Title: Suspicion
Chapter: 7
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG
Archive: Sure, just let me know where, please.
Spoilers: Nary a one
Feedback: cherished and fawned over
Disclaimer: Not mine, wish they were, blah blah blah.....all IA's

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When next Betty opened her eyes, it was to see Steve's back turned to her. He was crouching down, checking the knot's securing one of the grapnels they had used during their escape. Betty had gone to sleep feeling sick and dizzy but now her head was clear and her vision steady. Betty eased herself upright, taking note that Valerie and Marna were already awake, talking softly, behind her. Mark and Dan were not apparent as she slowly took in her surroundings. Betty could see they were still secreted behind the sacks in the pet room. She couldn't hear anything from outside their hiding place, so she assumed the Giant had given up the search and hadn't been in here to check either.

" Steve ?" Betty leaned against one of the sacks as Steve swivelled to face her, giving her a relieved smile.

" Hey, nice to have you back with us....how are you feeling ?" He asked.

" Better than I did when I went to sleep....where are Mark and Dan ?"

" They set off about two hours ago, I spoke to Mark briefly about fifteen minutes ago. They've found what looks like the main power grid."

" We're sure pleased you finally woke up....I was worried about you." Valerie had come over and knelt next to Betty, a concerned look on her face. Marna also shuffled over, looking pale and washed out.

" I'm just glad the room's not shaking about as it was" Betty replied.

" Yeah, that was the kicker " laughed Valerie. Marna gave up a wan smile which Betty returned.

" Mark and Dan suggested we try and get out of here as soon as you feel up to it, Betty. It will take a few hours for them to hotwire the power board and disable the fuses, so we have time to get ourselves as far away as possible and wait for their call." Steve informed the women looking at him anxiously.

" We're not planning on leaving Mark and Dan behind are we ?" Marna interjected, her voice rising in concern.

Steve held his hands up " No...no...of course not, but we will all be safer getting as far away from this cave complex as possible. We don't want to run the risk of any of us getting caught again." He placated.

" What exactly is the plan, Steve ?" Asked Betty. She was feeling better by the minute.

" Well, I know the route back to the entrance. We haven't seen or heard the Giant moving around for over an hour, given it's now night-time outside it's a fair bet he's retired for the night, making our job easier. On the down side, this room appears to be the only one still lit. He's powered down the lights in the outer caves, and his room would seem to be off the main experiment room. We appear to have a clear run out of here, as long as we use extreme caution. I have two torches with us to help find our way about. So, if your ready we can go anytime. Any questions ?" Steve looked at the expectant faces, waiting for any objections or queries.

" I don't have a problem " said Valerie, she looked to the others for confirmation, Betty and Marna shook their heads in agreement.

" Okay then, lets gather our stuff and get going." Steve stood up, looping the rope over his shoulder and handing one of the torches to Valerie while keeping one for himself. Marna gathered the jackets used for pillows folding them over her arm. Betty pushed her short blonde hair off her face, smoothed her skirt and took a deep breath.

Steve took one more look around the bags for anything left behind, then led the way back to the door. The women followed him closely, Betty in front, Marna in the middle and Valerie covering the rear with the other torch. Various animals in the cages above them chittered and squeaked at the Little People as they passed making for an eerie accompaniment to their exit.

Steve slipped under the door, doing a quick reconnoitre for any sign of life from the Giant, hearing nothing he signalled Betty and the girls to follow him.

They found themselves in a nearly pitch black room, the only light coming from some equipment panels on the far wall that blinked intermittently. Steve led the women along the rock wall, keeping as close as possible, ever watchful for any indication that the Giant was approaching. They reached the next doorway, which would lead into the entrance foyer and ultimately the canyon out of the complex. Again Steve signalled for them to wait while he checked that the other side was all clear. He disappeared from sight briefly, then they heard a low whistle and all three crawled under the door, standing on the other side and surveying the room in front of them.

" That's the door to the power room " Steve whispered, pointing to a dark opening leading off the entranceway.

" Why don't we check on Mark and Dan's progress while we're here?" Asked Valerie. She had been fretting about Mark since he left, and wanted nothing more than to see he was still okay.

" I don't know....." Three faces stared back at him, eerily lit by the weak light from the torches.

" Please Steve ?" Begged Valerie.

"Okay, but we're won't be staying." Steve relented.

They slipped across the smooth floor, crossing the wide expanse quickly, ever aware that they were completely exposed if the Giant chose that moment to appear. Their luck held and they made the door with no holdups. Steve led the way into the darkened room, using the feeble torch light to illuminate huge cable coils and banks of flickering multicoloured lights. They made their way to one monstrous bank of dials and Steve slipped down a crack between the instruments, the girls followed, not knowing what they would find at the end of the narrow alley.

Steve started to call softly for Mark or Dan, after a couple of seconds a low voiced reply guided them to the dim figures of Mark, crouched down beside a sweat beaded Dan. He was holding his right hand at an awkward angle, groaning as Mark wrapped a handkerchief around to form a bandage.

" What's happened, Dan are you okay ?" Asked a worried Steve.

Mark looked up from his bandaging. " Dan got a severe burn from one of the power feedback coils. Somehow we got a flash spark between two electrodes, which jumped and electrified the switch Dan was just touching. He's in alot of pain, he needs to get these burns seen to as soon as possible."

