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“I still have a fehite goddess tricks up ood, Tessa is back” The Indian woman had materialized as silently as a shadow She spoke a feords in her native language to Francesca, who answered with a nod Tessa took one of the torches flanking the throne

Francesca said, “Dr Paul, if you would be so kind as to help Tessa” Trout went over and hoisted Tessa up by the waist She was as light as a feather Tessa tucked the torch in at an angle where the clay met the thatch The torch had only to burn a few inches before the fla They repeated the procedure with another torch on the opposite wall

“I don’t count arson a my talents, but this crude time delay will create a distraction e need it,” Francesca said She looked around the throne room “Good-bye,” she said sadly to no one in particular “In so a queen” She turned to Tessa, and they talked heatedly When the discussion was ended Tessa had a satisfied look on her face Francesca sighed heavily “You see what’s happening? My subjects are already rebelling I ordered Tessa to stay, but she wants to go with us We don’t have tiue further Follow me”

Francesca led the way along the dis on the bed explained Tessa’s te for their escape Francesca removed her battered alued with a strap which she threw over her shoulder Handing one bag to Paul and the other to Gamay, Francesca said that the containers held food and supplies and “a few essentials”

Gao fro was more frenetic

“We take a shower, of course,” Francesca said

She lit a small clay lamp from the torch, went over to the shower stall, and pulled up the polished wooden floor to reveal a rectangular opening

“There’s a ladder It’s very steep Be careful”

She descended first so the others could cliether in a sravel drain that had been used to catch water froe led off into the darkness

“My apologies to you, Dr Paul I wasn’t expecting so this tunnel for years, carrying the dirt out in seway runs into a covered trench I had the o for future orks”

With Paul stooping low to keep fro the passageway The floor and walls had been s Francesca extinguished the light because of the sht confines, and they traveled in darkness After about fifty feet the tunnel angled into another, slightly bigger passageway

“This is the water works,” Francesca said in hushed tones “We round, and the Chulo have sharp

ears”

Using a primitive fire starter siot the laress, but after about fifteen minutes the tunnel came to an end Francesca motioned for Paul to squeeze up beside her She pulled a s and chopped away at the blank dirt wall until the blade hit so with a thud

“I’ll need your strength again, Dr Paul Push against this hatch I don’t think anyone is at the river, but be cautious”