"Umm, Tommy?" Hank began, "Presto isn't here. Are you feeling okay?"Tommy looked back at Hank and blinked. "Sure. I knew that. I was just testing you." He looked at Bubbles. "Do you think he believed that?" She shook her head slowly. "Neither do I." He turned back to Hank. "Okay, so I was a little distracted - I've been under a bit of stress recently, okay?"
Hank saw something in Tommy's eyes - he wasn't sure exactly what - but he didn't feel like pressing it right now. "I can make a ladder with my Bow, you know."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Good."
"Good."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"So are you going to do it? Or do I have to ask you? Oh please, mighty Ranger, please make a ladder for us so we can get a bloody move on!"
Hank bit back a retort. Tommy was obviously not at his best and a further contest of words wouldn't solve anything. Wordlessly, he made the rope.
Bubbles watched the little interchange wordlessly, a worried frown slightly creasing her forehead.. Tommy was obviously under a lot of stress, but now was not the time to go into the reason for it. Hopefully she'd have time later.
Hank anchored the rope to the floor and went down the hole first. Bubbles swiftly stepped to the fore and made sure she was second down. Once there, she looked around the cavern for a few moments before going over to the large barrel that covered the entrance to the catacombs. She hoped everyone would hurry. She had the eeriest feeling that they had no time to waste.
Bubbles
