Tunnels 03, Freefall

grinned to himself as once out of sight from his father he threw the carton of rounds into the air and caught it. He knew that Dr. Burrows was unlikely to hear the gunshots from inside the fallout shelter. "Practice makes perfect," he said to himself.

    * * * * *

    The next day they lugged the outboard motor over to the launch and Will managed to bolt it in place. Getting it started was more problematic. The engine would catch and run for several seconds, then splutter out. Will tried to start it with the handle-pull so many times he didn't have any strength left in his arms, and Dr. Burrows had to take over. Sweating and coated in grease and grime, they eventually succeeded, the engine pouring out black smoke for several minutes as it ran unevenly. Then it stopped misfiring and settled into a regular throb. His father gave him the thumbs up, his laughter lost in the noise of the engine. Will tilted the outboard so the screw just touched the water, then he revved it. A torrent sprayed out behind the launch.
    "Job done," Will concluded as he cut the engine and the last reports of its deafening roar resounded in the cavern.
    "Excellent!" Dr. Burrows congratulated him. "Remind me to stow some extra fuel on board before we set off." After they had climbed out of the boat and onto the pier, he looked at his son. "Team work," he said, patting him once gently on the shoulder, then together they walked back to the dormitory area.

    * * * * *

    After a good sleep and some breakfast, they both made their way out of the shelter and along to the pier where the launch was tethered.
    "Cool coat, Dad," Will said as he admired the old duffle coat Dr. Burrows had found himself. With a hood and toggles up the front, it was made of a very heavy duty, fawn-colored fabric which looked as if it could stand up by itself.
    "It's a classic Montgomery , made out of Fearnought blanket material. My father had one just like this, which he bought at an army surplus shop. I remember him wearing it when I was young," Dr. Burrows said affectionately. After he'd finished admiring his new coat, he looked up and noticed the two bulky khaki-colored holdalls his son was carrying. "Got enough in those?"
    "I picked us out a couple of sleeping bags and some other gear that might come in handy," Will replied immediately, trying his best no to let his father see how heavy the holdalls were.
    "I suppose it's a good idea to have a bit of ballast in the bottom of the launch -- in case the going gets rough," Dr. Burrows said.
    Will glanced down at the breast pocket of the combat smock he'd requisitioned. "The only thing I'm really worried about is the Dominion phials. We can't lose them. Not at any cost."
    They walked a little further down the quayside, then Will spoke again.
    "Dad, you do know the phials are the only reason I'm coming with you? Otherwise I'd have gone straight back to Chester and Elliott. And I will be going back for them once I've handed the virus over to someone."
    Dr. Burrows came to a sudden halt. "Will, you've made that perfectly clear to me. And you don't really think I've finished down here either, do you? I've only just scratched the surface. He shook his head. "No, I'm definitely coming back to see through what I've begun."
    As they walked the remaining distance to the launch, his father muttered under his breath, "If we make it home."
    They stowed all the equipment in the launch, then Dr. Burrows turned to him.
    "I nearly forgot." He tugged a pair of black woolly hats from his duffle-coat pocket, and they both put them on. "Help to keep the chill out."
    "Good idea, Dad," Will said, grinning wryly at his father. With his hat pulled down low over his head and his straggly growth of beard, Dr. Burrows really looked like some gnarled old sea captain.
    "Onwards and upwards!" Dr. Burrows proclaimed as Will started the outboard motor. They took the launch for a few laps of the harbor. Once Will had got the hang of how it handled, he did what his father had suggested and built up speed before he steered under the arch and out into the river channel. Dr. Burrows' suggestion was right on the money -- and Will found he had to open the throttle even further in order to make any headway at all against the oncoming water.
    As they left the illuminated section of river channel behind them, Dr. Burrows was positioned at the bow with the lamp so he could light the way. He acted as the pilot, shouting to Will if there were outcrops of rock to avoid or