The heavy volume slid faster than the water.
Ty pushed off the sloped stone and nearly lost his bad foot under him. The Anchor channel dropped in a long curve ahead, slick with black water and old mineral frost. The case scraped along the center groove, chains jumping behind it like angry tails.
JJ caught his belt before he went sideways.
"Your foot is filing complaints through your whole body," she said. "Lean on me before it wins completely today."
"I am leaning with dignity and controlled panic."
"Your dignity is making grinding noises under pressure."
Blue ran ahead on the left wall where the stone ribs gave her handholds. She moved faster than Ty expected after the route threw them down here. Fear had made her sharp. Anger had made her useful.
"The channel drops ahead into open space below," she called. "I can hear open space, and I hate how far it sounds."
Ty saw it after three more uneven steps.
