“The pirates have a castle?” I couldn’t believe it.

Hunter blinked at me. “You’re new to the Underground, aren’t you?”

“To be honest, I don’t know anything about any Underground. I discovered this tunnel at Bag Man’s hole and followed to see where it led.”

“So the entry is there?”

“Under a trapdoor.”

“And you covered your tracks so no one else will find it?”

I paused, remembering the bloodstains on the floor. If I found the passageway, anyone could. “Bag Man—”

“He’s dead, isn’t he?” interrupted Hunter. “I’m afraid that may be my doing. The pirates have been torturing me for information and I… I talked.” The man’s face hung with pained remorse.

“They murdered him and destroyed the hole,” I told him.

“But they didn’t find the tunnel?”

“I don’t think so. It hadn’t been touched.”

“Yet.”

“I’ve got to go back!”

“There’s no time. The pirates are infiltrating the Underground and we’re going to need your help. We can only hope those cripples won’t be back to the hole with their lucies anytime soon.”