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The idea of crawling back and forth, in and out through that hole in the tree was not at all pleasant, but Tamara knew there was nothing to be done about it. William was right. They had to get the babies home. Now there was no hesitation in her. The decision made, her priority was getting it over and done with as quickly as possible. She went to the opening that would take them outside again and pushed her upper body inside, cradling both babies against her, elbows propped upon the spongy moss. Carefully she inched through that opening. Behind her she heard a low, snuffling sob from one of the other babies as William began to follow.
Again the passage through the tree seemed warm and damp and again it seemed ready to close in around her, to suffocate her. But Tamara had those children in her care and she did not allow fear to slow her down. She kept her eyes forward and she could see the phosphorescent glow given off by Bodicea's presence. A moment later she had reached the outer bark, the gnarled lip that ran around that hole in the tree. She would have to take the utmost care, but she knew she could lower the babies to the forest floor first, then slip out herself.
Tamara pushed herself to the edge of that hole, dragging her body along. Then she could see beyond the tree, into the woods around it. Bodicea waited for her, still little more than an echo of her usual presence.
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