The young Kenyan put a finger to his lips. Two figures emerged behind him. Tall men, in khaki uniforms. Wheeler now saw that a rifle was pressed into Kwame's back. He glanced quickly at the African's index finger – the Earth ring was still proudly in place.

Kwame was marched over to the pipe that Wheeler was tied to, and bound with the same tough cord.

"Hello, my friend," he said ruefully. "I did not expect to be reunited with you like this."

"Yeah, well, we'll never have a better time to catch up on all the news," said Wheeler with a wink. The guards departed. "Who were those goons?"

"Members of Mugabe's ZANU PF party," said Kwame, shaking his head. "They brought me straight down here. It is worse than we feared. It appears the government is actually financing this little … project of Plunder's."

"You're kidding! So if we do manage to find out what's happening, and go to the authorities …"

"It won't do us any good. We've got to be careful with this one, Wheeler. The political situation here is so tense that the slightest thing could spark a civil war."

"So … does Mugabe have an opposite number? Is there someone else we could approach?"

"The MDC – Movement for Democratic Change. A lot of the prominent members have gone underground."

"So maybe we need to contact them."

"It's possible. Tell me – what happened to you? What are you doing here?"

Wheeler quickly summarized the events of the last couple of days (carefully edited, of course).

"And you lost your ring?" said Kwame. "That's not good news."

"None of this is," said Wheeler gloomily. "Except – well, at least I can explain those mysterious underwater tyre tracks. From what I've seen here, Plunder has tunneled under all the major waterholes."

"Any sign of those missing children?"

"None." Wheeler shifted position slightly, trying to get comfortable. "Hey, Kwame – I'm really sorry. I didn't do such a great job of leading this mission."

"What are you talking about, Wheeler? You did a fine job. And it's not over yet."

"Yeah, well, I'm still glad you're here," said Wheeler. He cleared his throat. "So … I figure those soldiers will be far enough away by now for you to use your ring, Earth-boy."

"I can't." Kwame shook his head. "I tried when they brought me down here. Something about these underground tunnels stops it from working."

"So that's why I can't contact Ma-Ti!" Wheeler kicked at the pipe in frustration. "Dammit! So we just sit here?"

"No, my friend," said Kwame, smiling. The rope binding his wrists unraveled. Wheeler saw the glint of a knife in his palm, and laughed.

"Nice work."

Kwame got to work on Wheeler's bonds. "It's Africa. You've got to be prepared. The soldiers were so sure that my ring would be no threat, they didn't look for any more … shall we say, conventional weapons."

Wheeler rubbed his wrists. The skin was broken and sore. "Ouch. Those really aren't the kind of handcuffs I'm into."

"I don't want to know," Kwame laughed. "Shall we get out of here?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

XXXXXXX

Linka bent down beside the footprints and touched them lightly. "Do not worry, Wheeler. I will find you," she murmured. His ring was on the chain she wore around her neck, its warmth gently heating the hollow of her collarbone.

She stepped over to the waterhole and extended her right hand.

"Wind!"

The water spiralled into a whirlpool. The centre was completely dry, revealing the earth below. And …

"What is that?" Linka wondered. She could clearly see a metal surface, half-covered in mud. The wind subsided, and the water flowed back. Taking a deep breath, Linka dived in.

The water was murky and filled with particles. She swam her way downwards to the metal object. Beside it was a lever. Linka returned to the surface briefly to gasp some more air, then dived back down.

"I shouldn't pull the lever before I have a good idea of what it does," she thought. "But who knows how much time I have? Wheeler would pull on it straight away." The American had somewhat of a history when it came to pressing buttons at random. Making up her mind, Linka put all her weight on the lever and tugged. She felt water rushing past her – the metal surface was lifting, sucking water beneath it like a giant plug-hole. It was all she could do to cling on and hold her breath.

In seconds the waterhole was drained, and Linka was crouching in a muddy puddle. The metal trapdoor stood open – big enough to accommodate a large truck. A sloping tunnel dropped away into blackness. Linka stood staring for a few minutes, but was spurred into action when the trapdoor started to close and water began gushing into the waterhole once more.

"Here goes nothing!" she whispered, and sprinted into the tunnel.

