natural crevices； others were； if not man…made； at least enhanced by someone’s hands。
Several people stared at us from the recesses of those crevices； frozen in the act of ing or going。
More people were out in the open； their bodies caught in the middle of whatever movement our entrance
had interrupted。 One woman was bent in half； reaching for her shoelaces。 A man’s motionless arms hung
in the air； raised to illustrate some point he’d been making to his panions。 Another man wobbled；
caught off balance in a sudden stop。 His foot came down hard as he struggled to keep steady； the thud of
its fall was the only sound in the vast space。 It echoed through the room。
It was fundamentally wrong for me to feel grateful to that hideous weapon in Jeb’s hands… but I did。 I
knew that without it we would probably have been attacked。 These humans would not stop themselves
from hurting Jeb if it meant they could get to me。 Though we might be attacked despite the gun。 Jeb could
The picture in my head had turned so grisly that I couldn’t bear it。 I tried to focus on my immediate
surroundings； which were bad enough。
Jeb paused for a moment； the gun held at his waist； pointing outward。 He stared all around the room；
seeming to lock his gaze one by one with each person in it。 There were fewer than twenty here； it did not
take long。 When he was satisfied with his study； he headed for the left wall of the cavern。 Blood thudding
in my ears； I followed in his shadow。
He did not walk directly across the cavern； instead keeping close to the curve of the wall。 I wondered at
his path until I noticed a large square of darker ground that took up the center of the floor—a very large
space。 No one stood on this darker ground。 I was too frightened to do more than notice the anomaly； I
didn’t even guess at a reason。
There were small movements as we circled the silent room。 The bending woman straightened； twisting at
the waist to watch us go。 The gesturing man folded his arms across his chest。 All eyes narrowed； and all
faces tightened into expressions of rage。 However； no one moved toward us； and no one spoke。
Whatever Kyle and the others had told these people about their confrontation with Jeb； it seemed to
have had the effect Jeb was hoping for。
As we passed through the grove of human statues； I recognized Sharon and Maggie eyeing us from the
wide mouth of one opening。 Their expressions were blank； their eyes cold。 They did not look at me； only
Jeb。 He ignored them。
It felt like years later when we finally reached the far side of the cavern。 Jeb headed for a medium…sized
exit； black against the brightness of this room。 The eyes on my back made my scalp tingle； but I didn’t
dare to look behind me。 The humans were still silent； but I worried that they might follow。 It was a relief
to slip into the darkness of the new passageway。 Jeb’s hand touched my elbow to guide me； and I did
not shrink away from it。 The babble of voices didn’t pick up again behind us。
“That went better than I expected；” Jeb muttered as he steered me through the cave。 His words
surprised me； and I was glad I didn’t know what he’d thought would happen。
The ground sloped downward under my feet。 Ahead； a dim light kept me from total blindness。
“Bet you’ve never seen anything like my place here。” Jeb’s voice was louder now； back to the chatty
tone he’d used before。 “It’s really something； isn’t it？”
He paused briefly in case I might respond； and then went on。
“Found this place back in the seventies。 Well； it found me。 I fell through the roof of the big
room—probably shoulda died from the fall； but I’m too tough for my own good。 Took me a while to find
a way out。 I was hungry enough to eat rock by the time I managed it。
“I was the only one left on the ranch by then； so I didn’t have anyone to show it to。 I explored every
nook and cranny； and I could see the possibilities。 I decided this might be a good card to keep up my
sleeve； just in case。 That’s how we Stryders are—we like to be prepared。”
We passed the dim light—it came from a fist…sized hole in the ceiling； making a small circle of brightness
on the floor。 When it was behind us； I could see another spot of illumination far ahead。
I wanted to ask him how； but I couldn’t bring myself to speak。 Silence was safest。
The floor began to slant downward at a steeper angle。 The terrain was broken into rough steps； but they
seemed secure enough。 Jeb led me down them confidently。 As we dropped lower and lower into the
ground； the heat and humidity increased。
I stiffened when I heard a babble of voices again； this time from ahead。 Jeb patted my hand kindly。
“You’ll like this part—it’s always everyone’s favorite；” he promised。
A wide； open arch shimmered with moving light。 It was the same color as the light in the big room； pure
and white； but it flickered at a strange dancing pace。 Like everything else that I couldn’t understand in this
cavern； the light frightened me。
“Here we are；” Jeb said enthusiastically； pulling me through the archway。 “What do you think？”
CHAPTER 17
Visited
The heat hit me first—like a wall of steam； the moist； thick air rolled over me and dewed on my skin。 My
mouth opened automatically as I tried to pull a breath from the abruptly denser air。 The smell was
stronger than before—that same metallic tang that clung in my throat and flavored the water here。
The murmuring babble of bass and soprano voices seemed to issue from every side； echoing off the
