Dead lines in Graham Swift's 'Last Orders'

When Vince Dodds, Jack’s rebellious adoptive son, is racing through Chatham on the way from Bermondsey, near London, to Margate where he and old friends of his stepfather’s—Ray, Vic, and Lenny—are to dispose of Jack’s ashes, Ray notices grudgingly He swings back through Chatham like everything’s in his way. When you've been thinking of the dead you notice how the living hurry. We drive out and join up with the M2, Junction 3, Dover 48, then he really puts his foot down. He’s driving like he’s making up for lost time, like he’s late for an appointment. But there aint no deadline. (141). © 2002 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.