Closer

Closer is the fourth and antepenultimate book of the Tunnels series, which is written by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams. It was published by Chicken House on May 3, 2010. It has three books preceding it, entitled Tunnels, Deeper, and Freefall, while it has one book succeeding it, entitled Spiral. The book Closer chronicles Will, Elliott, and Dr. Burrows continuing to explore the mysterious jungle world at the center of the Earth, never dreaming that a danger they know all too well will soon threaten their newly peaceful existence. Meanwhile, not knowing the trio's fate, Chester heads Topsoil with Martha but is eager to leave the increasingly unbalanced woman behind if and when he can. He eventually joins up with an old ally -- who has a very unexpected new partner. As plot twists take the characters in new directions, their underlying goal remains the same: Stop the evil Styx from destroying humanity with the deadly Dominion virus.

Dedication
We dance around in a ring and suppose,

But the Secret sits in the middle and knows.

from The Secret Sits

Robert Frost (1874-1963)

You've never seen me

You've never hoped, too fair to say

You just can't explain yourself

You can't explain yourself

I just can't explain this pain...

from I Betray My Friends

Orchestral Manoeurvres in the Dark(1978-)

Am Tag aller Summierung,

Tragen Sie Ihren K örper vorw ärts auf dem dem Wrack Ihrer Tage.

F ür Sie seien nicht was Sie waren,

Aber was Sie anstreben.

from the German Book of Catastrophes

Author(s) unknown