Page 27 of The Lone Cyborg
“I think it’s too risky to go back through the main lava tube. Even if they didn’t follow us, they know we’re down here. They could simply be waiting for us to come back out, figuring that we’ll eventually get hungry and thirsty.”
“You mentioned before that there might be another way up to the surface?”
“It’s definitely possible, but I’d have to find it.” He hesitated, already hating the next part. “I think it would be better if you stayed here while I explored. I can move faster on my own and I need very little light.”
Her eyes went wide and scared.
“You’re going to abandon me?”
“Never. I’m just leaving you for a very short time.”
He could see the struggle on her face, but he waited patiently until she managed a tiny nod.
“You’re right. It does make more sense for you to go alone. I’ll wait here.”
She gave him a pitiful attempt at a smile and he almost changed his mind, but this was the best way he could think of to protect her.
“That’s my brave girl. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He brushed a kiss to her trembling mouth, then left quickly before his resolution failed.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Mattie stared into the tunnel long after Jeb’s body disappeared into the darkness. Her rational side knew that she’d made the right decision, but the frightened little girl who had watched her mother walk away was not so sure. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered, even though it was a comfortable temperature inside the cavern.
He left me.
The words echoed in her head as time dragged on, and she desperately tried to think of something—anything—other than being abandoned. Her body still ached from the frantic escape and although the water from the lichen had eased her thirst, it had made her more conscious of her empty stomach, but even her bodily discomfort paled into insignificance next to her fear.
Unable to remain in one place any longer, she rose to her feet and started exploring the cavern. She was too distracted to notice much but the movement helped calm her ragged nerves. She was on her second circuit when something flickered against the far wall. Her heart skipped a beat before she realized it was that strange mineral vein, moving beneath the lichen. It seemedto take on a new shape as she watched it—one with outspread wings, like the figure from her dreams.
She started to move closer to study it in more detail, but then a small yellow figure darted into the cavern and she gave a grateful sob.
“Sylvester! You’re all right. How did you find me?”
He landed on her outstretched hand, chirping anxiously as he studied her with those large mechanical eyes. She’d always assumed he couldn’t see in the dark, but maybe his optics were more sophisticated than she’d realized. Somehow he’d managed to find his way to her through the pitch-dark tunnels.
She cradled him against her chest with another sob, but she already felt better. She wasn’t alone any more.
“I wonder…” She raised her hand so she could look at him again. “Did you come through the main lava tube? Or did you find another way in?”
If he had, then hopefully Jeb could as well. She started to sit down again, then remembered the figure she thought she’d seen sketched into the far wall. But when she looked again, it was no longer there—if she hadn’t just imagined it to begin with. She sighed and settled back against the wall, talking to Sylvester as they waited for Jeb to return.
A faint scrape in the tunnel made her heart pound, but then Jeb emerged from the darkness. She jumped to her feet and ran to him, sighing with relief as his arms closed around her.
“Thank goodness you’re back. Did you find anything?”
She drew back to look up at him and read the answer on his face even before he shook his head.
“I’m afraid not. There are hundreds of different tunnels and I only searched a fraction of them. I think we’re going to have to take a chance on the main entrance.”
He sounded tired and defeated and she gave him a quick hug before smiling up at him.
“Maybe not. Look who showed up.”
She held out her hand and Sylvester flew over to her, chirping merrily at Jeb.
“How the hell did he get here?”
