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“A fire in the back garden?” Ellie frowned. “I’m not sure I remember that one.”
“It was when we were playing The Sack of Troy,” Constance replied.
“Perhaps the more important question is whether we have actually escaped these men who may or may not have been shooting at us,” Mr. Al-Ahmed offered a little weakly.
“It would appear that we have,” Ellie returned uncertainly.
“At least until they start digging.” Adam addressed the words to the ceiling, as he was still lying across her lap.
“But the tunnel isn’t stable!” Mr. Al-Ahmed ran a frantic hand through his dusty hair. “If they disturb the fill, they could bring the rest of it down on us!”
“Mr. Forster-Mowbray wouldn’t—” Neil began.
“He most certainly would!” Ellie shot back crossly.
“In either case, it would seem prudent that we exit this place as soon as possible,” Mr. Al-Ahmed urged.
“I’m with him.” Adam sat up, freeing Ellie of his weight, and then looked down. “Just as soon as I dig out my legs.”
He started shoveling with his hands.
Ellie squirmed the rest of the way free—and cast an uneasy gaze past him at the cave-in. “I didn’t see Jacobs back there.”
“No,” Adam agreed grimly, digging at his left knee.
“Could he have stayed behind in British Honduras?” she offered hopefully.
“Would be pretty great if he had.” Adam yanked a leg loose. “But I’m betting that’s too much to hope for.”
He tugged at his still-buried right side. It stayed stuck. With a frown, he braced his free boot against the piled earth and shoved. He popped free, sprawling back into Ellie again and revealing a foot clad only with a very dirty sock. “Dammit. Lost my boot.”
He reached into the place where his leg had been, fishing around in the dirt.
“Ellie, maybe he could use a bit more light,” Constance suggested meaningfully.
“Oh!” Ellie jolted as she realized what Constance was talking about. She fumbled for her pocket and pulled out the cigar tube.
“Have you taken upsmokingnow as well?” Neil exclaimed with obvious dismay.
“Oh, do be quiet!” Ellie snapped, her nerves frazzled beyond the point of making a more tactful response.
She slipped the firebird bone out into her hand.
“Got it!” Adam announced.
He yanked a filthy boot from the dirt—and the walls around them fell in.
Constance grabbed the back of Neil’s shirt, yanking him with her as she launched herself deeper into the tunnel. Mr. Al-Ahmed caught Ellie by the arm, hauling at her as Adam scrambled back and the dirt cascaded down around them.
They burst past the crooked frame of another old support, where Ellie fell onto Mr. Al-Ahmed’s shoes.
Her ears rang with the delicate patter of loose earth as the newly collapsed section settled a few inches from her heels.
“I’ve just lost my job, haven’t I?” Neil asked mournfully from where he lay sprawled beneath Constance.
“Is that really your greatest concern right now?” Ellie pressed irritably from between Mr. Al-Ahmed’s ankles.
“I’m sure you can clear it all up with a nicely-worded letter,” Constance offered sarcastically.
