Deeper (Gordon and Williams novel)
Deeper Book 2 in the Tunnels series. Refreshed cover edition 2009
|
|
| Author | Roderick Gordon, Brian Williams |
|---|---|
| Country | UK |
| Language | English |
| Series | Tunnels |
| Genre |
Science Fiction Subterranean fiction Lost World |
| Publisher | Chicken House |
|
Publication date
|
5 May 2008 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 643 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 190777766 |
| Preceded by | Tunnels (2007) |
| Followed by | Freefall (2009) |
Deeper (sometimes known simply as Tunnels 2) is the sequel to the novel Tunnels, written by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams.
The novel explores the events which Will, Chester and his friends have to go through to attempt to prevent the Styx from continuing their next phase of destruction upon Topsoil.
Part 1: Breaking Cover
The story opens with Sarah Jerome, Will's biological mother, dismounting from a bus and going on foot to a concealed chamber built into a bridge in a remote rural location. There she collects a letter that states her brother Tam is dead because he was found helping Will and his biological brother escape but he makes a last stand allowing Will and his brother to escape with his friend to meet up with Chester.
Meanwhile, Will and Chester are overjoyed to be reunited once again as the Miners' Train travels down through the Earth on its way to the Deeps. Will's younger brother, Cal, is also with them. The train passes through a series of storm gates (gates designed to block powerful winds from inside the earth) and, on the final approach to the Miners' Station, the three boys jump from it. Having escaped detection at the station, they travel further into the Deeps, where they are attacked by carnivorous bats and are forced to take shelter in an old, deserted house. Inside the house they find evidence that Will's stepfather, Dr. Burrows, has already been there.
Sarah adopts a disguise, allowing her to become a woman who has the authority to interview a deranged Mrs. Burrows, who currently is residing at Humphrey House. However, when her fear that Will actually killed Tam clouds her judgment, Mrs. Burrows quickly realizes the fake, forcing Sarah to flee. Soon, she is acquainted with a much skinnier, much weaker Bartleby, who takes her to a hiding place. There, a few days later, Rebecca and the Styx show up and make her believe for sure that Will killed Tam. Rebecca tells her that she knows where Will is, and that he is forcing Cal to come with him, and, if she doesn't act soon, Will might also kill him. Finally, they explain that Cal and Bartleby shared a strong bond, and, because of his love for Cal, Bartleby would be able to track him down anywhere...
Finally, Dr. Burrows is shown to be still alive. He has been accepted by a strange, gentle group of people called Coprolites. Sadly for them, a special detachment of the Styx called Limiters has been killing them. Having been left provisions by the Coprolites before they moved camp to a safer location, Dr. Burrows packs up and leaves, continuing further into the Deeps, keeping his notebook with him at all times.
Part 2: The Homecoming
Sarah is taken to see her mother, Grandma Macaulay, in her old home. Grandma Macaulay has been persuaded by the Styx that Will was responsible for Tam's demise, and she is full of vengeance and asks Sarah to exact revenge on the boy. Sarah is then escorted to the Styx Garrison where she rests, is given military training, and is also subjected to sermons from The Book of Catastrophes.
...
Wikipedia