up in what appeared to be a control room and then ordered for a more thorough search of the complex. After giving a sit-rep to brigade, a young Lie Bing appeared in the open doorway and said, “Sir, we have found a concealed elevator.” Handing the headset back to the radio operator, Gong said, “Show me.” The private led Gong down a gloomy corridor. A low moaning was the only evidence of the storm outside; it followed them everywhere. At the end of the corridor, a door was being held open by another Lie Bing. Torchlight could be seen beyond. He paused to glance at the door. It appeared featureless and, when closed, would blend into the wall with only mere cracks to betray its existence. “Good work,” he said to no one in particular and then stepped across the threshold. He entered a small annex which was lit by the flashlights of two soldiers. The senior, an Ir Ji Shi Guan (sergeant), turned away from the closed elevator doors to acknowledge his commanding officer. “Sir, we stumbled upon this room quite by accident. We’re just waiting for a crowbar to get this elevator open – it’s going to take a little longer to get a generator up and running.” Gong nodded and surveyed the dark, dusty room. It was bare and grey, like the rest of the installation with only one small engraved plaque on the wall beside the elevator call button. His Russian was poor, but he managed to decipher the words: RESTRICTED: LEVEL FIVE CLEARANCE ONLY. “I want to know what is down there,” he said, his thoughts suddenly filled with hidden secrets and an imminent promotion. Once the elevator doors had been prized open, the Sergeant swept the empty carriage with his flashlight then stepped inside. Glancing around, he said, “Looks like just a single sub-level.” Just then the panel lit up and an internal light winked on. “We’ve got some power by the looks of it.” Gong nodded toward a light switch, which the private by the door flicked on. The strip light above them flashed several times then stabilised. He smiled, pleased with both himself and the efficiency of his men. “Take Zhang with you and scout out the 22
The Killing Moon Excerpt
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