The cavern, if it was a cavern, it could have been an aneurism in great Earth's body, it could have been a bleb in a dying witch's tormented brain, and more, it could have been anything anyone could think of. Like a theme park or an arcade or a mall. For me it could have been Armageddon or a visit to the carnival on the beach. I was going to do what I had come to do and nothing was going to stop me.

I had to keep my eye on Adonie. She was starting off. She was, I knew, in her swift, quiet, smooth way, as adamant as I about this. We were committed.

 

This affected me strangely. I'd have thought it would not have fit into my mind at a time like this, the fact, the feeling, that we were committed to this endeavor in as close a sympathy and synchronization as human minds and bodies could get. And, too, a significant part of this was that I believed in her skills; she would partner, not slow, me. And I trusted her. In this I trusted her.

We had come for Olive.