The floor of the manhole was grimy with dust and greasy. The moment Mila straightened up to move, she slipped, legs flicking out from under her.

Her stocking clad foot connected with leather.

'MILA!' Addy shrieked, hanging onto the edges of the manhole opening to peer in. 'You knocked the ball!'

Mila sat up in time to see the brown leather ball rolling rapidly off, down into the darkness of the narrow space.

'No, no, no!' Hands and feet slipping over the ...