Chapter 35

Working their way through the dark tunnel, Hut and Runagar had more difficulty than either anticipated, Runagar squeezing by Hut and Lisam to be in the lead. Having been this way many times, the tunnel was second nature to the Shillitoe. Coaxing the birds onward in the gloomy, cramped space, Hut quickly found that his skills with ravens were being put to a severe test. Eventually a welcome slit of light knifed through a slim, vertical cleft ahead.

    “Here we are,” said Runagar. “But it was harder than I thought. Yesterday, on the way in, I took the two foxes through a larger tunnel. I chose this one today because it’s a shorter route. Believe me, on the way back in, we’ll go the longer way.”

    To Hut’s surprise, Ru...

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