Riley climbed into the driver’s side. “In a forklift that drives less than ten miles per hour?”
“The only way back to the main line of the Kazumura from here is through a crawl space. The Penning trap won’t fit.”
“And a forklift will?”
“There’s a skylight about a mile into the tunnel. We can use the forklift to lift the trap to the surface and make our escape.”
Vernon, Wayan Bagus, Alani, and Berta piled onto the blades of the forklift, and Riley turned the ignition. It reluctantly started up and rumbled slowly through the bricks, down the tunnel. By the time they reached the skylight, they could hear footsteps and voices echoing in the tunnel behind them.
“We have about a six-minute head start,” Emerson said. “Let’s get topside with the Penning trap.”
Riley raised Vernon, Alani, Wayan Bagus, and Berta close enough to the hole in the ceiling that they could scramble out and then lowered the blades so Emerson could get on, holding the Penning trap. Once the trap was safely aboveground Emerson slipped back into the lava tube.
A deafening explosion reverberated through the tunnel, followed by the sound of a cave-in coming from the direction of the lab.
“I guess the bombs work,” Emerson said.
Riley looked in the direction of the lab. “Do you think we got Tin Man?”
“Probably not,” Emerson said. “I imagine he’s leading the horde running after us.”
The sounds of footsteps and angry voices were getting closer.
“What h
ave you got in your pack?” Riley asked. “Matches, flares?”
“Yes and yes.”
“Give me the Swiss Army knife you always carry.”
Riley took the knife from Emerson and flipped the large blade out into the locked position. She dropped to the tunnel floor and cut the fuel line on the forklift, allowing the diesel fuel to pour out.
“Brilliant,” Emerson said. “And impressively diabolical.”
Emerson and Riley scaled the forklift and joined the others topside in the pitch-black jungle. Emerson fished around in his backpack and pulled out a signal flare. He lit it and handed it to Riley.
“Do you want to do the honors?” he asked.
“It’s not like the universe provides you with the opportunity to blow up a forklift every day,” Riley said. “I suppose it would be negligent of me not to drop this flare.”
Emerson smiled. “My thoughts exactly.”
Riley tossed the flare into the hole, and everyone jumped back. Seconds later the lift exploded, and a fireball rose out of the skylight.
“Guess we don’t have to worry about the crew in the tunnel,” Alani said. “Between the debris from the explosion and the destroyed forklift, I imagine they’re trapped for a while.”
Emerson and Vernon tugged Berta over to a large ohia tree and tied her up so that she was hugging the tree.
“We’ll send the authorities to pick you up once we get the Penning trap to safety,” Emerson said.
“You said you’d take me with you!” Berta screamed. “You can’t leave me alone in this jungle.”
Emerson stuck a Post-it note to her back. It said “I’m an evil murderer. Please leave me tied to this tree until police arrive.”
“We did take you with us. And now we’re leaving you here,” Emerson said. “You’ll be perfectly safe. There aren’t any predators out here, assuming Tin Man doesn’t find you.”
“You don’t think he’s imprisoned below?” Riley asked.