"Here they come!" Tabak whispered.
Reiloc stiffened, jerked out his sword. He put his hand to the back of his neck as if to reassure himself that the Anolyn was actually gone. Jupiter had removed it while they waited. Its absence seemed to give the Nehogan confidence.
"You both know what to do?" Jupiter asked.
"Yes."
He adjusted the pack over his shoulders, picked up his carbine, assured himself that a cartridge lay in the chamber. The clash of cymbals was louder, reinforced by the chant of voices.
He went to the door, followed by Reiloc and Tabak. There was a short dark passage beyond which ended abruptly in a solid wall. A well opened in the ceiling overhead, though, with a ladder bolted inside it.
He gave Tabak a boost up into the well, then Reiloc. In a moment they'd climbed out of sight.
Jupiter leaped upward, caught the bottom rung, pulled himself hand over hand up into the thick darkness.
The clash of cymbals, the chant of voices had a hollow, muffled quality. He heard Tabak pant, then whisper, "I've got it open!" The cymbals were suddenly louder.
He crawled out of the well on Reiloc's heels, replaced the cover.