Tunnels 03, Freefall

in the picture -- he was with two thick-set men in flat caps and wearing dark glasses. And then the screen went blank for an instant and another clip started in which Will could Ben Wilbrahams with a single Styx. "So, no question that he's an agent?" he said.
    "None. And apologies for the poor quality," Leatherman said, as if it really mattered. "The meetings were held at night and I couldn't risk getting any closer."
    Mrs. Burrows gave Drake a half shrug. "So some people approached Ben. What does that prove? These might have been chance meetings -- they could've gone up to anyone," she burbled.
    "On six different occasions? In isolated locations?" Leatherman said pithily. "I don't think so, sister."
    "I'm not your sister, Mr. Leathersoles or whatever your name is," Mrs. Burrows spat, then peered at the screen again, shaking her head. It was obvious that she wasn't convinced by the films. "Tell me -- precisely when were these filmed?" she asked.
    "I told you -- on six different occasions, and all at night time. The first surveillance was just after you went back to Wilbrahams house -- the evening the Colonists were pursuing you."
    "Mum?" Will began with a look of concern.
    "You went back to his house?" Dr. Burrows said. "At night?"
    Mrs. Burrows gave her husband a frosty look, then closed the small screen and threw the camera back to Drake with unnecessary force. He caught it in one hand. "So if this is all true, you've known about Ben for a while, haven't you?" she accused Drake.
    "We had our suspicions," he said.
    "And still you let him see my husband and son. You let Roger blunder in to get me, so Ben would know he and Will are back in Highfield."
    Drake nodded. "The Styx knew already, but, yes, I took a calculated risk in allowing the Doc to show himself, because I need to lure the Styx out into the open."
    "But why?" Will asked him.
    Leatherman took over. He raised his hand, the two phials dangling from his fingers by their cords. 'because we drew a blank on these. You've been had, Will. One's full of Ultra Bug, and the other's the vaccine for it. I'm sorry to tell you there isn't a trace of the new virus, not in either of them."
    "Oh, God... no Dominion virus," Will gasped. "So it was a lie right from the very start, and they even kept it going when they said they wanted the phials back at the submarine. Do those evil little cows ever stop playing their stupid tricks?"
    Leatherman addressed Mrs. Burrows. "It doesn't make any difference whether the Styx know your husband's Topsoil or not, your days are numbered anyway."
    "Huh?" she said, not looking quite so sure of herself now.
    "You would have disappeared before long -- you've been digging too deep... if you'll excuse the pun," he said without any hint of humor. "But now you've had contact with the Doc and Will, they'll assume you know everything they know, so you're marked. You've got no option -- you've got to run. But you don't have the know-how to keep ahead of the Styx and, believe me, they're good. They will catch up with you and kill you. It's only a matter of time." He retrieved the camera from Drake and put it back in his jacket. "That's the way the cookie crumbles, sister."
    "So you may as well take your chances underground, all three of you," Drake said bluntly.
    "Underground?" Mrs. Burrows echoed, a look of horror spreading across her face. "Me?"
    "Great," Will piped up, with a glance at his father. "That's exactly what we wanted, isn't it, Dad... to go back."
    "Shut up, Will," Mrs. Burrows murmured, in evident distress for the way she was trembling.
    "No. Will's right," Drake said. "If he and the Doc were able to hike themselves out of the Pore, then there's every chance the Rebecca twins might do the same. Sure, they could already be dead, but somebody's got to make sure. If they survived Elliott's explosion, they've still got the real Dominion virus on them. And we can't risk that." He looked into the middle distance, as if a thought had just occurred to him. "However, there might be something you could do for me up here, Celia."
    "What?" she croaked.
    "Well, you're not really cut out for all that grubbing around underground, are you?" he asked.
    Mrs. Burrows blanched, and as she tottered on her feet, Will thought she was about to faint.

Part Six
Departure

28

    In the Little Chef, Will and his father sat on one side of the table, Drake and Mrs. Burrows on the other. Their food had arrived but Mrs. Burrows hadn't touched hers. She'd pushed it