Lissie startled out of her reverie when Cora clapped her hands and asked, “Do we have those specimen bags?”
“You have the specimen bags!” Alexander’s relief was loud.
Riley fell to her knees.
Lissie patted her shoulder and looked up at the beauty. The air was wet, and it hung heavy with the smell of life.
Cora said, “Right, right. I need a knife to cut a section out of the wall. The substrate is as important as the fruit.” She whipped out a cloth sack as big as a pillowcase. “For propagation.”
Lissie crouched next to Riley and leaned on her.
Alexander gave Cora a knife. Cora began hacking pieces out of the wall, out of the spikes and pillars. Lissie was surprised to see that it gave way easily, like clay before it was fired.
Riley whispered, “We did it. I can’t believe we are finally here.”
Lissie squeezed her shoulder and said, “We haven’t done it yet.”
She saw something out of the corner of her eye. It melted into the shadows. Lissie smiled at it, hoping it was watching.
This is something that other woman never saw.
The woman’s voice in her head rang in her mind. You’re wrong, child. Who do you think planted these mushrooms?
Lissie shot to her feet, heart pulsing in her ears.
Riley looked up at her and said, “Is everything okay?” She shot to her feet, hand drawing her blade.
Lissie moved quick to quiet her, “No, nothing. Sorry. Just..” She tried to think. “I thought I saw something.”
Cora called over, “You know, you two could help?”
Riley said sternly, “I’m checking the perimeter.”
“I think he’s got us covered,” Alexander said. He pointed at Niko, who stood like a column himself.
Lissie tried to ignore all of them and thought loudly, What is your name?
You can call me Nelli, if you like.
Lissie’s heart pounded and she drew a long breath. She thought back, My name is Lissie.
No it is not. I know your name.
Lisandra? Lissie thought.
There was cackling in her mind. Everyone was moving all around her, and Lissie tried to wander away from the group. She closed her eyes and opened them again and saw deep greens and blues in her companions. Even Niko was green. He met her eyes.
Niko walked toward her, stopping short a ways away. He asked, “You have found your cure. Are you proud?”
Lissie had no idea how to continue either conversation. She opened her mouth for a moment before saying, “We have so far to go still.”
Niko nodded. “It is my fault. You are worried that we cannot leave the way we arrived.”
Lissie gasped, “No! I am sure Cora and Alexander can get us out. You can’t—” She gathered her thoughts. “You can’t do everything. I would never expect you to do everything!”
“I saved your life. I am responsible for it.”
“I never asked that of you.”
“And yet it is true.” The words hung like a certainty.
Riley’s voice was loud. “Cora! That’s all of the bags full. I know you would have us strip this place, but good enough is good enough.”
Niko turned and walked back toward the group. Lissie followed him.
The six specimen bags were bulging, and luminous mushrooms were mounded in the tops. Alexander was tying two bags to a rope, and then slung them over Cora’s shoulders.
Ruskin whined from his backpack.
Cora said, “I think he needs to relieve himself.”
“What better territory to mark?” Alexander threw his arm out, gesturing at the expanse of shining mushrooms. “It has been a while since we entered. I spent that whole dive terrified he would need to be released within the gloom.”
Niko’s voice rumbled. “Be sure he does not touch me.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll slip a rope over his neck—” Alexander opened the top of his backpack and the dog wriggled free of his arms and took off like an arrow.