The hounds suddenly grew edgy, intently sniffing the air. Tay noticed that the hair on their backs had bristled. She then felt the loco's voice trying to penetrate her mind with his words.

"Loco is trying to communicate with me."

"Can you tell where he is?" asked Atticus.

"He's not making much sense..." Fiel growled. The train pulled in to the cavernous tunnel, slowed, then stopped.

"You two get on board. I'm going to look around."

Tay gave Atticus a worried look, then reached in her small pouch and handed him a small vial. "This will disable him quickly." Nasrin, Tay, and the dogs boarded, glancing uneasily over their shoulders. Atticus sunk into the shadows at the edge of the end of the platform and watched, silently, carefully.