Kendra and Seth run

Kendra held Seth's hand as they raced along the hall. At their current size, the corridor felt as wide as a ballroom.


Seth's speed began to flag as they reached the end of the hall where they needed to turn left. "This glove gets heavier and heavier," Seth panted.


"Let me take it for a while," Kendra offered. He handed it over with no protest. The glove was not terribly heavy, but it was hard to hold, like trying to carry a couple of unrolled sleeping bags. Burdened by the glove, she hurried as best she could.


"I wish I had infrared vision like you," Seth said.


"Infrared?"


"Or ultraviolet. Whatever. Is normal light too bright for you now?"

"It's the same as ever. Can we talk later? I'm running out of wind."


They trotted along in silence. The hall seemed endless.


Kendra's heart was hammering, and sweat was drenching her silky clothes, making them feel slimy. The bulky glove flopped around as she ran.


"I have to walk for a minute," Kendra gasped finally.


They slowed their jog to a walk.


"I can take the glove back," Seth said. Kendra handed it over.


"I still need to walk, just a little," Kendra said. Hey, I see our last turn up ahead."


"Still a pretty good ways to the door, and then the stairs after that," Seth reminded her.


"I know, I'll be good in a second, sorry to slow us down."


"Are you kidding? I'm tired too, and you carried that glove a long way." They walked in silence until they reached the hall where they needed to turn right.


"Should we run again?" Kendra asked.


"We'd better," Seth said.


Kendra was reminded of running laps around the field with her soccer team. She was naturally a pretty good runner, but those first few practices had really tested her. She had almost thrown up a couple of times during the first week. She could run through the stitches in her side and the burning muscles, but once she became nauseated, her willpower to run faded fast. She had been at that point when she asked Seth to stop, and she could feel the unwelcome sensation returning. She tried to ignore the dank smell of the dungeon. The humid stench alone was enough to make her queasy. She reminded herself that Seth was carrying the glove and doing just fine. The taste of bile rose in her throat. She fought to choke back the sensation until she involuntarily flopped forward, hands slapping the stone floor, and dry heaved.


"That's sick, Kendra," Seth said.


"Keep going," she gasped. Nothing had come up, but she had a foul taste in her mouth. She wiped her lips on her sleeve.


"I think we should stay together," he said.


"You'll get big first," she said. "I'll catch up."


"Kendra, I can't see. I can't run without you with me."


"Maybe if you let loose and yack you'll feel better."


Kendra shook her head and stood up. "I hate puking. I'm already feeling better."


"We can walk for a minute," he said.


"Just for a minute," she replied.


Before long Kendra was feeling much steadier. She picked up the pace, not charging as hard as before, trying to conserve energy. "I see the door up ahead," she finally said.

Chapter 17