Page 6 of Sixty Meters Under

Chapter 2

Borås, Sweden, 2051

The low buzzing of the electric engine stopped, when Hugo parked the car in front of the abandoned building. Lennart and Anna exited the car and inhaled fresh spring air. They briefly looked around, and their focus returned to the building that stretched hidden among the trees.

One car was already parked near the structure, and a middle-aged man stood beside it.

“I wish you all a good day,” the man greeted them as they came closer. He had a soft smile on his face and he took a few steps towards them. “How was your trip here? I hope you had no trouble finding this place.”

“Our trip here was uneventful,” Anna said, smiling and shaking his hand. “We had coordinates, so we didn’t get lost on the way.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Not many clients showed interest in seeing this bunker, to tell you the truth. And of those who do, half have problems finding it,” Mr. Bergman said with a chuckle.

Lennart and Anna exchanged a look, and Lennart added, “Well, that’s actually not a bad thing. The bunker is at least hidden from the road.”

“I think so too. A fine location, in my opinion. Only those who know what they are looking for can find it.”

“So, let’s get to business,” the middle-aged agent added, and gave them two flashlights before he took out a set of keys. He unlocked the large metal gate, and pushed the visibly heavy double doors to the side. Behind the gate was a space, about two meters wide, which hid another slightly smaller metal door. “Double security,” Mr. Bergman commented as they entered and turned on the flashlights. He closed the second door and locked it from the inside with a handle.

Four people walked through another door and looked around, finding themselves in the middle of a hall. There was one door on each side of the wall, and in front of them another large metal door. Corridors extended on both sides.

Mr. Bergman spoke up. “I’m not sure it would be safe to go too deep, but we can check at least a few levels. I personally have never been to the lower levels of this bunker. It was explored fifteen years ago by builders but before that it hasn’t been visited since the late 20th century. Originally built in 1958, the construction is very solid and holds very well.”

“In a few years, it will celebrate its hundredth birthday,” Anna muttered in awe, mostly to herself. She looked around, and flashed the light from side to side, and carefully took a few steps forward.

“And no one has ever expressed an interest in using it for anything,” Lennart added. Hugo quietly followed them and paid attention to all the details that were visible in that semi darkness. He mostly checked the walls for cracks, and looked at the doorways for rust.

“When this bunker was reopened and fully explored, the city found some investors who had an interest in renovating it and giving it purpose.”

“And?”

“Supposedly the bunker was bigger than they expected, or needed, so they moved the project to another place.”

Anna turned to him with a question. “What was the planned project?”

“They planned to build an underground shopping mall.”

“I see,” Anna said, then continued, “But it’s kind of strange, I mean, is this bunker really that big?”

Mr. Bergman nodded. “Well, you see, the walls that divide the rooms are very strong and it would take an investment of time and capital to renovate the whole place. I guess it was simpler for them to invest some-where else instead.”

“Okay. So, currently, no one has an interest in making the bunker useful? Even if there is a nuclear war threatening to break out again?”

“Unfortunately, no.” Mr. Bergman shook his head. “Cities are mostly interested in building bunkers as close as possible to cities or inside the city. This bunker was somehow left forgotten, I’m afraid.”

“At least that gives us the chance to buy this place,” Lennart laughed ironically.

Mr. Bergman ignored his tone and continued, “Indeed, this bunker gives you a lot of space, and it’s well designed. You could comfortably accommodate maybe two hundred people or more if you’d want to.”

Lennart whistled. “We wouldn’t need two hundred people in one place. Would we?” Anna was silent, so Lennart glanced at her and added, “At least that wasn’t our plan. We thought, maybe, around thirty?”

Anna finally spoke up, “Yes, well, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea if we took in as many people as possible? Give more people a chance to survive the catastrophe?”

“There is enough space, but you can turn these rooms into whatever you want. You don’t even have to reconstruct the whole place,” Mr. Bergman explained.

“We will see,” Lennart thoughtfully added.

Mr. Bergman pointed with his flashlight, first to the door on the left, and then to the other door on the right. “So, let’s get started: Here on the sides are rooms with abandoned ammunition and old weapons. Some of it is still functional, but you’d need an expert to check it over. If you want, we can take a look.”