The Andersons

A Comedy From Time

Chapter One The Discovery

The cacophony of the city took on a new chorus when the construction of a new corporate imprint on the London skyline began. The whining of earth chewing machines carving out the footing for the new monolith metres into the historic soil, and soon argentine rods sprouted the intention of new growth. It was only the unexpected discovery of 'them' that slowed the anthem of progress.

It started with the desperate crackle of a two-way radio in the site construction office. Base, this is Pit One. We got a situation here, guv.

What is it this time, Baldwin? Tell me it's not another bloody medieval gravesite, was the annoyed reply of the construction site supervisor, standing, moving the blinds to peer out the window toward the source of the annoyance.

It's worse than that, guv, came the reply. They're alive!

In the pit all worked had stopped and a cluster of several dozen men provided a constant hum of speculation directed toward a foreboding five-foot high tunnel off the main pit. The site supervisor, half-running toward his foreman, had to shout over the din of the mumblecrust. What the bloody hell do you mean 'alive'? If this is some sort of

The collective gasp from the assembled workers was enough to interrupt him, and, there in the middle of the city, all sound seemingly stopped. The toots, screeches and constant combustion muffled into nothing and all available eyes stared at the tunnel opening.

From deep inside the blackness, on the edge of available light, a shuffling sound preceded an old pair of worn leather shoes, the toe caps popped up from the soles to reveal tattered grey-black socks. In the full sunlight, the shoes stopped. Dozens of quiet eyes followed the stooped figure's rise from looking at his feet to meeting their intense stares full frontal.

The figure stood erect. It was a vision of greyness, from long, scrambled hair and twisted full beard, to the heavy double breasted greatcoat wrapped around a frame supported by patchworked trouser legs. Instead of a face there were two large flat glasses for eyes, surrounded by a mask of rubber, all of which was flecked with dried mud. Diagonally bisecting the greatcoat was a wide khaki belt leading to a bag at his waist. On the head was a cheese cutter hat. It was of indeterminate age, save for possible carbon dating.

The crowd of construction workers leans in the opposite direction as the figure's

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Novel excerpts: Life during World War II?
We want to hear your view. Write now!