Free A Survivor's Guide to Eternity by Pete Lockett Page B

beams of light jetting out from the ceiling. The tunnels shot off in every direction, all made up of the strange shiny black rock.
    “Goodness, this is a big place. How big is it exactly?” asked Ed. He paused to gaze down the various tunnels, feeling slightly bothered that the fox had not mentioned them, but also aware that he might not have even known about them.
    “Bigger than I ever verily discovered,” replied Thomas as they turned left into one of the tunnels.
    “Are they underground or in a mountain or something? Is there a way out?” enquired Ed.
    “No one knows exactly where we are or even how far it stretches. It could be the size of a pin head and we are infinitely small or else it could be bigger than all the stars in the universe. It’s all a mystery, by my troth.”
    “But is there a way out?” asked Ed once more.
    “I need to resolve thee of this mystery later,” replied Thomas.
    “I’ve heard that one before, although not exactly in those words,” reflected Ed ominously, whilst walking alongside the strange man, their feet making a gentle squelching noise as they disturbed the sandy surface. The temperature was bearably cool but the air was still, with no wind or draughts from the now distant entrance.
    “Are there many people here?”
    “There are not so many and they can be insular and private. You can pass many days without seeing anyone. Methinks they all like to keep themselves to themselves. T'is not a land of jangles or japes but we all have our friends and associates.”
    “Well how many are there here?”
    “I know not, possibly a thousand or more, I think. T’is hard to say. You be the first new arrival in quite some time.”
    “Really? Well, what’s it called down here? You must have a name for it?”
    “T'is true. Some of the newer residents call it ‘Silicon Alley’ whilst us ‘Olde timers’ prefer ‘Ancestors’ Cove’. Much quainter, think you not?” replied the Tudor gentleman, glancing over at Ed to see him nodding in agreement.
    Thomas drew to a sharp stop and pointed into a small opening in the rock. Ed could see there were dozens of similar openings along the walls, all with deep black silky curtains about a foot inside the curved doorways.
    “This is yours, at least until you decide whether you wish to stay or move on. By your leave, please.”
    Thomas ushered him into the small enclosure, removing the feathered hat, causing tiny clumps of ginger hair to spring forth revealing what looked like a terrible gardening experiment with reddish bonsai bushes. He held the hat proudly by his side as he brushed the curtain aside. Inside was a small, private, cave-like room with one stream of brilliant light coming from the ceiling. There was a bed, pillow, stool and sink, all of which looked like they were made from rock. On the pillow was a pair of black cloth eye-shades. Ed bent down and picked them up, stretching the elasticated strap back and forth.
    “Eye-shades. The lights cannot be extinguished, so you will need those if you favour the dark.”
    “Thanks. I won’t need them,” replied Ed as he put them back down.
    “It’s actually quite comfortable,” remarked Thomas, pointing to the seemingly uninviting bed.
    “Really,” replied Ed as he sat down on the edge.
    “You’re right. It’s not bad,” he remarked as he lay down putting his head on the pillow.
    “Better than the twigs and leaves I had last night,” he joked ironically as he prodded the material, which appeared to be some sort of soft spongy rubber.
    Thomas sat opposite him on the stool, a metre or so away.
    “You are informed, I assume, of those we call Transients then?”
    “Yes, to a point, although I’m still a little reluctant to believe in this whole scenario.”
    “You have plenty of time to help your belief. How many times have you been through?”
    “Well, once I suppose. I was a tortoise and I just committed suicide.”
    “A tortoise? T’is a toilsome one indeed. Well,