ladder to the surface, Akhtar would pause and listen, trying to gauge what was going on up on the streets. It seemed that as lost as they were, they were definitely heading away from the violence. The explosions which had seemed frighteningly close were gradually growing more distant. The tunnel inclined ahead before levelling out, and Akhtar thought it was as good a place as any for them to rest. At least the higher ground would get them out of the filthy water for a while. Leading his brother up the slope, Akhtar slid down the wall, stretching his legs out in front of him. Youness also sat, exhausted and unused to walking for such long distances. Usually, he was kept in his wheelchair because it was easier to travel that way. Such luxuries were behind them, though, and Akhtar mentally chastised himself for leaving it behind. The brothers sat in silence for a while, listening to the steady drip of water and the distant rumble of explosions and chatter of gunfire.

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