Free Crude Sunlight 1 by Phil Tucker Page A

revealing a large dark space beyond. Henry swung the camera around to check out the empty corridor behind them, and then back to the door. Eric had already stepped in, and the others followed.
    "Goddamn," said the third kid. Jimmy. "This place is out of control." A massive boiler sat in one corner, a huge iron monstrosity buried under layers of rust, thick umbilical tubing emerging from it to plug into the walls and ceiling. It looked large enough to immolate a Cadillac inside, and there was a squat malevolence to it, to the almost organic curves and tubes that emerged from its ancient iron sides. The group fanned into the room, pausing to examine details, and Henry snapped off a few shots, the video swaying out of control during those moments to focus on the floor or strange angles of the wall.
    "Okay, there should be another door back here," said Eric, stepping around a bank of what looked like warped high school lockers. Julia and Henry stepped after him, but then Henry paused to turn and gaze at where the third kid stood irresolute in the center of the room.
    "Jimmy, you coming?" asked Henry. Jimmy's face was a pale smear. He turned and flashed his light back at the door through which they had entered and then nodded.
    "Yeah, course I'm coming."
    Henry panned back around and focused on where Eric was opening a heavy door that led into a narrow corridor.
    "Here we go." Satisfaction in his voice. "This is one of the main steam tunnels. If we follow this thing, we should be able to get access to the other buildings. Even," he said, turning to look somberly at Julia, "the insane ward in Building Three that's been closed off since 1877."
    "Get lost, Eric." Julia sounded at once amused and annoyed. "Insane ward, my ass."
    "Insane ward?" asked Jimmy. "What insane ward?"
    "Ignore him," said Julia. "He's just messing with us. Let's go already."
    Eric grinned and stepped through into the tunnel, Julia following close behind. Henry's arm reached into the screen and clapped Jimmy on the shoulder as the other walked in after, and then the camera followed and they were in.
    The steam tunnel was cramped and filled with large pipes painted in faded yellows and reds that ran through the center. There was enough room for them to walk along, but barely, and they had to duck so as to not hit their heads. Eric set off to the left, paused, and then made them all turn around and go to the right. Henry took the lead, his flashlight dancing along the crumbling cement walls, stopping occasionally to peer into small side tunnels down which random pipes would disappear.
    They walked on in silence and stopped when the tunnel opened up into a large room. The pipes continued out into the room's center and then took a ninety-degree turn to extend down another tunnel.
    Moving forward carefully, Henry panned the camera over the debris that covered the floor. Broken desks, staved in wooden boxes, rotten sackcloth and unidentifiable machine parts. All was dark and silent, disturbed only by the sound of their breathing.
    "What is this place, Eric?" Henry flashed his light about until he discovered a door set at the top of a short stoop.
    "Must be a basement of some sort. We should be below... building two, I think. I'm pretty sure if we can just open this door..." Eric began to wade forward, placing his feet carefully and picking his path around the detritus with confidence. How different, mused Thomas, was this Eric from the nervous, manic guy he had met in that white boarded house.
    Eric reached the door, tried it, and found it locked. After a couple of futile shoves, he turned to the camera and gave a shrug. "Looks like a no go. Let's keep exploring."
    "I don't know," said Jimmy. The camera swung onto him, flashlights causing him to close his eyes and bring his hand up to block the beams. "I mean, maybe we should just get out of here, you know? We've come pretty far, right? We can just call it quits and go to the Diner or something."
    "Ah, come on Jimmy.