Read Online Holes in the Ground by J.A. Konrath, Iain Rob Wright - Free Book Online Page B

half. “I wouldn’t doubt it. This place is pretty amazing, though. It must have cost billions.”
    “Let’s just hope they spent it wisely.”
    Jerry came over with a plateful of sausages and a tall glass of orange juice. He was wearing a white T-shirt with StopGovernmentSecrets.com emblazoned across the chest, obviously an iron-on made with a desktop printer. He took a seat at their table and noticed Sun appraising his large stack of pork-links. He shrugged. “I’m cutting out carbs,” he said, before tucking in like a starving caveman.
    “There are carbs in the OJ,” Andy said.
    “I know. But those are liquid carbs, not food carbs.”
    Andy considered telling him there wasn’t a difference, but decided there wasn’t any point.
    After devouring several of the dozen sausages, Jerry wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and sipped his juice. Then he pulled a face. “These sausages are tiny. The ones in England are big and fat, much nicer.”
    “Maybe they have a suggestion box,” Sun offered.
    Jerry took a big gulp of orange juice. “So all the rumors about Project Samhain, keeping ol’ Scratch under lock and key, those are true?”
    Andy put down his knife and fork and laced his fingers together in front of him, elbows on the table. “You know you’re sworn to secrecy, right?”
    Jerry nodded. “Big bloke named Rimmer came to see me last night, made me sign a stack of papers while he flexed his biceps, trying to look mean. Said if I ever said anything about this place to anyone, he’d make sure I ended up having an uncomfortable experience with that unicorn on subbasement 1.”
    Andy and Sun exchanged a glance. It felt strange to be talking about it, since they hadn’t in so long, but Andy eventually said, “It’s true.”
    “Was it actually the devil?”
    Sun nodded. “It was like the batling in the cell on Level 5. Only a lot bigger.”
    “But was it Satan?”
    “Let me put it this way,” Andy said, pushing away his plate. “If Satan does exist, Bub was a prime candidate.”
    Concern crossed Jerry’s face. “If it was,
is
, Satan, that means there’s a heaven and hell, don’t it?”
    Sun said, “I don’t know, Jerry. It could be.”
    “So we could actually be punished for eternity for things we’ve done in the past?”
    “It depends on the religion and the dogma,” Sun answered. “Is it true that you’re wanted by the police back in the UK?”
    Jerry’s expression became even bleaker. “I robbed some money from a tosser. He had it coming.”
    “But you’re wanted,” Sun said. “Aren’t your parents worried about you?”
    Jerry started shovelling more sausages into his mouth, swallowing them down in loud gulps. When he was done he let out a long sigh. “I don’t have any parents. My mom died last year of lung cancer and my dad… my dad is the ‘tosser’ I stole from.”
    “I’m sorry about your mother,” said Sun. “You must really miss her.”
    Jerry nodded. “She was the only person that ever really cared about me—well,
her
and my best friend, Ben. But now he won’t even talk to me after what I did.”
    “Why not? What did you do?” asked Sun.
    “Never mind. I don’t want to get into it. What are you guys up to today?”
    Sun smiled, seemingly content not to push the subject. “We’re heading back down to level 5,” she said. “Did you want to tag along?”
    Andy shot his wife a stare, but she ignored it.
    Jerry’s face lit up. “Yeah, I would really like to. Even if I can’t tell anyone.”
    “Knowledge for the sake of knowledge,” Sun said. “A noble pursuit.”
    Andy cleared his throat to gain the floor. “What we’re doing is going to be very dangerous, Jerry. You need—”
    “I won’t be any trouble. I’ll do whatever you tell me to. Just let me come.” He stared at Andy for what seemed like ages and then said, “Please, man. I need this.”
    Andy sighed. “Okay, fine, but don’t get in the way. And follow every direction we give