Page 358 of Hidden Depths

A man appeared behind the rocks.

Ward dropped him.

A second man ran across the upper ledge toward the turning wheel.

“He’s going for the gate!” Mom cried.

Nathan fired.

The bullet struck the man’s shoulder, spinning him around.

But he didn’t fall.

He reached the wheel and pulled a metal key from his pocket.

Grandpa’s key.

Mom lunged forward.

“Nathan!”

“I see him.”

Nathan fired again.

The man ducked behind the wheel.

A grinding sound rolled through the cavern.

The gate lifted another foot.

Water exploded beneath it.

The walkway tore away from the wall.

Ward grabbed me as the section beneath my feet collapsed.

For one breathless second, I hung above the churning water.

Then he hauled me against him.

My hands locked behind his neck.

His arm crushed me to his chest.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

He looked furious.

But his hand shook against my back.

“Ward—”

“Don’t.”

One word.