She halted herself before tumbling into the mudpot that boiled and belched ahead of her. She pushed ahead on her hands and knees.
Lights flared on the far side. The glare stung her eyes. She raised a hand against it. A figure stepped into view, decked in Arctic camo. One of the soldiers. She snatched at her holstered SIG, but a voice called over, high-pitched and confused.
“Seichan?”
She recognized the voice. Still, she freed her pistol, arming herself until she understood the situation. The botanist came running around the steaming pit. Only then did Seichan notice the body floating atop the quaking mud.
Yerik.
Elle helped her to her feet. Omryn came around the far side. Like Tucker, he had donned a dead man’s armor.
“The others?” Seichan asked, quickly assessing the situation.
“Anna is inside with the doctor and Jason. He’s recovered. But weak.”
“How?”
“Long story. I found—”
Seichan cut her off. “Don’t care. Everyone back into the chamber. All lights out. No sound.” She glanced back. “Trouble is coming. Valya and Nadira.”
Elle looked sickened at this news, but resolute. “We can make a stand here.”
“No time. We can’t get pinned down.”
Elle looked confused.
“That waterfall is one bad shake from crashing down, of turning this place into a tomb. That’s why I came here. To get you all moving. But—”
She glanced back to the main tunnel as the lighting shifted. Far down the passageway, the steady glow now bobbled.
Valya found my light. Knows it was a ruse.
Seichan swung back to the others. “Hide. I’m going to lead them off.” She pointed at the side tunnel that headed to the toxic garden. “Once they follow me, you all need to run for the exit. As fast as you can sprint. Carry Jason if you must.”
“I will do my best,” Omryn promised, lifting a palm to his stomach.
Seichan finally noted the belly wrap under his armor. She grimaced. This group needed to get moving ASAP. Burdened by the injured and afflicted, they would be moving slower than she had hoped.
She started to turn for the garden passageway, then swung back around. She held out her pistol toward Omryn. “Trade me.”
He looked down at his Remington 12-gauge, clearly reluctant to part with it. But he passed over the shotgun.
She hefted it, testing its weight.
I’ll need a weapon like this to deal with Valya.
Omryn took her SIG, but he added a warning, nodding to the Remington. “That’s my last magazine in there. Only six slugs left.”
Seichan nodded.
It will have to do.
That and one other item.
She held her hand out to Elle. “Your flashlight.”
The botanist handed it over.
