Part 54 (1/2)
One of the ropes fell free and Annja gritted her teeth, working on shredding the remaining ropes. ”Just let me finish this and we'll work that out. If we can find some way out of here and get back to town, then we'll be all set.”
Joey watched her. ”Once we're out of here, I'll need a minute or two to look around and get my bearings. Once I do, I can get you back to town as fast as you can run.”
”What happens if I run faster than you?”
Joey shook his head. ”No one runs faster than me.”
Jenny started. ”Did you hear that?”
Annja stopped moving. Her ears strained to make out whatever it was that Jenny thought she'd heard. ”I don't hear anything.”
”I could have sworn I heard something.”
Annja went back to grinding the ropes. ”Keep your ears open. If you think someone's coming, tell me. We'll need the element of surprise if they do come in here to check on us.”
Joey looked around them. ”You know, there's something vaguely familiar about this place.”
”You've been here before?”
He frowned. ”No, not really. Just something seems really familiar. I just can't place it.”
”Well, hurry up,” Jenny said. ”I thought I just heard something again.”
”What did it sound like?” Annja asked.
”Almost like a snore. But really constant.” Jenny frowned. ”I can't explain it properly.”
”A snore?” Annja grinned. ”Great. That helps a lot.”
”Well, you try listening, then.”
”I'd gladly switch places,” Annja said. ”But I'm a bit busy right now.”
Joey tried to get to his feet. ”That's not a snore she heard.”
”What do you mean?” Annja asked.
Joey struggled to rise, but b.u.mped his head on the low ceiling and sank back down. ”d.a.m.n.”
”You okay?”
Annja kept rubbing the ropes against the rocks. ”Joey, what the h.e.l.l are you talking about?”
”Jenny's right. In a way. Except it's not a snore she's hearing.”
”Well, there's a relief,” Jenny said. ”It'd be just our luck to get trapped in a cave with a sleeping Sasquatch.”
”Jenny! Be quiet,” Annja said. She looked at Joey. ”Will you just hurry up and explain yourself?”