Found by S. A. Bodeen

Author:S. A. Bodeen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

10

Marco, Nacho, and Ahab sped along the beach. When they needed a break, they walked until they could run once more. During one rest, Nacho pulled another two bottles of water from his backpack. As Marco cranked one open, Nacho said, “These are the last ones.”

Marco glanced down at Ahab, whose pink tongue seemed to hang halfway to the ground. “Let’s give him some first.”

“Good idea.” Nacho cupped his hands.

Ahab lapped up the water. Then he licked Nacho’s hands as clean as possible, minus the dog slobber. Then Nacho and Marco shared the one remaining bottle. Nacho put the empties in his backpack and zipped it.

“Want me to carry it?” asked Marco.

“I got it.” Nacho looped it over a shoulder. “It’s a lot lighter now.” He wiped the sweat off his forehead. “How much farther?”

Marco took a few steps down the beach and scrutinized the tree line. He pointed. “It’s there. The cave is right there.”

Nacho took hold of Ahab’s collar. “Do we just go in?”

“I guess.” Marco glanced at the backpack. “Got a flashlight in there?”

Nacho shook his head. “But I have this from my last camping trip with the Eco-Scouts.” He pulled out a package of green glow sticks.

Marco frowned. “But you said you felt sick. Mom let you stay home.”

Nacho opened the package. “That’s why I’ve still got them.” He snapped two glow sticks and handed one to Marco.

“Thanks.” He led the way to the mouth of the cave. “So when we go through, you might feel like a…”

“A what?” Nacho’s forehead wrinkled.

“A tingle? Like a little electric shock.” Marco hoped it was as little as he remembered. He stepped through. The buzz spread out through his body, almost over as soon as it started.

Ahab came next. He barked and jumped like he’d been bit.

“You’re okay, boy.” Marco gripped his collar.

Nacho hesitated. “Does it hurt?”

“No! Just come on.”

Nacho scrunched his eyes shut and leaped through. “Oh! That was weird.”

Marco sighed and held up his glow stick. “Ready? It’s dark up ahead.”

“Yeah.” Nacho adjusted his backpack and brandished his glow stick. “Ready.”

Marco took a few steps. “Let’s be quiet, okay? We don’t know what’s happening in there.”

“Got it.”

Ahab’s panting and the shuffling of their footsteps along the rocky bottom echoed slightly. The walls, glowing green from the glow sticks, closed in.

Marco stopped. He covered his glow stick with his hand and whispered, “It’s getting lighter ahead. We’re almost there.” He set his glow stick on the ground, then tightened his hold on Ahab’s collar and put a finger on his lips.

Nacho stuck up a thumb.

Marco stepped as lightly as he could the rest of the way, until he was on the verge of the massive cavern. The place was lit as brightly as always, the white modules glaring after the dimness of the passage.

He ran, pulling Ahab over to the nearest row of modules. When Nacho was beside him, Marco leaned out and tried to see if anyone was farther down.

The place seemed deserted. But his gut told him the opposite.

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