Tunnels 04, Closer

were so badly affected by the gas that they were no threat. And Drake took the opportunity to snatch a pair of slippers from a rather rotund woman, who screamed loudly. It was only when, a little further on, he gave them to Mrs. Burrows, that Chester realized she'd been barefoot up until that point.
    They were forced to make one further diversion when Mrs. Burrows again warned about the presence of Styx. Then, before Chester knew it, they were on the thoroughfare with the cart tracks worn into it and within sight of the side passage where the pigsty lay.
    "Never thought I'd ever be so grateful to smell pig pooh again," Chester said.

    * * * * *

    As they entered the Labyrinth, Drake took out his iPod to guide them. Mrs. Burrows held onto Chester's Bergen to help her keep to the route. But, after an hour of walking, Drake noticed she was dragging on the boy. He assumed her ordeal in the Colony much be catching up with her.
    "We should take a breather," he said. As they sat in the red sand, they had some water from the canteens.
    "Tell me about Will -- tell me about my son," Mrs. Burrows asked suddenly.
    Drake looked at Chester, prompting him to answer.
    "Um... he was okay... just fine... when he... er... left. You see, he went after Dr. Burrows, deeper into the Earth," Chester explained, not feeling this was the moment to let her know that both of them had jumped headfirst into Smoking Jean, a colossal void, and that he had no idea if they'd survived the fall or not. Chester had never before been in the situation that he'd had to inform someone their husband and child might be dead.
    Mrs. Burrows appeared to be unsatisfied with the answer. She turned her sightless eyes on Chester, and almost imperceptibly, her nostrils flared. "You're not telling me the full story, are you?" she said gently.
    "Maybe we should do this later," Drake intervened. "We're a bit pressed for time right now."
    Chester noticed that Drake seemed preoccupied and gave him a small shrug.
    "There might be a complication," Drake said finally, grimacing as he toyed with his respirator.
    After all the excitement, Chester was feeling completely drained and just wanted to return to the surface. "What do you mean?" he asked, then noticed what was in Drake's hand. "The gas masks! We haven't got enough of them for the journey through the EternalCity!"
    "No, it's not that. There's a spare in my Bergen," Drake answered in a subdued voice. "It's Eddie. He was ready to let us all die back there and if, as I suspect, he's returned Tops--"
    "The warehouse!" Chester burst out, leaping to his feet. "My dad!" He's there. If Eddie gets to him first...!"
    "Yes, so we need to get our skates on," Drake said.
    "If this is about me," Mrs. Burrows spoke up. "I won't hold you back. I've been waiting for someone to catch up with us."
    Chester and Drake simply looked at her.
    "She has now, but you frightened her, Drake, and she's keeping her distance." Mrs. Burrows turned to the passage they'd just come down. "It's all right -- you can come out now," she called.
    "Why am I not surprised?" Drake sighed, but he was smiling. Chester had no idea who Mrs. Burrows or Drake were talking about.
    "Well, how could I leave her behind, in that house with those two dreadful women?" Mrs. Burrows said, then she shouted again. "Come and join us, Colly!"
    The cat slunk out from the shadows, looking like a black panther as she regarded Drake with her cautious, amber eyes.
    "That's all we need... when we resurface back in Westminster!" Drake said, chuckling.

31

    Will and Elliott leapt together across yet another of the wide ravines. As they both landed on the other side, their feet skied through the silt until they came to a stop. Elliott tottered a few steps, then glanced at Will.
    "Are there many more of these?" she asked, as Bartleby, deciding it was time that he jumped, launched himself from the other side of the ravine. Unfortunately, he'd misjudged where he would touch down, and thudded into Will's legs, knocking him forward.
    "Oi! Be careful, moggy!" Will reprimanded the cat, who lollopped off to investigate the new stretch of seam.
    "Well, are there many more?" Elliott asked again, barely moving her mouth as if it was numb.
    Will looked at her, recognizing that she'd hit another low. The effects of sheer fatigue came in waves; for the most part there was an overwhelming detachment from everything around you. But occasionally you went on roller-coaster rides into the most crashing