But there was no sign of anyone as Will ran with all his might, his bag crashing on his back at every step. By the time he reemerged in the main cavern, he was sweating and out of breath. He recognized the squat outline of the police station between the two taller structures on either side, and slowed to a walk to give himself a chance to cool off.
'Made it this far,' he muttered to himself. The plan had seemed feasible when Tam had described it, but now he was wondering if he'd made a dreadful mistake.
Will wiped the sweat from his forehead and steeled himself for the next stage.
As he drew nearer, the sight of the police station's entrance brought back memories of the first time he and Chester had been dragged up its steps and the grueling interrogations that had followed. It all came flooding back, and he tried to put the thoughts out of his mind as he slipped into the shadows by the side of the building and heaved off his backpack. He dug out his camera, checking it quickly before he put it into his pocket. Then he hid his backpack and headed for the steps. As he climbed them, he took a deep breath, then pushed through the doors.
The Second Officer was reclining in a chair with his feet on the counter. His eyes swiveled to regard the newcomer, his movements dull, as if he'd been dozing. It took him almost a second to recognize who was standing before him, and then a confounded expression crept over his face.
'Well, well, well, Jerome. What in the world are you doing back here?'
'I've come to see my friend,' Will replied, praying that his voice didn't crack. He felt as if he were edging out on the branch of a tree, and the farther he went, the thinner and more precarious the branch became. If he lost his balance now, the fall could be fatal.
'So who let you come back here?' the Second Officer said suspiciously.
'Who d'you think?' Will tried to smile calmly.
The Second Officer pondered for a moment, looking him up and down. 'Well, I suppose… if they let you through the Skull Gate, it must be all right,' he reasoned aloud as he lumbered slowly to his feet.
'They told me I could see him,' Will said, 'one last time.'
'So you know it is to be tonight?' the Second Officer said with the suggestion of a smile. Will nodded and saw that this had dispelled any doubts in the man's mind. At once the officer's manner was transformed.
'Didn't walk the whole way, did you?' he asked. A friendly, generous smile creased his face like a gash in a pig's belly. Will hadn't seen this side of him before, and it made it all the more difficult for him to do what he had to.
'Yes, I had an early start.'
'No wonder you look hot. Better come with me, then,' the Second Officer said as he lifted up the flap at the end of the counter and came through, rattling his keys. 'I hear you're fitting in well,' he added. 'Knew you would… the moment I first laid eyes on you. 'Deep down he's one of us, I told the First Officer. 'Looks the part, I said to him.'
They went through the old oak door into the gloom of the Hold. The familiar smell gave Will the creeps as the Second Officer swung back the cell door and ushered him in. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, then he saw him: Chester was sitting in the corner on the ledge, his legs drawn up under his chin. His friend didn't react immediately but stared emptily at Will. Then, with a flash of recognition and sheer disbelief, he was on his feet.
'Will?' he said, his jaw dropping. 'Will! I can't believe it?'
'Hi, Chester,' Will said, trying to keep the excitement from his voice. He was elated to see him again, but at the same time his whole body was shaking with adrenaline.
'Have you come to get me out, Will? Can I leave now?'
'Uh… not quite.' Will half turned, aware that the Second Officer was just behind him and could hear every word.
The Second Officer coughed self-consciously. 'I have to lock you in, Jerome. Hope you understand — it's the regulations,' he said as he shut the door and turned the key.
'What is it, Will?' Chester asked, sensing that something was wrong. 'Is it bad news?' He took a step away from Will.
'You all right?' Will replied, too preoccupied to answer his friend as he listened to the Second Officer leave the Hold through the oak door and close it firmly. Then he took Chester into the corner of the cell and they huddled together while Will explained what they had to do.
Minutes later came the sound that Will was dreading: The Second Officer was walking back into the Hold toward them. 'Time, gentlemen,' he said. He turned the key and opened the door, and Will made his way out slowly.
'Bye, Chester,' he said.
As the Second Officer began to close the door, Will put his hand on the man's arm.
'Just a second, I think I left something in there,' he said.
'What's that?' the man asked.
The Second Officer was looking directly at him as Wil brought his hand out of his pocket. He saw that the little red light was on: The camera was ready. Thrusting it at the man, Will clicked the shutter.
The flash caught the policeman full in the face. He howled and dropped his keys, clapping his hands over his eyes as he sank to the floor. The flash had been so bright compared with the sublime glow of the light orbs that even Will and Chester, who had both shielded themselves from it, felt the aftershock of its brilliance.
'Sorry,' Will said to the groaning man.
Chester was standing motionless in the cell, a stupefied look on his face.
'Get a move on, Chester!' Will shouted as he leaned in and yanked him past the Second Officer, who was starting to fumble his way to the wall, still moaning horribly.
As they entered the reception area, Will happened to glance over the counter.
'My shovel!' he exclaimed as he ducked underneath and grabbed it from against the wall. Will was on his way back when he saw the Second Officer stagger out from the Hold. The man snatched blindly at Chester, and before Will knew what was happening he had gotten hold of him around the neck.
Chester let out a strangled yelp and tried to wrestle free.
Will didn't stop to think. He swung the shovel. With a bone-crunching clang, it connected with the Second Officer's forehead, and he crumpled to the floor with a whimper.
Chester wasn't so slow off the mark this time. He was right behind Will as they bolted out of the station, pausing just long enough for Will to retrieve his backpack before they both turned down the stretch of road that Chester had spent so many hours watching from his cell. Then they veered off down a side tunnel.
'Is this the right way?' Chester said, breathing heavily and coughing.
Will didn't answer but kept on running until they reached the end of the tunnel.
There they were, just as Tam had described them, three partially demolished houses on the perimeter of a circular cavern as large as an amphitheater. The rich, loamy surface was springy underfoot as they tramped over it, and the air reeked of old manure. The walls of the cavern caught Will's attention. What at first he'd taken to be clusters of stalagmites were, in fact, petrified tree trunks, some broken halfway down and others twisted around each other. These fossilized remains stood like a carved stone forest in the shadows.
Will felt increasingly uneasy, as if something unwholesome and threatening was radiating from between the ancient trees. He was relieved when they reached the middle house and pushed through the front door, which opened crookedly on a single hinge.
Chester shouldered the door shut behind them as Will entered the kitchen. It was roomier than the one in the Jerome house. As they crossed the tiled floor, a thick carpet of dust was stirred into life. It whipped up into a miniature storm, and in the glow of the light orb every movement they made left a trace in the airborne motes.
Will found it and pushed. A small hatch clicked open under his hand. Inside was a handle. He twisted it to the right, and a whole section of the tiled wall opened outward — it was a cleverly disguised door. Behind was an
