***
His energy and passion restored, Albert dug all night, achieving almost five feet of depth. Odette’s body lowered as the level of sand in the chimney lowered. He wiped sweat from his brow and often, blood from his hands as he talked to himself, talked to the hole, talked to the dead slave woman.
“Gonna need a ladder soon. Who knows how deep down you are? It could be miles. It could take weeks. Months. Years. That is of no matter, as it must be done. I will find you.”