She started forward.“Maintenance tunnels.”
“What happens if they follow us?”Caius asked, falling into step with her.
Anandra was the straggler, plodding at the rear as they stepped carefully over the floor.There were a few patches of the original, uncovered grates left.Everything else had been consumed by the moss and algae, turning the tunnel into its own miniature ecosystem.
“They won’t.”
Caius eyed her.“You seem certain of that.”
“I am.”
“How?”
Gus’s earlier resolve to speak less was already being tested.“For starters, they don’t know this tunnel exists.”
Not many did.Only the original builders.
And Gus.
Seeing Caius’s sidelong look, Gus expanded.“They were left off the station blueprints.”
Gus had found that a lot had been left off those blueprints.Most people weren’t as curious or paranoid as her.They didn’t feel a relentless need to explore their surroundings until they knew every nook and cranny of their new home.Nor were they privy to the unheard voices of plants.
When Gus kept hearing murmurs that didn’t make sense, she knew she had to discover the reason.That search led her to a secret tunnel system more expansive than anyone on Titan would ever suspect.One that went well beyond the smuggler tunnels that were something of an open secret.
“Why would they do that?”Caius asked.
“Who knows?”
Whatever the reason, Gus was grateful.If not for this tunnel system, they would have had a much more difficult time escaping.
“They’ll have some idea of where we disappeared.You’re not afraid of them discovering your bolt hole?”
“No.”
Gus could have explained, but she didn’t feel like it.This was already more conversation than she’d had in over a decade.Their pursuers could search for as long as they wanted.They wouldn’t discover their escape hatch.By now, the stack of crates would have slid back into place, once again concealing the tunnel.
But, by some miracle, if their enemies did discover it, Gus and the other two would be long gone.Disappeared into the bowels of the station.
Sensing eyes on her, Gus looked up to find Caius staring.“What?”
“Nothing.”
Gus scowled but let it go.“We have a long way to go.Let me know if either of you needs to stop and rest.”
“Will do.”To Gus’s surprise, Caius didn’t fall back to walk with Anandra, sticking annoyingly to her side.He waited until she shot him a look to smile wide.“Where to next?I assume you have a plan.”
Gus did, but she didn’t know why he seemed so certain of that.
“I have a—friend.”Gus hesitated over the last word, finally settling on “friend” as the best, least suspicious option.“He’ll give us sanctuary until we can contact your people.”
He’d also help her find out what the hell was going on.Caius didn’t need to know that part though.
“And is this friend like you?”
Gus scowled at the Tuann.“What is that supposed to mean?”
Caius’s smile deepened into something approaching real humor.“I meant no harm.I simply wish to know if this friend is also a wanderer.”
