Avarice Unfortunate Sons CH 17

The Wolf's Den

Bennett towered aggressively over Henry in the dimly lit mechanics office. His heavy hide jacket creaked in the void of silence. His black-gloved hand poked a thick finger at one of the diagrams displayed on the wall.

"You knew about this all along. Didn't you, Henry? Yet you didn't utter a word... Why?"

The older man visibly shrank from the warlord's displeasure. Gareth, who stood in the doorway, bore a smug expression akin to a hyena.

"I... I... don't know why," the frightened mechanic stammered.

Bennett wanted nothing more than to make an example of this man for his untruth. A good beating would straighten him out. He needed Henry, though. He and Archie were the only ones left who could keep the fortress running seamlessly.

"It matters not," Bennett announced, visibly relieving the tension that filled the room. He continued to peer closely at the blueprints that lined the walls of the office. The key to the fortresses' secrets. The other, more senior men also gazed over his shoulder.

"I think it's this one," Will announced. Pointing to a blueprint on the opposing wall. "That shaft runs deep alongside the main stairwell, see. The entrance to it is up top on the roof near the smithy."

Bennett crossed the small space to study the design. He slowly nodded. The deep shaft in question did appear to connect directly to the lower tunnel network. Bennett counted off the floors. That shaft ran deep. "There is the sally port far to the southeast. Do we have any strong rope? Perhaps we rig a pulley that would be safe enough for a party to make that descent?"

Henry adjusted his glasses that were perched on the bridge of his nose. He was still trying to pull himself together. His words stumbled before he could again talk clearly. "Sure, Sir, there will be some in one of the workshops."

"Can we get air and light to those tunnels? And we will need some welding gear too."

I'm sure we can get the safety lamps on down there at least. As for the air and the Oxy. I will work on that now, Sir."

"Good, then let's get on it right away."

*****

Victor and his handpicked force rode the familiar route back towards their home. The days were fine but scorching, making it most necessary to travel only by night. On the third evening, just a few hours before dawn, they were positioned beyond the walls of their stolen home.

Victor dismounted. It felt good to stretch his legs after this harrowing ride. He gazed through the moonless night toward the northwest. He could, if he squinted, just make out the vague, darkened outline of the fort against the backdrop of the barren landscape.

So few lights. Had the fuel run out already? A usually emotionless individual, Victor felt an uncharacteristically cold chill pass down the length of his spine. Pangs of longing and desperation, too. He had to rescue his daughter and return with her, even if he faced some awkward questions over his duplicity.

He walked up to the familiar door embedded in the dune. Studying the ground on the approach for any sign of a recent disturbance. There was none. The others had dismounted also and had taken up a defensive position.

The Doctor put his hand to the touch-plate. He did not hear the familiar small sounds of the mechanism engaging within. He cocked his head, listening intently. The night was silent but for the occasional rustle of dead grass blown by a temperate breeze. The door stood motionless.

Panic surged then in Victor's usually calculating mind. The tunnels had been breached, and the portal had been sealed. He pressed the plate again, hoping he was wrong. Silence ensued. He wanted to vent his distress, but he could not let the other men see him lose his cool. Or let the enemy know of their existence. He squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth in a gesture of silent fury.

He turned to see Harris standing a short distance behind him. His expression was one of well-rehearsed calm. Yet Victor knew the man was not remotely so.

"It's sealed," Victor hissed as he passed by the Major. Angrily pulling on his kidskin gloves and adjusting his cap. "It appears that we have ridden all this way for nothing."

"Perhaps we should at least try and collect some intelligence..." The Major calmly suggested. Trying to salvage something of use from the situation that might help them later.

Victor shot his comrade a withering look. He wanted to shout every profanity he knew in German to the heavens. Instead, he calmly mounted his fractious mare and ordered the others to file out. His mind was working overtime as another way to breach their home would have to be negotiated. Had they found his precious daughter? His heart pounded in his chest in panic at the idea. There were many things in this life that Victor could give up, but she was non-negotiable. He had to hope that the locks to his apartments had not been breached.