“Temi,” I called, “come on. We have to get away while...” I trailed off, confused as I twisted my neck to check on her. The tunnel had grown oddly brighter, especially given that I couldn’t see anyone’s flashlights.
It was the sword. Glowing.
“Go ahead, I’ll give you time,” Temi called over her shoulder. She was standing in the tunnel, the blade thrust before her, holding the creature at bay. Only the iridescent eyes of the smooth black head were visible between the ceiling of the lower chamber and the surface, but it was enough to see the murderous intent there.
“We’re not leaving you,” I said.
“Then figure out a way to kill it,” Temi said without looking back.
The creature advanced and she swiped at it again, almost losing her footing. Simon grabbed her by the back of the shirt. The monster howled and drew back. Why it was glowing for Temi, I couldn’t guess, but that was a question we could worry about later.
“Maybe we can drown it in there,” I said.
“What if it doesn’t need air?” Simon asked. “It’s been holding its breath forever.”
“Then what if we trap it? That stalactite—if we could knock it down and it fell across the tunnel entrance...” That was a big if. It was just as likely to fall in the other direction. Not to mention we’d be trapping it in there with Jakatra and Eleriss—if they were still alive.
“With what?” Simon asked. “The TNT’s back in Phoenix, remember?”
The creature lunged for Temi. Again, she swiped with the blade, the silvery reflection bouncing on the gleaming walls with its movement, like candlelight in a draft. The sword clacked against stone, and shards flew free.
“I should have taken fencing classes when I was in Europe,” she yelled. “At least I’m keeping it at bay.”
I barely heard her. I was staring at the rock that sword had cut. “Did you see that?” I jostled Simon’s shoulder. “Maybe we don’t need dynamite. The sword can cut stone.”
“Uh, that stalactite is thick,” Simon said.
I wasn’t sure he’d seen the blow. He was still holding onto Temi’s shirt to keep her from being pulled away. At the same time, he was holding onto a bump in the wall to keep himself from being pulled away.
“Do you have any more of that rope?” I asked. “Did it ever come free after I cut it?”
“Yeah, we finally yanked it out, figuring we were yanking you out. It’s tied around my waist.”
He didn’t look like he was in a position to untie it, so I patted him down until I found it. Without waiting for questions as to what I was trying, I swam up the tunnel, searching for something promising to tie the rope to. The uneven walls had numerous bumps and divots. If I could find one that formed something close to a hook...
“There you are,” I said, spotting a formation similar to an eyelet. “Even better.”
I tied the rope through the hole and gave it a good yank to make sure it would hold, then let the current sweep me back toward my friends.
Temi cried out in pain at the same time as Simon shouted, “Look out!”
By the time I reached them, she’d batted the monster back again, but had switched the sword to her left hand. She was shaking her right hand. Blood streamed down it and into the water.
“Are you all right?” I swam in close and tied the other end of the rope around Temi’s waist.
“Yes, though I think it’s figuring out I’m not as dangerous with this thing as Jakatra. Do you want to try, Del? You always did more of the martial arts stuff.”
“Sorry, but it doesn’t glow for me.”
“It’s coming again,” Simon warned. “Can you hit it with your left hand?”
Temi lunged out to meet the attack. She might not be experienced, but she had good reflexes and instincts. With most of the battle taking place underwater, it was hard to tell where the blow landed, but the monster lurched backward and yowled again.
“I’m a six-oh as a leftie,” Temi said.
“A what?” Simon asked.
“It’s a tennis rating,” I said. “It means she’d kick most people’s butts even playing left-handed, blindfolded, and in a wheelchair.”
Temi snorted. “Not quite.”
“Okay, Temi, we’ve got the rope around you. I want you to try and force the monster back long enough to reach that stalactite and knock it over with the sword.”
She snorted again. “Shall I push over a few skyscrapers while I’m at it?”
“We’ll try that later if we get out of this. Now, go.”
“How am I supposed to—”
“You have to hurry—it’ll be underwater in a second,” I said. “Just try. The sword is... I don’t know what to call it. It’s a magic sword, okay?” I felt stupid saying that, but Simon was nodding. Apparently we’d stepped out of the science fiction movie and into the Shire.