XXXXXXX

Wheeler and Kwame ran down the dark tunnels.

"Don't suppose you remember which way you were brought down?" Wheeler panted.

"I … I think so," Kwame replied. "But Wheeler – don't you think it is strange that no one was guarding us? Those soldiers just left."

"Yeah, I think it's strange – but I'm not complaining."

"What I'm saying is, we might be heading into an even worse trap."

"Oh great. Real positive attitude there, Kwame."

Wheeler stopped and looked around. The tunnels were filled with water to ankle-length, and lit only by lamps set into the walls at long intervals.

"I'm feeling pretty disoriented, I have to say."

"I'm just taking all the upward-sloping tunnels," Kwame shrugged. "They must get us out of here eventually."

"That's the spirit," said Wheeler. "Senseless optimism. That's what being a Planeteer is all about. So where to next?"

"Up there, I think." Kwame pointed to a turning ahead. A thin light streamed from it.

The two men made their way towards it.

"I'm looking forward to getting some dry clothes on," Wheeler shivered. "Hey, what's that noise?"

"Footsteps," said Kwame grimly. "Coming from this passage."

"No problem." Wheeler positioned himself at the entrance, flattening his body against the wall. "I'll take them out."

"I've got your back."

Now the noise was clearer, though the echoes still made it difficult to tell how many running feet there were, or how quickly they were approaching. Wheeler and Kwame exchanged glances. Kwame nodded a signal, and Wheeler stepped out.

"Hold it right there, you … Hey!"

"Let me go!" his struggling captive cried, then … "Wheeler!"

Wheeler fell backwards into the water as Linka's full weight was thrown onto him. Spluttering, he sat up.

"Hey! I know you!"

"Wheeler!" Linka threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "I was so worried about you!"

Her cheek was cold against his. Wheeler ventured a kiss on it. "Well, as you can see, babe, I'm one hundred percent fine."

Kwame looked on, smiling. "I don't want to interrupt, but we need to get going. Linka, can you lead us out?"

"Kwame!" Linka seemed to notice him for the first time. Detaching from Wheeler, she gave him a hug. "I didn't expect to find you, too."

The three Planeteers sprinted up the tunnel towards the waterhole. Linka hadn't let go of Wheeler's hand.

"It is up here." She pointed to the lever. "There it is!"

"Right." Wheeler reached up past her. "Excuse me, princess. Let's get out of here!"

The trapdoor started to open. Water started to pour in through the gap.

"Ah. Didn't really think this one through," Wheeler realized. "Any ideas, Linka?"

"The water is getting stronger," said Kwame. "We will be washed back down the passage!"

"Use your ring, Kwame!" said Linka.

"Of course!" said Kwame. "It should work now we're out in the open air. Earth!"

The piece of ground they were standing on rose up through the trapdoor. Soon they were standing on an island in the middle of the rapidly shrinking waterhole.

"Jump off, quick, before it sinks again!" Kwame cried.

The three Planeteers jumped down and ran through the shallow water to the shore.

"Nice ring work there, Kwame," Wheeler commented.

"That reminds me!" said Linka. "Here."

She reached inside her shirt collar and drew out her chain. She gently detached Wheeler's ring, and held it out to him.

"My ring! Thanks, babe," said Wheeler, slipping it onto his finger. "I hoped those jerks hadn't taken it off me."

"No problem." Linka suddenly leaned forward and gave Wheeler a kiss on the cheek. "I am just glad you are okay."

"More than okay, babe." The American's gaze was very warm. "Now, where are the others?"

"Right here," said a voice from behind him. Wheeler spun round. Gi, Ma-Ti and Tendai were parked a few metres from the waterhole.

"Planeteers reunited!" said Kwame as the newcomers jumped down to hug him. "And I think we all have news to share."

"Let's head back to camp," Gi agreed. "We need to hear everyone's stories before we make our next move."

"Yeah, and I need dry clothes," said Wheeler.

XXXXXXX

(I know this has been an action-packed chapter rather than a romantic one, but don't worry – lots of our favourite couple in the next installment! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed – it's really encouraging, and I appreciate it. Keep 'em coming!)