### 298

At the cost of 2 WILLPOWER points, you fire into the group of workers, throwing them into confusion. The power of the Staff kills one and injures another, causing it to send a spray of its acid all around, injuring another. Seizing your chance, you burst into the centre of the confusion and make a running jump for the shaft above.

As you run, you step into a pool of acid that burns through your boot, splashing deadly droplets that sear your flesh (lose 2 ENDURANCE points). Too breathless to cry in pain, you reach out and cling to a shallow handhold in the smooth shaft.

The confusion beneath has bought you the time you need to haul yourself up the shaft, and you climb, with agonizing slowness, to the surface.

Turn to 263.

Concept copyright © 1985 Joe Dever and Gary Chalk.
Text copyright © 1985 Ian Page.