ALICE LED THEM to an area of soft cottonwood and low willow, like new baby hair on an open space. Alice tapped her foot three times. The ground opened: a small hatch of earth rose, a cottonwood door. “Come down to the secret,” Alice said. “No worries, it is non-atmospheric.”
Vivienne and Andy stepped into the hole and fell down to the bottom, where they were in a long narrow tunnel. Alice fell down beside them, gathering her pinafore skirt.
“We don’t have long,” Alice said. “Welcome to the sanctuary. Try not to breathe too much. Maybe fifteen minutes. They say you can’t come down here. They say it does not exist. This is your lucky day.” The hatch above closed. They were in darkness. “Close your eyes,” Alice said.
“Ma’am, it’s totally dark already,” Andy said.
“No it isn’t,” Vivienne s
