Tom and Greg are enslaved alongside dozens of others in Mr Smithson’s coal mine. Elsewhere, the Family are desperately tracking Billy, their only lead, across the country. At a roadside motel Billy stops to meet his girlfriend Sally and when the Family confront him, Billy claims ignorance and exits.
Meanwhile in the mine, Greg formulates an escape plan, convincing Smithson that he’s a geologist and has discovered a gas leak. However the Family are converging on Smithson’s as well with their own rescue plans, leading to a dangerous game of cat and mouse…
Greg and Charles arrive at the London settlement and are reunited with Ruth. She tells them she can’t leave the sick there and come back to Whitecross, especially as her assistance will be needed if the community is to be re-located to the Isle of Wight as planned. When Ruth learns from Nessie that Manny has no intention of taking the community out of London, she agrees to an escape attempt with Greg and Charles…