"I'll take the girls and Dan back to the campsite, we can treat Dan's hand there. I'll come back and help you as soon as possible "said Steve, kneeling down next to Dan, squeezing his left shoulder in sympathy. Dan flashed Steve a grimace, then drew in his bottom lip, biting down hard as Mark tied the makeshift bandage.

"Sorry Dan...Steve, I need someone here to help me, I've nearly finished with the feedback loop...I'm only about an hour away from blowing this joint to dust." Mark fixed with Steve with an urgent look.

"Dan....do you think you can lead the girls out ?" Steve asked his co-pilot. Dan nodded, panting in pain.

Steve turned to the women. " Go with Dan, he needs help urgently, he'll show you where we hid the camp....Mark and I will stay here and join you as soon as we finish. Any problems use the radio...clear ?"

" Sure...but you call us if you need anything...okay ?" Replied Betty.

Steve nodded, then between them, they lifted Dan to his feet, keeping away from his injured hand. Sweat was pouring down Dan's face as he fought against the pain of the burn. He cradled his hand against his chest.

" I'm sorry Steve...." Dan started. Steve just patted his uninjured arm and gave him a gentle push away. " Get started Dan....go."

Dan turned and started back down between the machines, the women following disconsolately behind. Valerie glanced back to see Mark watching her, he lifted his hand and waved, Valerie raised her hand in salute, then she was gone round the corner. Mark lowered his hand, turning to Steve. " Let's get on with this..I want to blow this popsicle stand ."

Steve and Mark worked solidly for the next hour. Finally Mark indicated they were done.

" All we have to do is trip this switch and the feedback will begin to build, overloading the coils and starting the back wash. We'll have about two minutes to get clear before the machinery starts frying and exploding. How fast can you run ?" He quipped.

" As fast as you.....faster if flames are licking at my heels " Steve rejoined.

" Okay then, you want the honours ?"

" Sure...this switch ?" Steve's hand hovered over the white button.

" That's the one....punch it."

Steve pushed the button with his entire body weight behind it, the button sank in and clicked. Steve let go and the button stayed down, they could already hear a faint hum as the feedback started to build.

" Lets get the hell outta here ." The two men started running down the gap between the machines, reaching the doorway, racing over the floor as the screeching hum began to build. Smoke was starting to ooze out of some of the equipment. Steve and Mark sprinted down the tunnel, not bothering with their torches as their eye's had become accustomed to the dim lighting, only needing to avoid colliding with the walls, an unlikely happening given the width of the passageway. Their feet kicked up dirt as they reached halfway to the opening. Behind them the first of the explosions could be heard, popping and crackling. The fire created by the power surge cooking the electronics. Steve and Mark didn't pause to rest or listen they pounded down the canyon, breath slamming in their chest, sweat streaming off them as they raced for their lives.

A huge BOOM almost knocked them off their feet in their headlong rush, but they kept their footing, reaching the rock's where the others were watching for them. Steve and Mark vaulted over the low rocks, sprinting towards where Dan and Valerie waved to them.

" Get down.....NOW " Steve yelled, a billowing cloud of dust behind him punctuating his command.

They jumped the last boulders and hunkered down with their crewmates just as the entranceway exploded out in a hail of rocks, dust and flames. The choking dust quickly rolled over them and they were pelted with debris, nothing too large, as the force of the explosion had blown all the large debris down the hillside, away from where the Little People cowered. The ground shook and trembled with the continuing force of the continuing explosions rocking the cavern complex, loosening rock falls from the cliff face. Steve, like everyone else had his hands over his ears and his head down to protect himself, but he took a quick glimpse up at the cliff.

" WE NEED TO MOVE " he shouted, Mark heard and started to pull Valerie up and away, grabbing one of the backpacks as he passed. Dan had seen them moving and got himself to his feet, shaking Marna with his good hand, to get her to pay attention. He indicated Mark and Valerie as Marna looked up. She jumped to her feet, grabbing the smaller backpack as Dan couldn't carry anything. Steve took hold of Betty's arm, dragging on the remaining pack, and started to run down and away from the cliff base, following Mark and Valerie, dimly seen through the swirling dust.

Dull booms could still be heard as they raced, stumbling and tripping down the slope, away from the cliff face, dodging debris and rocks, which continued to rain down, together with ash and dust.

They reached the relative safety of the scrubby trees just as, with a final deafening crash, part of the cliff parted company and slithered down, sealing the entrance to the canyon with shale and gravel. The dust cloud expanded and threatened to choke the Little People, but they pushed on, putting more space between them and the cliff, finally collapsing, coughing, in a heap behind a dense thicket.

" *cough*...no-one could have...*cough*...survived that." Mark stated.

Nobody argued his statement. They sprawled, panting and coughing, covered in a fine sheen of dirt, looking like dust covered shop mannequins. Valerie shook her head violently, loosening another cloud of dust from her long hair. She spat the grit out of her mouth, coughing.

" I...*cough*...so wish for a bath right...*cough*...now"

" I second that idea...*cough*" replied Betty.

" Let's get going, we've still got a two day trek back to the ship." Steve stood up, offering a hand to Marna. The group shook the worst of the grit from their clothes, leaving the rest of their cleanup until they stopped for the night. Wearily they trudged away, leaving destruction and devastation behind them.

Oily black smoke leaked out of the pile of rocks blocking the canyon entrance, testifying to their success in destroying yet another weapon that could have spelled doom to their future on this planet.

A future that was yet to be determined.