Ti had explained what they were doing to Nim, so they gathered what copper they could find along the way. “Where’s Mishtali?” Sapphire asked them. Nim patted his pocket. “Don’t ask,” Pt’this said. “Ann and Andy?” Emeton asked. “She’s still fighting Nor’than. She sent Andy out. The place is burning. She said we all need to leave,” Pt’this said. “Where’s Ti?” Nim asked. Kar pointed to the empty room. “In there with Joanne. He went through to test the gate. He needs to regain some strength before he comes back.” “Maybe we can work together to open the gate from both sides and put the eta-vie in place,” Pt’this suggested. Kar nodded. They set about constructing a tunnel and wiring it together. When it was through, it wasn’t very tall. “Joanne will have to crawl through,” Sapphire said, frowning. “Have you seen how short she is?” Pt’this asked. “She probably won’t have to duck.” Nim growled. “I can hear you,” Joanne called. “This thing won’t last long enough for her to crawl through,” Tylan said. “It only needs to last a few minutes,” Pt’this said. “I know how long it takes to crawl that far. This won’t last.” “I agree.” Sapphire nodded. “She’ll need to get through faster.” “Jo, we’re sending a rope through too. Hook it to your ankles and lay on the floor,” Nim said. He took a rope they had also scrounged to help them make the tunnel and tied a knot in it. “Why?” “Because this thing isn’t going to last long enough for you to crawl through. I’ll pull you out. Ti will have to come out on his own.” Working quickly they opened the gate and pushed the tunnel through. The rope was attached and already tied in a loop with a slipknot. Joanne hooked it to her feet and lay down. “Ready,” she said. The rope was pulled hard from the other end. She was yanked through at high-speed. She understood why Nim had said to do her ankles. Her arms may have been dislocated with the force they used. She was surprised to see that the force behind the rope was only Nim. She saw his hands were claws and they were cut and bloody. She sat up and looked back. She saw Ti’s feet a moment before the tunnel collapsed, metal flying. “Ti, can you make it?” Pt’this asked. “Give me a moment.” Ti’s voice came. Nim helped Joanne untie her ankles and stand. He hugged her, heedless of the bonds she still wore. “I am so sorry.” He whispered. There were tears in his eyes. “This isn’t your fault,” Joanne said. “Let’s go you two.” Ti patted them on the shoulders. “I’d like to get back to my own chosen.” The building shook, and they started to run.