Page 403 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Nothing on the Mesh. Nothing above ground.’

Another voice cuts across the channel.

‘First, this is Rike. Garage tunnel has collapsed, I repeat; the driveable tunnel is completely collapsed and we’ve got structural damage across the entire sub-level.’

‘Casualties?’

‘Unconfirmed, but at least four.’

Kade takes the stairs three at a time.

A second tremor runs through the Tower.

The lights flicker.

Kade smells something weird.

It reminds him of the Drowner.

Before he can ask, Rike says, ‘The lake main’s ruptured.’

The failsafe should the tunnel ever be compromised.

‘Is it draining?’

‘The tunnel is completely collapsed. I think there’s nowhere for the water to go but up.’

‘Shit.’ An open artery beneath the Tower. ‘Shut the pumps down and activate the drains.’

‘Can’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘Engine room took a direct hit. Controls are gone and the lake is coming in.’

‘What the fuck does that mean?’

Another concussion travels through the Tower.

The walls groan around him.

Finn comes through. ‘The walkables are gone.’

‘Gone?’

‘Collapsed.’

‘Fucking hell. Rike, where’s the water at?’

‘Basement’s already knee-deep and rising. The drains are completely overwhelmed. Kade, don’t come down.’

‘In your fucking dreams,’ he snarls, taking the stairs two at a time as people begin pouring into the stairwell below him. Enforcers, mechanics and Tower Crew, some soaked through, others carrying injured people between them. Hiru’s voice rises over the alarms, directing them towards the upper floors.

Vasily catches up. ‘What happened?’

‘Both tunnels collapsed. The lake is flooding the lower levels.’

They reach the bottom of the Tower’s main staircase, where the ground floor opens around them. Directly opposite, another flight of steps leads down into the basement.