Pictoria (The Ammonite Galaxy Series, Book 4)

Chapter 16

SIX AND LEDIN opened their eyes to find themselves in another strange place. They were floating in ortholiquid, but this time there was no shore they could wade to. They were in a deep well, surrounded all around and above by what looked like sheer rock. They moved their arms slowly, swimming to stay in one place in the ortholiquid, and looking up around them to see if there was a way out.

"Well, at least we don't seem to have been followed," said Six.

"True. All we have to do now is find a way out of here, and hope that we are not too far away from the shuttles. I have to get to Grace before they do her any harm."

"Yes. Grace is our first priority. We can't do much to help Arcan or Diva as things are at the moment. But we might be able to do something to rescue Grace."

"Can you see a way out?"

Six peered upwards at the low ceiling of the cavern, which consisted of solid and overwhelming rock, hanging over them with only about a couple of hands of headroom with air. "This is an isolated pocket. I don't see any escape. You?"

Ledin shook his head, and coughed. "Nope. And the quality of air in here is terrible. We have to find a way out, and quickly."

Six tread ortholiquid. "The only way out of here is down."

"DOWN?"

Six nodded. "This is impossible. Our only hope is if it is connected to another cavern under the surface. We will have to dive to see if we can find an underwater opening."

"You know, I can't help thinking that Grace and I should probably have stayed on Xiantha."

"I can't say I blame you. But if Arcan can escape then I think we have a chance."

"He wasn't doing too well last time we were connected to the mindmerge."

"Yes. But that was before Diva got away in a shuttle. She will soon sort that out. There is no-one quite like Diva." Six's voice was proud.

"Of course she will." Ledin tried hard to inject enthusiasm into his voice.

Six looked at him strangely. "She will, you know."

Ledin gave his lopsided grin. "If anyone can, it will be Diva."

"So we should concentrate on getting to Grace."

"And avoid getting caught up in the mindmerge. If we do, they will know just where we are, and come after us again."

"Agreed. Are you going to dive first, or shall I?"

Ledin looked down at the surrounding liquid. It wasn't exactly beckoning. He gave a shiver. "I will."

"I've got your back."

"It's not just my back I'm worried about." But he jackknifed his body and kicked into a dive.

The well they were in was small, and it didn't take very long for Ledin to find the only possible exit. It was about three metres down, and there seemed to be a tunnel. He kicked back up and surfaced.

"There is a tunnel. The problem is it is too narrow to get back through if it doesn't lead anywhere."

Six calmly took his mask pack from his belt and began to fasten it. "Not a lot of choice," he said. "If we stay here swimming around in this we will eventually run out of strength and sink. We might as well take the risk now."

Ledin couldn't find much wrong with that logic. He pulled his own mask pack from his belt and began to settle it over his face. "At least we have the air left in this pack," he said. "Pity we didn't bring more."