Propelled by a growing sense of urgency, Poppy moved along the wall, peering into each opening and stopping to feel if there was any movement of air across her face. Most of the openings were just shallow pockets where the rock had crumbled away over the years. But some went a little deeper. When Poppy encountered several candle stubs attached to the walls with wax, she broke one off and dropped it in her pocket. “Candles suggest that they do go deeper into the caves,” she said, pleased that her theory was working.
Carlos kept looking over his shoulder, reporting on the progress of the ship, which he could just see through the overhang formed by the rocks. Soon Poppy heard the clatter and clang of approaching men.
At that moment, she passed a narrow opening in the wall. She would have disregarded it, except that a strong, cold breeze hit her the moment she stepped up to it.
She grabbed Carlos by the arm and yanked him in after her.
“What the…”
The space was dim, and the narrow passage continued, so Poppy pressed on into the darkness.
“Hell no,” Carlos said, stopping, his weight impossible for her to drag. “I am not plunging into some dark pit just to get lost and die.” He pulled a flint out of his pocket and managed to light the candle. The flame flickered alarmingly in the breeze.
“Excuse me but you told me we’re looking for a cave entrance. And you said if they find us, we die,” Poppy responded, cupping her hand around the flame to protect it.
“At least we’ll die in the light.”
“Come on. A little further. Let’s make them work for their victory, shall we?”
“Well, I can’t say no after that. I’d sound like a coward.”
“Then let’s go.”
“I wish you weren’t here at all.”
Poppy felt wounded. “Well, I am and there’s nothing you can do about it at this point. We found supplies destined for wounded soldiers, after all. Do you expect me to sit idly and think about all the poor souls who might be in pain—or die—because I did nothing?”
“Poppy, that’s not…” he began.
But she was warming to her subject. “If I hadn’t insisted on following after those smugglers the other night, you would never have discovered these caves at all. I am not going to return meekly to my room and embroider while you take all the risks.”
He took a deep breath. “What I meant, Poppy, was that I wish you weren’t here because I’m worried you’ll be hurt. Or worse.”
“Oh,” she said. “Well, too late. And anyway, this may be my very last interesting adventure before I am boxed away with all the other spinsters.”
“You talk as if you’re on the shelf.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, Mr. de la Guerra,” she said, intent on moving through the rough passageway, “I am not exactly in demand.”
“That depends on who you ask.” He was a few steps behind her as they walked, so she didn’t have to worry that he’d see her sudden blush.
Luckily, the task of navigating the cave passage was challenging enough that she didn’t have to respond. Not long after, they reached a much larger cavern, and Poppy’s foot struck a box that turned out to contain more candles and lanterns. “Oh, good,” she said happily, working to light one lantern with her guttering candle. “This won’t blow out so easily."
“Not good. It means they use this space regularly. We have to keep moving…assuming it’s not a dead end.”
“It can’t be. I still feel air moving.” Poppy looked around in the dim light from the lantern. “We must examine the walls and find out if there’s another way out.”
“Yes, General St George.” They agreed to work around the perimeter of the cavern in opposite directions. Poppy lit another lantern she found.
The walls were damp, and as Poppy trailed her fingers along the surface, she shivered at the idea of being stuck down there.
“Anything?” she whispered to Carlos.
“Not yet.” His voice sounded further away than it really was, and Poppy turned to make sure he was visible, even as a silhouette in the dark space.
At that moment, she nearly lost her balance as her hand on the wall suddenly encountered a space.
“Oh!” she gasped.
