The passage began to slope gradually downward, and it grew darker. In these lower reaches there were fewer apertures up above. Perhaps, outside, the sun was already setting.

We reached the water. It stretched ahead into darkness. On the left side of the tunnel was a ledge perhaps two steps wide, at the height of a tall man’s head.

“Which is it?” Cathal asked, looking at Gull. “If you’re right about it being shallow all the way, wading will be easier and probably safer. But we don’t want to be caught down here if the tide comes in.”

“If we’re going up on that ledge, we’ll be leaving the stretcher behind,” said one of the bearers. They had laid the sick man down at the water’s edge, and were flexing their arms and rubbing their shoulders. “Thorgrim here will have to go on someone’s back.”

“How long have we got?” Sigurd asked. “Are you sure about the tide, Gull?”

“I’m sure. Provided we go straight through, we’ll be well out the far end and up on the rocks before it reaches knee deep, even on Sibeal.” Gull gave me a searching look, as if remembering belatedly that I was not one of Johnny’s warriors. “All right?”

“I’m fine.” If there was an edge in my voice, it was due less to the anticipation of a wet, dark wade to a tenuous kind of safety, as to some other unease whose cause I could not quite identify. It made sense, all of it—the rescued men were weak and tired, the tunnel was the quickest way back, Gull knew the tides . . . So why did this feel so horribly wrong? “I just . . . no, it’s all right, it’s nothing.” I could not expect these men to wait while I spent precious time going over my vague doubts and half-formed anxieties. “What is it to be, the ledge or the water?”

“The water,” Cathal said. “Move steadily ahead, and don’t rush it. I don’t want anyone injured. We can get through.” He glanced at the others. “Sigurd and Oschu, you go first.” Both were tall men. “Stretcher-bearers next, and remember that you’ll be carrying Thorgrim all the way through before you can put him down. Keep him out of the water; a cold bath is the last thing he needs. Felix, you look after Sibeal. Sibeal, stay close to him. Gull, you go behind them. The rest of you with Donn and Colm, and I’ll come last. Ready?”