Page 33 (1/2)

“Are you bats?” he asked

“Because if they were bats, they would totally answer”

“Bats Bats are not a problem” He chattered

“Bats have to have a way out, right? They can’t live in a cave all the time They have to be able to fly out and…and drink blood”

Duck stood frozen, awaiting the bat attack He would never see it co If they came after him, he would jump into the water

Yes Or…or he could get round and be safe in the dirt

“Yeah, that’s a great plan: bury yourself alive”

The bats—if that’s what they were—de his blood So Duck returned to the question of what exactly he should do next In theory he could jump into the water and swim out into the ocean

In theory In reality he could not see his own hand in front of his face

He squatted in a dry corner of the cave, well away from the water And in an area that see sounds

He hugged himself and shivered

How had he ended up here? He’d never hurt anyone He wasn’t souy, he was just a kid Like any other kid He just wanted to go online and play games and watch TV and listen to music He wanted to read his coround

What kind of a stupid poas that, anyway?

“The Sinker,” he muttered

“Weightman,” he countered