the all-clear now? Can we go home?’ she was quick to ask.
There was no doubt how worried Parry was as his brow formed multiple V s. His eyes found the radio on the windowsill. ‘Exactly how much do you know about what’s been going on in the rest of the country?’
‘Nothing, really,’ Stephanie said, also turning to glance at the radio. ‘We’ve only got that ancient thing. We can tune in to a handful of stations, but the signal’s so weak here it’salways, like, dropping out. I can’t even get any proper mus—’
‘That’s because the Styx are continuing to target news dissemination,’ Parry interrupted, ‘by jamming the frequencies so nothing gets through.’ As he took a breath, Chester used the opportunity to speak.
‘So it’s bad, is it?’
Parry gave a humourless chuckle. ‘Bad doesn’t begin to describe it. No one trusts anyone else, mainly because they’re frightened and very hungry. Imports have stopped so food’s scarce, and in any case the transport infrastructure has ground to a halt.’
Parry shook his head. ‘There’s rioting and looting everywhere in the country because what’s left of the police force have all but given up. People are hiding in their homes, army towns are putting up fortifications as though they’re minor fiefdoms, and gangs of vigilantes are taking it out on the nearest minority they can get their hands on. It’s as though the country’s been thrown back into the Dark Ages.’
‘But what’s the government doing about this?’ Stephanie asked.
‘They haven’t got the faintest idea how to put things right,’ Parry replied. ‘And it’s no good going to anyone in Europe for help. They’re terrified that it’s going to spread to them, so they’ve simply shut us out.’
‘Then our attack on the warehouse didn’t do much to stop the Styx,’ Chester said.
‘No, unfortunately,’ Parry replied. ‘When the Rebeccas hightailed it, one twin remained Topsoil with a Styx female, while we believe the other travelled down to the inner world. So everything that Eddie warned would happen is becoming a reality.’
Much as Chester wanted to shy away from any of this, he couldn’t stop himself from asking the inevitable question. ‘You’re talking about the Phase?’ he said.
‘We delayed it with our assault on the warehouse, but that only had the effect of cranking it up a notch, maybe into something even worse. Here on the surface it’s more than just Limiters and Darklit humans we’re up against now. They’ve got the Armagi with them too.’
‘What are they like?’ Stephanie put in.
‘They look like Limiters until they transform, then they look like nothing on God’s Earth. They’re extremely effective killing machines, whatever environment they’re operating in. I know that because we’ve seen them in action.’ Parry suddenly sounded very weary. ‘And as for how precisely we deal with them, I have to admit we don’t have any answers at present.’
Stephanie opened her mouth to speak again but Parry cut her short. ‘I don’t know how long we’ll be safe here, because the Armagi may have detected my chopper on the way in. And also our latest intel is that the Styx have commandeered a number of key radar installations.’
‘Not safe here?’ Chester mumbled.
‘Yes, so I want you all to get your things together. You’re clearing out with me when I go.’
‘We’re really leaving?’ Stephanie said, trying her best not to sound delighted.
‘Yes, but not right away. Chester, I need you to come somewhere with me first. And make sure you wrap up warm,’ Parry said, already making towards the door.
‘We’re going outside?’ Chester said unenthusiastically, throwing a glance through the window at the gathering darkness outside. ‘Do I really have to come?’
‘Yes, I need you with me,’ Parry replied. From his tone Chester knew that it wasn’t an option for him to refuse, however unwilling he was to get involved again.
There was no doubt how worried Parry was as his brow formed multiple V s. His eyes found the radio on the windowsill. ‘Exactly how much do you know about what’s been going on in the rest of the country?’
‘Nothing, really,’ Stephanie said, also turning to glance at the radio. ‘We’ve only got that ancient thing. We can tune in to a handful of stations, but the signal’s so weak here it’salways, like, dropping out. I can’t even get any proper mus—’
‘That’s because the Styx are continuing to target news dissemination,’ Parry interrupted, ‘by jamming the frequencies so nothing gets through.’ As he took a breath, Chester used the opportunity to speak.
‘So it’s bad, is it?’
Parry gave a humourless chuckle. ‘Bad doesn’t begin to describe it. No one trusts anyone else, mainly because they’re frightened and very hungry. Imports have stopped so food’s scarce, and in any case the transport infrastructure has ground to a halt.’
Parry shook his head. ‘There’s rioting and looting everywhere in the country because what’s left of the police force have all but given up. People are hiding in their homes, army towns are putting up fortifications as though they’re minor fiefdoms, and gangs of vigilantes are taking it out on the nearest minority they can get their hands on. It’s as though the country’s been thrown back into the Dark Ages.’
‘But what’s the government doing about this?’ Stephanie asked.
‘They haven’t got the faintest idea how to put things right,’ Parry replied. ‘And it’s no good going to anyone in Europe for help. They’re terrified that it’s going to spread to them, so they’ve simply shut us out.’
‘Then our attack on the warehouse didn’t do much to stop the Styx,’ Chester said.
‘No, unfortunately,’ Parry replied. ‘When the Rebeccas hightailed it, one twin remained Topsoil with a Styx female, while we believe the other travelled down to the inner world. So everything that Eddie warned would happen is becoming a reality.’
Much as Chester wanted to shy away from any of this, he couldn’t stop himself from asking the inevitable question. ‘You’re talking about the Phase?’ he said.
‘We delayed it with our assault on the warehouse, but that only had the effect of cranking it up a notch, maybe into something even worse. Here on the surface it’s more than just Limiters and Darklit humans we’re up against now. They’ve got the Armagi with them too.’
‘What are they like?’ Stephanie put in.
‘They look like Limiters until they transform, then they look like nothing on God’s Earth. They’re extremely effective killing machines, whatever environment they’re operating in. I know that because we’ve seen them in action.’ Parry suddenly sounded very weary. ‘And as for how precisely we deal with them, I have to admit we don’t have any answers at present.’
Stephanie opened her mouth to speak again but Parry cut her short. ‘I don’t know how long we’ll be safe here, because the Armagi may have detected my chopper on the way in. And also our latest intel is that the Styx have commandeered a number of key radar installations.’
‘Not safe here?’ Chester mumbled.
‘Yes, so I want you all to get your things together. You’re clearing out with me when I go.’
‘We’re really leaving?’ Stephanie said, trying her best not to sound delighted.
‘Yes, but not right away. Chester, I need you to come somewhere with me first. And make sure you wrap up warm,’ Parry said, already making towards the door.
‘We’re going outside?’ Chester said unenthusiastically, throwing a glance through the window at the gathering darkness outside. ‘Do I really have to come?’
‘Yes, I need you with me,’ Parry replied. From his tone Chester knew that it wasn’t an option for him to refuse, however unwilling he was to get involved again.
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