By the time they returned to the well, the two scar-faced man's subordinates had finally sent back a positive signal.
To conserve energy, Albert had given each of them a length of unbreakable spider silk before they left, telling them to hold on to it as a way to measure the distance from the well to the outside. The scar-faced man had instructed them that if they confirmed there was an exit, they were to tug the silk three times and not bother coming back. That way, the people waiting would know immediately and could set out without delay.
Now it seemed the bottom of this "well" truly did connect to the outside world.
They reorganized their belongings beside the fallen banyan. Albert packed the beehive into one of the sacks strapped to Hayes's back and sealed both large bags tightly to keep water from seeping in. After a moment's thought, he crafted an additional floating silk sphere to carry the little spiders.
He had nearly forgotten—they couldn't swim.