walls。 I squinted anxiously through the swirling cloud of moisture； trying to make out where the voices
came from。 It was bright here—the ceiling was dazzling； like in the big room but much closer。 The light
danced off the vapor； creating a shimmering curtain that almost blinded me。 My eyes struggled to adjust；
and I clutched at Jeb’s hand in panic。
I was surprised that the strangely fluid babble did not respond in any way to our entrance。 Perhaps they
couldn’t see us yet； either。
“It’s a bit close in here；” Jeb said apologetically； fanning at the steam in front of his face。 His voice was
relaxed； conversational in tone； and loud enough to make me jump。 He spoke as if we were not
surrounded。 And the babble continued； oblivious to his voice。
“Not that I’m plaining；” he continued。 “I’d be dead several times over if this place didn’t exist。 The
very first time I got stuck in the caves； of course。 And now； we’d never be able to hide out here without
it。 With no hiding place； we’re all dead； right？”
He nudged me with his elbow； a conspiratorial gesture。
His laugh cleared a section of mist； and I saw the room for the first time。
Two rivers flowed through the dank； high…domed space。 This was the chatter that filled my ears—the
water gushing over and under the purple volcanic rock。 Jeb spoke as if we were alone because we were。
It was really only one river and one small stream。 The stream was closest； a shallow braided ribbon of
silver in the light from above； coursing between low stone banks that it seemed constantly in danger of
overrunning。 A feminine； high…pitched murmur purred from its gentle ripples。
The male； bass gurgle came from the river； as did the thick clouds of vapor that rose from the gaping
holes in the ground by the far wall。 The river was black； submerged under the floor of the cavern；
exposed by wide； round erosions along the length of the room。 The holes looked dark and dangerous；
the river barely visible as it rushed powerfully toward an invisible and unfathomable destination。 The
water seemed to simmer； such was the heat and steam it produced。 The sound of it； too； was like that of
boiling water。
From the ceiling hung a few long； narrow stalactites； dripping toward the stalagmites beneath each one。
Three of them had met； forming thin black pillars between the two bodies of flowing water。
“Got to be careful in here；” Jeb said。 “Quite a current in the hot spring。 If you fall in； you’re gone。
Happened once before。” He bowed his head at the memory； his face sober。
The swift black eddies of the subterranean river were suddenly horrible to me。 I imagined being caught in
their scalding current and shuddered。
Jeb put his hand lightly on my shoulder。 “Don’t worry。 Just watch your step and you’ll be fine。 Now；” he
said； pointing to the far end of the cavern； where the shallow stream ran into a dark cave； “the first cave
back there is the bathing room。 We’ve dug the floor out to make a nice； deep tub。 There’s a schedule for
taking baths； but privacy’s not usually an issue—it’s black as pitch。 The room’s nice and warm so close
to the steam； but the water won’t burn you like the hot spring here。 There’s another cave just past that
one； through a crevice。 We’ve widened the entrance up to a fortable size。 That room is the farthest
we can follow the stream—it drops underground there。 So we’ve got that room fixed up as the latrine。
Convenient and sanitary。” His voice had assumed a placent tone； as if he felt credit was due to him
for nature’s creations。 Well； he had discovered and improved the place—I supposed some pride was
justified。
“We don’t like to waste batteries； and most of us know the floor here by heart； but since it’s your first
time； you can find your way with this。”
Jeb pulled a flashlight from his pocket and held it out。 The sight of it reminded me of the moment he’d
found me dying in the desert； when he’d checked my eyes and known what I was。 I didn’t know why the
memory made me sad。
“Don’t get any crazy ideas about maybe the river taking you out of here or something。 Once that water
goes underground； it doesn’t e back up；” he cautioned me。
Since he seemed to be waiting for some acknowledgment of his warning； I nodded once。 I took the
flashlight from his hand slowly； being careful not to make any quick movements that might startle him。
I followed his directions quickly—the sound of the rushing water was not making my disfort any
easier to bear。 It felt very strange to be out of his sight。 What if someone had hidden in these caves；
guessing I would have to e here eventually？ Would Jeb hear the struggle over the cacophony of the
rivers？
I shone the flashlight all around the bathing room； looking for any sign of an ambush。 The odd flickering
shadows it made were not forting； but I found no substance to my fears。 Jeb’s tub was more the size
of a small swimming pool and black as ink。 Under the surface； a person would be invisible as long as they
could hold their breath。… I hurried through the slender crack at the back of the room to escape my
imaginings。 Away from Jeb； I was nearly overwhelmed with panic—I couldn’t breathe normally； I could
barely hear over the sound of my pulse racing behind my ears。 I was more running than walking when I
made my way back to the room with the rivers。
To find Jeb standing there； still in the same pose； still alone； was like a balm to my splintered nerves。 My
breathing and my heartbeat slowed。 Why this crazy hu