Time......... (Part 6)

Frank didn't have to sit there long before he heard the sound of a group walking hurriedly down the hall. They were approaching from the side of him farthest from the gate, and he jumped inwardly as he realized his only exit had been blocked off. He shrank as far into the crevice as he could, praying that the shadow would hide him.
"Officer Grear, how did that sneak manage to break the password you said was so strong?" a woman's commanding voice echoed on the walls of the tunnel.
"How was I to know anyone could guess it?"
"Well, they obviously have, and its a good thing they've caught him. Who knows what he might have learned from the computer? I want that password changed at once."
"Yes, of course, I'll change it as soon as we get there!"
The static of a voice on a receiver broke into the conversation. The walkers came to a halt - right in front of the alcove where Frank hid. Frank held his breath and tried to decipher the words said on the receiver. He found it difficult to follow, however, and had to rely on the woman's answers.
"It was Kevin? Oh, that irritating boy! How did he get in? Oh, he won't say? Well you'll have to make him tell you. This is a breach of security, and if he managed to find a way in, than any spy who comes along could probably do the same!" There was a brief pause in her responding, and when she spoke again, it was in a tone of disbelief. "There was someone with him? And he escaped? He must be found at once! Especially if the computer has been tampered with as you say it has. Oh, what to do with a mischievous - a stupid - boy!"
"He may not be so stupid if he managed to get in the forbidden wing," Officer Grear commented as the woman pocketed the receiver, the conversation being over.
"Yes. But anyways, we've got to find out who was with him and where that person is now!"
"I suggest we look on the -"
"Shh!" the woman said suddenly, and Frank realized with a start of horror that she had spotted him. She grabbed him by the foot and dragged him out of the hollow. "What are you doing here?"
"I- I- I'm Frank. How do you do?" Frank said attempting to stand up.
"Frank?" Officer Grear looked hard at him.
"Y-yes," Frank felt slightly unnerved by the cold look. "That's only my first name. Last name's Liftun."
"Liftun?" the woman looked at the officer with a puzzled air. "Does General Liftun have a son?"
"He never spoke of it, but you never know about these boys."
"Take him along."
"Why?"
"He's near the tunnel isn't he? Even if he isn't involved in the, uh, mischief, he might be able to give a clue concerning the hiding one. But let us go now!"
"Alright. Here boy -"
"Frank," Frank interrupted. He hated being called "boy."
"Whatever," Grear grabbed his arm and helped him stand up. Frank had the uncanny feeling that he was being marched into a hornet's nest. Everyone would be annoyed with him if they found out that he was an intruder.
They reached the gate, and the woman hastily typed in the password. The gate did not move. "Bother!" she said in frustration. She tried it again, and again it didn't move. "What is wrong with this thing!"
"What password did you give it?" Grear asked.
"You know! The howshouldiknow one!" she said in vexation.
"Oh, that's the one for exiting the place," Frank said without thinking. "Melimp as common as water is the one I think you want."
"How did you know that?" the woman asked, turning at him sharply. Grear's hold on his arm tightened noticeably.
Frank gulped. "I - just kind of - you know - guessed?"
The woman typed in the password, and turned to him as the gate opened. "No one can just guess that. I hope this information was not passed on by General Liftun," she said coldly. They entered the room quickly. There was Kevin, standing in the middle of the room, in front of an old man who was questioning him sternly. They were surrounded by an anxious-faced group of men in uniforms. Kevin turned and looked at Frank, but made no sign of his recognition.
"General Liftun," the woman addressed the old man, "Is this your son?"
"Who? That?" the general pointed to Frank. "Never saw the lad in my life!"
Two of the men stood in front of the computer, scanning the series of red dots with experienced eyes. "He isn't on here at all, m'am!" one of them exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" the woman's eyes widened slightly with fear.
"He has no number, 'else the computer would have read it," the man clarified.
"He isn't a part of the fort? At all?" she didn't even attempt to hide her anxiety.
"Nope," the man replied.
"Will you look up UMO's, please?" she said. Her eyes swept over Frank and Kevin who now stood only a yard apart.
Utter silence reigned over the room as the man searched the computer.
"There's two," he said at length. "There's two of them in the fort!"
A buzz of speculation swept through the room, and grew into a noisy chatter.
"Silence! Please!" the woman called over it. "Where is the second?"
"In the chamber A1," the man said in a half-whisper.
"A1!" the woman gasped. "How ever did they find it?"
"Who can say? But let's hope they are not stirring up trouble! There's a meeting in session right now!"
"Yes, Offic-" she paused in the middle of a command. "Never mind. No one's allowed in there but me. General, I'll have to go and investigate. Please standby."
"Yes, m'am. What should we do with these two?"
"Squeeze anything out of them you can, and don't let them escape!" And with that, she left the room in a hurry.
Frank gulped, and looked at the General, "will the squeezing hurt?"
"What?" the general looked skeptical.
"She said to squeeze us!" Frank explained.
"Um, yes. Well, you'll be an easy one, I can see that!"
Kevin looked at Frank pleadingly. Frank had the vague feeling that he was saying too much, but it was only vague.
"I wonder what Peter would do?" he wondered silently.
Copyright - 9/17/2008 - Curious Cognitive Content (CCC)
Please do not reproduce without permission from the author(ess).