"Valerie. If there is any pinching or other true pain, drop the ball," she heard. Feeling no pain or pinching, she held onto the ball. She heard the sound of footsteps moving both away and nearer. She assumed that her Master had left and the watchers had arrived. She took slow breaths, trying to stay calm and push the claustrophobia back. She moved her left hand a bit, finding a place she could rest the ball to keep it from falling accidentally, but allowing her to move it quickly to the hole in the event of trouble. .....