21
Scout stood completely still, tilting her head as she listened. She held her breath and tried to slow the heartbeat that was pounding too loudly in her ears. Somewhere, not remotely close by, she could hear a drip of water. Even more distantly she thought she heard the hum of machinery.
Then she heard a snuffle.
“Shadow! Gert!” she called. Then she remembered the whistle in her pocket and took it out to give it a blow.
The dogs came charging out from behind a rock outcropping. Shadow was trembling as he leapt into her arms and even Gert looked torn between deep upset and elation at seeing her again.
What had happened since she left? And where were Joelle and Tucker?
Scout sat down on the cave floor so the dogs could cuddle close to her while she put the eyepiece over her left eye
