The Tunnels
T hough I haven’t ordered the door open yet, Tom did it. He’d found the six spots and pushed them until the door loosened and all hell broke loose.
The water rushing in guarantees killing one third of us, but I have to manage and help out as much as I can.
Surprisingly, many of the Mushroomers know how to swim. Unlike them it takes me some time to adjust the new situation.
The transition from an environment in which one can breathe to one where you need to hold your breath as much as you can, scares me. With the March on my back, I try to cling against the walls of the tunnel until the water stabilizes. It’s as if I’m being shot at by an enormous water-cannon. I’m plastered against the wall for a few seconds then begin swimming with the March on my back.
It’s far from an easy task.
My eyes dart around to make sure most Mushroomers are swimming out. I can’t see Constance, though.
Outside the door, we’re in the river. I can even see some fish before me. The smart Mushroomers paddle up to reach the surface. The others are blacking out or lost in a haze of panic. It’s hard to help enough of them out.
But Constance does.
She is a fierce little, weightless thing.
She pushes the Mushroomers up, making use of their light floating bodies in the water, and pulls them up.
In a glance, I see Tom has reached the surface. I can only see his legs from down here. At least it means the surface isn't that far.
I paddle with all my might, a little weighed down by the March, but I manage. It’s only seconds before I reach the surface.
I take in a long breath and stabilize for a second. The night sky is dark and I can hardly see anything. Tom points out at the small boats spread all over the river. No lights, though, so the police won’t figure them out soon.
I paddle to the nearest, watching Mushroomers crawl up into it.
“Here,” I tell those on the boat. “Take him.”
I pass over the March’s body, though I don’t see who I’m dealing with. I need to go back in to see if someone else needs help.
Down there it’s darker than before. The flashlights a few Mushroomers had held up before aren’t there anymore. The one bonus is that all the doctor’s outfits they picked up on their way out are all white.
One of them has drowned and is dead already. I pull him up though, remembering the Dude’s words. This is war. There will be casualties. It’s a hard truth to stomach, but it’s true.
It also explains why war is utter madness.
Last Mushroomer up. I hang onto the boats edge, panting. “I can’t believe it was so easy,” I wheeze.
“Me neither,” Tom says. “Where is Constance?”
“What? She isn’t up already?”
“The last Mushroomer who saw her, said she was stuck down below. I thought she’d fix it. She always fixes things.”
“Damn you, Tom. Why didn’t you tell me?” I jump back, realizing I might be too late.