Chapter 17
It took a while for Sophies eyes to get used to the darkness. After a few minutes she could see a dim light, not far from the iron stairs.
She heard the girl jumping off the ladder, and soon found herself at the end of it.
Where are we?
Not far from Karlsruhe station.
Sophie thought back to Amandas words and the appointment with Jamie.
Are we far from Stuttgart station? she asked.
You have to take the train to the seventh ring, its just a couple of stops.
The source of the light turned out to be a crack under a thick metal door. The girl turned the handle and, with a great creak, the door opened up.
On the other side there was a long corridor with walls covered in white and yellow plastic panels. The floor consisted of old grey tiles. The narrow space was illuminated by electric light coming from the ceiling panels, but many of those were broken or emitting a flashing, flickering light, making the place look spooky.
Sophie looked around and noticed a pile of rags on the floor. A more attentive inspection revealed it to be a sleeping man.
Come with me, the girl said, I know a place where we can go.
Sophie followed her down the hall, which widened until it became a large, crowded room. There were men and women, children and elderly people: some were not very different from the people she met every day, while others seemed to belong to a completely different race. Most wore threadbare, ill-assorted clothes, composed of several layers to ward off the cold.
There were people walking in a hurry, and others that were sitting or even lying down on the ground. They all seemed to need a good shower; many had long hair and long beards, prematurely wrinkled skin, rotten teeth.
In the corners of the room some had laid out sheets, on which various merchandise was exhibited. Food, Sophie noticed. The distinct smell of meat was enough to make her hunger return in full force. She made to approach, but the girl yanked her arm: This way!
Sophie hastened to follow, as it would be very easy to get lost in the middle of the crowd. She wondered how many victims an infected could have made in a mere few hours down here, in the midst of all those people and without any kind of medical control.
A pale man who looked like he had never seen sunlight passed by Sophie, staring in front of him transfixed and, bumping into her shoulder. She shuddered.
The child led her across the room, then into another, less crowded corridor. Finally, she opened a door hidden between the panels: Here, she said.
Sophie found herself in what had probably been a closet of some sort once, perhaps for electrical panels. Someone had pulled in two ripped seats from an old train, along with other scattered objects: a pile of clothes, dishes , a pot on a gas stove.
So you live here? Sophie asked.
The girl rolled her eyes: Of course not. This is just a place to hang out sometimes.
What's your name, by the way?
She brushed a dirty strand of hair from her eyes: Gitte, and yours?
Sophie. Now, can you give me what I paid for, please?
Oh, yes! Gitte said, handing her the plastic bag. Sophie pulled it open, finding two polystyrene boxes with the logo of the company that provided electricity.
These were two meals from their canteen, she understood. She opened a box and found it divided into three sections: rice and beans, salad and a dark loaf. Sophie wolfed it all down in a few minutes. Nothing had ever tasted so delicious.
Easy, or youre going to choke, Gitte advised.
Once the first portion was gone, Sophie briefly considered the other container. No, she decided, she had to restrain herself. She had to go back to the hotel and take it to Emma, who has had nothing to eat for at least as long as she did; then they would go somewhere else.
That was, unless that the medical police had already traced them. She had no choice but to take the risk, though.
A part of her wanted to stay hidden in the old subway closet a little longer; it would have been so nice to stay there until all was forgotten: Emma, the plague, the vaccine, and her own connection to it all. She wondered how many other people in the underground city had followed a similar impulse.
Gitte, were you born here? In the underground city? she asked.
The girl shook her head: No, my parents lived up above. My sister and I came here... after...
And where is your sister now?
Gitte shrugged and said nothing.
Sophie didnt know what to say.
They stayed in silence for a moment, then Sophie stood up and shook the crumbs from her clothes. Anyway, thanks a lot.
Youre welcome.
Um, I think Ill go now.
She had no more excuses, she had to leave.
Listen... Gitte said, You have to stop paying in advance without haggling over the price. Its very strange. You'll end up robbed in half a day if you keep on like that.
Sophie thought about it, then nodded: Thanks. Youre probably right.
