I could keep on running. I could fool the dogs staying in the stream but that would mean going into the tunnel. How old is it? Where does it come out? Would I even be able to come out the other side? I haven’t been here before, I don’t know the area, and I want to get out of this water. It’s getting colder and I’m soaking wet.

I hear them coming, those howling, high pitched whines when they’ve found my scent. They’re closer. Should I keep going and brave the tunnel? It may have no other opening, it may be the entrance to a huge deep hole. Would I be able to breathe in there, are there snakes?

If I go into the tunnel and they follow. . .if there’s no other opening, I’ll be trapped! Their barks are louder, pretty soon they’ll see me and then I’m caught…