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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 i