Tunnels 04, Closer

there, he palmed it.
    "Connected to the thigh bone..." The shopkeeper suddenly stopped singing. "Need any assistance there?" he offered. "Are you looking for something?"
    Drake went over to him with the envelope. "Found what I wanted, thanks. I'll take this."
    Once outside the shop, Drake put his sunglasses back on, hesitated for a moment, then crossed the road to the coffee shop where he ordered a cappuccino and half an hour's Internet access. He had no intention of going further into Highfield. There was no need.

    * * * * *

    "He's back," Mr. Rawls said, as they heard the key in the lock and the garage door was raised up. Drake ducked inside, then pulled the door down behind him.
    Drake had two carrier bags with him. He passed one to Mrs. Burrows. "Some new clothes for you, Celia, so you don't have to go around in that policeman's jacket. And there's also a hat in there to make you less conspicuous."
    "Did you see her?" Chester asked eagerly.
    Drake passed the other bag to Mr. Rawls, who was on his feet, looking at him expectantly.
    "Coffee and pastries," Drake said.
    "So was my mum there?" Chester asked again.
    Drake nodded grimly. "She's back at home, but I couldn't get close. All the signs are that they're keeping tabs on her. I'm sorry -- I'm not going to attempt anything for the moment. It's too dangerous, for all of us."
    He waited for this to sink in, then spoke again. "But I've also got some good news for you. Will and Elliott are okay. They've come back from..." Drake frowned before he continued, "from another world at the center of the planet."
    "What?" Mr. Rawls mumbled.
    "That was what Will said in the messages I just listened to. They're stranded in the deep-level shelter, with no way to make the journey upriver."
    Despite the news about his mother, Chester was grinning from ear to ear. "Will! Elliott! Oh, that's fantastic!" he exclaimed.
    "Thank God," Mrs. Burrows exhaled, and sat down suddenly, as if the news was more than she could have ever hoped for. "And my husband?" she asked quietly.
    "There were two messages and the quality wasn't up to much. I might have missed something, but Will didn't mention the Doc, only that Bartleby was with them."
    Mrs. Burrows nodded.
    Drake clapped his hands. "Right. You can drink those coffees on the way. We're going to Norfolk."
    As they trooped outside, they were stunned to find a battered white minibus instead of the Range Rover.
    "Done a swap with your friend in the garage?" Chester asked, looking the vehicle over. "It's really not your style, is it?"
    "I should reserve your judgment on that," Drake replied, as he thought about where he was about to take them.

    * * * * *

    Thirteen miles before the disused airfield in Norfolk, Drake suddenly left the main road, steering the minibus into a bald and muddy field. Around it edges were a collection of motley-looking mobile homes and caravans, with heavily patched canvas tents and even what appeared to be makeshift tepees dotted between them. A large fire burnt in the center of the field, around which numerous raggedy children and dogs raced.
    "A bonfire?" Mr. Rawls said. "What have we stopped here for?"
    "That's not a bonfire, it's a car that's been set alight," Chester observed uneasily.
    "This is where you'll be staying while I do gown to that deep level shelter," Drake said. "I'm sure it's not what you expected, but the round trip to and from the shelter takes a couple of days at best, and I can hardly put you up in some country B&B, can I? Particularly not with the Hunter."
    "Um, no, I'm coming with you," Chester said, as he regarded the various mobile homes with distaste. "Besides, you'll need help with the launch, and I know the route. I've done it before. I'm your man for the job," the boy added.
    "I don't need any help, and it's not practical for you to come too. Apart from the fact that I'll be carrying spare cans of fuel for the return journey, I don't know how many passengers I'll be bringing back. Even if it's just Will and Elliott on board, there's not going to be a lot of room, is there?"
    "I suppose you're right," Chester conceded.
    "And you need to keep an open mind," Drake said, fixing him with an uncompromising stare. "Just because they've chosen a different way of life and nobody wants them on their doorstep, it doesn't mean these aren't good people. I've had dealings with them in the past, and they've never let me down. If I can negotiate a price for you all to be put up in one of their homes,