Zale reached toward the pale grains, then caught himself. 🔎
THE BOOK OF TAD
PAGE 22
ONE THREAD OUT OF FOUR 🫧
Four thin threads of water wove between the brown pebbles.
“Which reaches the crack?” TurboTAD asked.
Glint lowered himself beside the root, his lantern dark. “Wait.”
A pale grain loosened. Three threads passed it. The fourth carried it beneath the root and dropped it behind the next pebble.
“That one.”
Zale watched the fine root hairs lean with the water. “It comes through the narrow gap on our left.”
“Comes through,” TurboTAD repeated. “So we go against it.”
“Upstream.” Zale checked again. “Yes.”
Glint glanced across. “You checked.”
“I can be taught.” Zale smiled.
TurboTAD left the remaining grains where they lay. “Glint, keep track of it. Zale, find us room.”
They left the crack. Zale guided them across the pebble bed while Glint found the thread again whenever the water divided. TurboTAD followed close behind.
The roots tightened around them, then opened onto a narrow run. Ahead, rounded pebbles rose in a packed ridge.
Glint stopped at its base. The thread emerged from beneath the stones.
“The clay came from the other side, then,” Zale said, settling beside him.
“Likely.”
TurboTAD studied the gap. He could not see through it, but the ridge curved away to either side.
“We find a way around,” he said.