The final escape from where the tunnel was drained. Read the emotional account in this excerpt from Hypatia's Diary chapter 92.

“The water’s moving more than it was before,” said Fathi.

​

“Let me see,” said Tessa sliding in next to him at the top step and peered down as Fathi moved back. The water rose and fell as a pressure wave moved in the tunnel, leaving a mark now several centimeters high.

​

“What time is sunrise,” she asked Fathi.

​

“About now, but it won’t be fully bright for an hour on this side of the mountain,” he said.

“But they’ll be using lights to work? Shining them down the well?” she said, switching off her light and climbing down to the water. 

​

She braced against the walls as she felt for each step. When she reached the eighth step, she sat back. A faint light from the chamber above barely illuminated the stairwell, and no light came from the underwater tunnel.

​

Someone needs to look in the tunnel, said the Hypatia voice. You need the element of surprise. Strike them at daybreak.

​

Tessa climbed back up to the chamber and found them sitting against the walls opposite each other. “This is what we'll do,” she said, looking at Eyrún, “Darwin swims out and tells them you’re a hostage until Fathi and I get away. When he swims back, we swim out and leave. After we’re gone, they can come in here and get you.”

​

“You can’t be serious,” said Eyrún. “How do you know it’s even open.”

​

“That’s why we’re waiting until it’s fully light outside. Lover boy here will see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.”

​

Eyrún threw her hands up in frustration and took a step toward Tessa. When Tessa leaned back, Eyrún pivoted and shoved Fathi against the wall. Darwin lunged at Fathi’s knife hand, slamming it against the wall. Fathi yelped, and the knife clattered to the floor. Both men dove for it, but Darwin was faster and rolled away with the knife.

​

Eyrún screamed. Darwin turned to see Tessa’s arm around Eyrún’s neck and the pocket knife held against her cheek.

​

“Drop it,” said Tessa. Darwin hesitated.

​

“Ahhhh,” yelled Eyrún as the blade punctured her skin. He dropped the knife and backed up. Fathi retrieved it, and Tessa shoved Eyrún toward Darwin.

​

“Let me see,” said Darwin, pulling away Eyrún’s bloodied hand. He shined a light close as a trickle of blood flowed from a centimeter-long cut on her cheek.

​

“Is it bad? It hurts,” said Eyrún.

​

“It doesn’t look deep. Hold still a moment,” he said and used his sleeve to dab away the blood. He spread the cut gently, but it stayed together. “It’s just the outer layers of skin, but press this against it.” He tore a piece from his shirttail and folded it into a small square and held it to the wound. Eyrún put her fingers on it, and Darwin let go and whispered, “It’s all right. I can swim the distance.”

​

“I’m going to kill that bitch,” she whispered back.