Free Empress of the Underworld by Gilbert L. Morris Page B

Sarah, had a fear of being in close places. He shook his head and said, “That would be a hard thing, Josh. I would rather go almost anywhere than down a hole in the ground like that.”
    Josh nodded. “Me too, Dave. But she’s one of the Seven. We’ll have to go when she sends for us.”
    A heaviness fell over the group, as all realized that sooner or later they would have to go into the Kingdom of the Underworld.

8
    Reb Sets a Trap
    I wish you’d watch what you’re doing, Wash,” Reb snapped irritably. “You left your stuff all over my bunk.”
    Wash looked up from where he was sitting on his own cot, reading a small book. He was the mildest mannered of all the Sleepers, but now he glared at Reb. “You’re a fine one to talk. You scatter your stuff around like a junkman!”
    For a minute, Reb seemed ready to get up and go to war, then he chuckled. “If we have to wait much longer, we’re going to start the Civil War all over again.” He walked over to the window and stared out. “I sure do hate this waiting,” he complained gloomily. “Sometimes I think we ought to just start out looking for that place—that Underworld.”
    Wash had calmed down by now too. He put his book down and came over to stare out the window with Reb. Outside, the trees were swaying from a stiff breeze.
    Looking at the thick forest, the smaller boy shook his head. “That wouldn’t do any good. We could wander forever looking for the entrance to that underground city. It’d be like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
    â€œI reckon so,” Reb admitted. “But I think Josh is about to lose his mind. He’s worse than any of us.”
    â€œThat’s because he’s the leader,” Wash said. “He feels responsible.”
    â€œWasn’t his fault Abigail wouldn’t go with us.”
    â€œNo, it’s not. But he thinks it is—and sometimes that’s just as bad.”
    Then Jake entered. “Got something to tell you,” he said.
    â€œWhat is it, Jake?” Reb asked. “Did we get word from Abbey?”
    â€œNo, not that. But something’s going on around here.”
    â€œGoing on? Like what?” Wash demanded.
    Jake got the look on his face that both boys had learned to dislike. Jake was very smart, but he was also very difficult at times. When he knew something that none of the others did, he liked to stretch it out and let them wallow in their own ignorance, as he put it.
    â€œIf you wouldn’t sleep so much,” the redheaded youngster said, “maybe you’d know as much as I do.”
    â€œI don’t sleep any more than you do,” Wash argued. “What are you talking about?”
    Reb frowned. “Aw, he don’t know anything, Wash. He just likes to show off.”
    Jake straightened up. He was rather short anyway, and he resented Reb’s tall stature. “That’s all you know,” he taunted. “If you knew what I know, you’d be a lot smarter. And if you’d listen to me more, you’d know more.”
    Reb slumped on his cot in disgust. “We know you can name all the capitals of the states, but that don’t mean much—seeing that there ain’t no states anymore. What is it this time?”
    Jake teased them for a while but finally got serious. “I’ve been waking up at night for the last two nights. And you know that’s not like me—I usually sleep pretty good.”
    The other two grinned at each other, then Reb nodded. “That’s the truth! You sleep like you’re dead. Never knew anything to wake you up.”
    â€œThat’s what bothers me.” Jake scratched his head and went over to the window. He looked out. “Last night and the night before last, in the middle of the night, Ithought I heard something. Well, I tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn’t. So finally I got up and