Chapter 20

It was just after sunset as Ray parked up. He didn't know what Dan wanted with the hi-viz and barriers but he knew better than to ask. He had received the call just over half an hour ago to meet him at this location so here he was.

Dan jumped into the back of the car as Ray was about to get out.

"Don't get out"

"What's up?"

"Have you brought the hi-viz?"
"Yeah, also the tent and barrier are in the boot"
"Good, put one on and grab the stuff in the boot"
"Where are we going?"
"I need to check out the sewer pipe, what I need you to do is stay in the tent to make sure no-one starts asking questions"

Walking along the darkened streets, Dan gets his first real look at the surroundings. The road was not a main thoroughfare so having a tent in the middle for ten minutes wouldn't cause too many problems. Thanks to another of the Government's ridiculous energy saving schemes, the streetlights were lit but only every other one, making the darkness and shadows fall in their favour. Casually eyeing up the street, he sees the manhole he needs. In the opposite direction, the road continues as far as the eye can see which was ideal.

With the tent placed over the manhole, Dan inserts the two poles and lifts.

"Ray, if anything happens, just whistle down to me. I will be about ten minutes. See, you don't get all the dirty jobs" Dan smirks

"Yeah, bloody hurry up,

Scurrying down the ladder into the darkness, Dan takes out the torch tucked into his belt and switches it on. The sewer was big, much bigger than he expected. Trying not to slip into the river of shit running down the centre, he slowly inches his way along the wall. Every foot he slithered forward brought tears to his eyes. He understood now what Ray had meant about the Rats stench but he was certain this must be worse.

Looking into the slow moving river, he could not believe the things people shove down the toilet and waste pipes and felt glad of the tiny walkway that he using.

Shining the torch to his right he locates the pipe he was looking for. Around two feet in diameter, this pipe was the one used for raw sewage. Every hour without fail the pipe, flooded full to bursting with hundreds of gallons of pure shit, was blasted through with compressed air to loosen any blockages, and it was due any minute. With his hand on the pipe, he could feel the rumble building up. Like a steam train shooting through a tunnel, his whole body felt the vibrations from the pressure as the pipe strained to contain its cargo. The old pipes were Victorian and would not take much to fracture, which was exactly what he had hoped to find.

Running his hand along, visualising the maps he had created, he felt for the turn in the pipe. It bent ninety degrees away from the main sewer through a hole in the wall. Groping around the hole, he estimated there was roughly a four-inch gap around the pipe. If the plans were correct, exactly eighteen and a half meters along would be the banks vault.

Turning, like a ballerina making a pirouette, he makes his way back along the walkway. Hearing a squeak, he strains his ears to follow the sound. Unfolding a flat pack box from his pocket, he kneels down to the river of filth.

"Got ya"

With a swift movement, he grabs a rat by the tail. Placing it in the box and closing the lid he climbs the ladder.

"Ray, any problems up there?"

"Nope, quiet as a church mouse"
"Good, time to pack up and go"

"Where did you get that box from?"

"My pocket"

"Are you collecting shit now as a new hobby?"

"Not likely, this is the last prop needed"

"We all set to go then?"

"Very nearly, just Rob to finish and we will be"

"Nice, oh, have you got any scourers at home?"

"Scourers, why is that?"

"Because if not I will get you some. You fucking stink of shit" Ray gestures with a pinch of his nose

"Very funny, you're lucky I didn't get you down there. Go on, piss off and I will see you soon"