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They shined their flashlights into the darkness, but could see nothing past ten feet So

“I don’t know about you, but I vote we avoid another dungeonlike maze if we can”

“Amen”

They kept walking and after a few hundred yards found the before another set of stone steps

This ti beneath the trapdoor and listening until certain the as clear She lifted the hatch, peeked out, then ducked back down again

“It’s pitch-dark I can’t tell where we are”

“Let’s go up We’ll see if our eyes adjust”

Reh the hatch, then stepped aside so Sam could join her He eased the hatch shut and

carefully reached out, trying to hly four by four feet square After thirty seconds of standing still their eyes slowly began to adjust and they could ht to their left Saap He pulled back, frowned, then looked again

“What?” Remi asked

“Books,” he whispered “It’s a bookshelf”

He felt along the wall and found a recessed wooden latch He lifted it up, placed his palently pushed Soundlessly the wall swung away froap Sam stepped into it and leaned out He jerked his head back and had no sooner swung the bookcase shut again when a a, is that you?” Footsteps padded across a rug, paused, then padded in another direction “Olga?” Silence for a few seconds, then the sound of water running The water shut off Footsteps again, then a door opening and shutting

Saain and peeked out “All clear,” he whispered to Reether they stepped out and shut the bookcase behind them

They were in a bedroo bathroom, the space was furnished in heavy walnut furniture, a s

“What now?” Remi asked