She snorted: Of course I'm right.
It took Sophie a while to find her way to the trapdoor, and when she came out she found that she had used the wrong manhole and ended up a few blocks away. When she finally arrived at the hotel, the little bit of pleasant warmth she had managed to absorb during her visit to the subway was quite gone, leaving her even colder than before.
She entered warily and headed straight to the corridor. The guy behind the counter just looked at her curiously, but didnt say anything. Luckily she managed to get to her room without further trouble.
When she opened the door, her heart skipped a beat as she scanned the room and didnt see Emma.
Emma? she asked, in rising panic.
Relieved, she saw the old lady come out of the bathroom and hurry toward her:
Sophie! Oh, thank goodness you're back! I was so worried!
Sophie handed her the bag with the polystyrene lunch box: Here, this is what I found.
Emma looked confused: What about you?
I've already eaten. Look, I met someone I know, and unfortunately I'm pretty sure he recognized me. We have to leave right away, possibly go to another ring.
Emma opened the package and began to eat greedily: But... who...? she enquired between mouthfuls.
Its Lukas, the guy who works at the medical centre with me.
Worked, she corrected herself mentally.
Even when this whole horrendous business would be over, could she return to her life and her work as if nothing had happened? Now that she thought about it, it was unlikely that the centre would survive without Amanda.
Emma nodded: Ah yes, I remember him - a nice young man, so polite.
Thats the one.
Sophie wondered if Lukas was more likely to try and help her, or report her to the authorities. For the time being it seemed that no one had yet come to get them, but it was too early to reach any conclusions.
She noticed that Emma had emptied her lunch box, and felt her stomach rumble again.
We will find something else soon, she told herself.
Maybe she could get back into the subway tunnels and investigate the origins of the grilled meat. It didnt have to be rats...
Come on, lets go, she urged her companion.
It took Emma quite a while to collect her belongings and finally get moving.
Sophie tried to be patient (elderly people could be very slow, she reminded herself), but, given their situation, she was compelled to prod the old lady to get going.
Wait... my knitting! Emma said, stopping at the door for the umpteenth time. It was amazing how much stuff she had scattered around the room in just over twenty-four hours.
Finally they managed to leave the room and get to the ground floor. Sophie had hoped to sneak out without attracting attention, but as they walked to the entrance door, the guy from the reception barred their way.
Where are you going? he asked.
His voice was flat, and Sophie failed to read his intentions, but she didnt like the determined look in his eyes.
Were just going to... she began, about to tell him that they were vacating the room, but Emma broke in:
...to take a walk and get some fresh air, the old lady said. We think well be back in a couple of hours.
Sophie was a bit confused, but decided not to contradict her companion.
Oh yeah? the guy said. Because it looks to me like youre leaving.
Well, even if we were leaving, we paid in advance, so I dont see where the problem is, Sophie said, trying to swerve around him and get to the door. She wondered if he had seen their identikit somewhere and drawn his own conclusions , or spoken to Lukas, or warned by the police not to let them get away...
The problem is that the price of the rooms increased since yesterday, he declared, pushing himself more firmly against the door. Two hundred credits more. But I'm sure you can afford it.
Well, youre wrong! Emma replied with confidence.
The man took a step toward them, and in one fluid motion pulled out a small knife: Well, suppose that now you give me your wallet, and I decide on the new tariff.
You cant do that. I'll call the police, Sophie said, feigning an assurance she didnt really possess.
The guy grinned: I dont think so. You know, I dont think youre on very good terms with the authorities.
He walked up to Sophie, bringing the edge of his knife dangerously close to her stomach. She felt his breath hit her nostrils, an unpleasant mixture of tobacco, onion and bad digestion.
Come on, old fart, he said to Emma, Get the money out.
The elderly woman paled: All right, all right... she stammered, pulling out her wallet from her bag and putting a handful of notes in his hands
The man pocketed them: And now get out! he told them.
Sophie and Emma hastened to leave.
Gitte was right, Sophie thought bitterly. They should have been more cautious. But now it was too late, they had no money, nor the faintest idea of where they could go.