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〃Good idea；〃 Raffa said。 〃We'll have to take the candles； and mark our way …〃
〃We can't mark it； someone could follow。〃
〃How could they tell how long ago the marks were made？ We can't just go into the cave and not know how to get out …〃
〃Right。〃 Bubbles picked up her pack； and stuffed into it everything of Rev's that would fit； Raffa would have to carry the rest。 The night goggles gave her a blurry picture of the inside of the cave； and she could see a ledge extending along the left wall。 Black water lay still and smooth at its edge。
She fumbled at the rifle she'd taken； making sure it had a round in the chamber； and slung it on her shoulder。 This is an adventure； she told herself。
Just do it like you used to； and it will e out all right。
Raffa followed her lead； Bubbles shuffled along wishing she dared light a candle as her vision dimmed。 Even with the goggles； she could see very little by the time she came to the first angle of stone that blocked the entrance。
She ducked around it； and leaned against the damp wall。 Ahead； all was black； utterly black。 Water dripped into the central pool in an unpredictable rhythm。
Somewhere in the distance； another rock fell。 Raffa touched her arm； and she jumped。
〃I think it's safe to light the candles now；〃 Raffa said。 〃We're out of sight of the entrance。〃
〃But they could reflect on the water；〃 Bubbles said。 〃And if we're the light source； then anyone hiding back here would see us first。〃
〃Yes； but if we don't have a light； we'll step off a ledge somewhere … we can't just feel our way along。〃
〃I know。〃 She took a long breath。 The darkness pressed on her eyes； her face； she could almost feel furry hands clasping her。 Ridiculous。 She'd never been afraid of the dark before。 But then she'd never been in this cave before； either。 She pushed the goggles up； so that the sudden flare wouldn't blind her； and scraped the lighter until a spark caught the candle。 Dim yellow light flickered around them。 She put the candle into its lantern； and four beams made clear the distinction between light and shadow。 Raffa's face； underlit； looked strange and dangerous and oddly exciting。 Bubbles pushed that thought away … she had no time for anything but the present crisis。 She looked around。 They had turned a corner into a rough corridor； low； narrow； and twisting。 On the opposite wall； a blurred mark showed； one of Kell's she had no doubt。 It looked like a cartoon sailboat； she had no idea why。 She moved the lantern about； looking on all the rock surfaces nearby。 Another mark； this one somewhat resembling a tree； near what might be a niche or another corridor； a black gash in the rock。 The central cavern's water extended into all the dark entrances she could see； as if all drained into or from it。
〃Boat equals water；〃 Bubbles said finally。 〃Water flows downhill； meets the sea …〃
〃A way out？〃 asked Raffa。
〃We know where the trees are；〃 Bubbles said。 〃On top of this cave； and full of hunters。〃 She turned to continue downward； the way she hoped the boat indicated。
A clatter of rock； clearer now； from the tree…marked gash； and then a splash。
And a scream。
〃The light！〃 Raffa said； but Bubbles had snuffed it already。 In the darkness； they clung together again； hearts pounding。 Bubbles saw red and yellow blotches floating on the darkness； and told herself they were the afterimage of the candle。 Irregular splashes continued； ing nearer； Bubbles thought she could hear rough breathing； something that might be boots scraping on stone。 She felt Raffa's warm breath tickling her ear； and Raffa said； 〃He must have seen the light somehow。〃
They must not move。 In the dark； they would make the kind of noise he was making； he would surely hear them； he would have one of the weapons with night…sensing equipment。 Bubbles realized she'd left the night…vision goggles hanging around her neck while carrying the candle lantern； and pushed them into place； but there was no ambient light to amplify。 Thick darkness pressed in on her again。 I hate caves； she thought。
〃I hate caves！〃 came a male voice from somewhere in the echoing distance； to the acpaniment of a clatter and splash。
She was never sure which word； which intonation； made recognition sure。
〃Ronnie！〃 said Raffa； not quite aloud。 〃It's Ronnie！〃
Bubbles concentrated on relighting the candle in its lantern。
He looked like someone who had been at the tail end of a hunt on a muddy day； Bubbles thought。 Wet； his clothes streaked heavily with clay； his face haggard with exhaustion； he stared at them； swaying slightly； in the feeble light of the candle lantern。
〃You're not hunters；〃 he said hoarsely。 Stupidly。
〃Raffa。。。 Bubbles；〃 said Raffa； her voice warming to a gentle hum that left Bubbles in no doubt of her feelings。 〃Don't you remember？〃 She had rushed to him； she hovered now as though he were a fragile ornament she might break with her gaze。
〃Yes。。。〃 His voice trailed away； he stood there； his hands trembling； and seemed to be near collapse。 One of his eyes had a dark stain around it。
Bubbles saw raw scratches and scrapes on his hands and face。
〃You need to be dry； and you need food；〃 Bubbles said。 〃e on； Raffa … get him to dry ground。〃 He stood in ankle…deep water； with a dry ledge not a stride away … but of course he'd been in the dark the whole time。
It was harder than she had imagined to dry a large； very wet and dirty young man in a damp cave。 Once out of the water； he dripped water and mud onto the ledge； she had no dry clothes for him； and nothing to dry him with。 Food … the food she had brought along from the first cache … he held in his hand as if he couldn't remember its purpose。
Finally she and Raffa had to undress him； struggling with the wet fasteners； the uncooperative cloth； and use every scrap of spare clothes to dry him。 His skin was cold； as disgusting to touch as a meat from a cold locker。 He sat huddled； shivering； hardly seeming aware of them。 Bubbles heated the food bar over the candle lantern until it sizzled and gave off an oily； heavy smell； then pinched off a bit with her fingers。
〃Here；〃 she said firmly。 〃Eat this。〃 His mouth gaped； she pushed the food in。
His jaw moved a little； and he swallowed。
〃I'll do that；〃 Raffa said。 〃You keep watch。〃 She pulled off her shirt and laid it around Ronnie's shoulders。 He didn't even glance at her slender nakedness； Bubbles looked away as she stood up。
Keep watch。 Fine idea； but how？ They needed the candle lantern； it made them visible。 They had to talk； it made them audible。 Bubbles moved back to the margin of the main cavern； and peeked around。 She could just see； with her goggles on； the smudge of light from the entrance； across the water。
An impossible situation。 And yet； in the near…silence； with the murmur of Raffa's voice coaxing Ronnie to eat； with the random tinkle and splash of water drops into the lake； in the almost…darkness； she felt secure。 Cupped in some great hand； a feeling she remembered from those camping trips； when she had felt the land under her as a benign presence。 Silly； her schoolmates would have said。 She had said it herself； of younger girls' illusions。
Here she felt like herself ag