the end pt4

8/8/2019 The End Pt4

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TheEnd

By: D. Booyer

4Part 4: Darkness and Light


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The EndPt. 4:

Darkness and Light

By: D. Booyer

Joshua opened his eyes and stared up at the cavern's

high ceiling. He pointedly did notlook at the small woman

who lay snuggled as close against him as possible. At no more

than five feet tall the diminutive woman's head barely reached

his chest. She was a fiercely self confident woman despite her

size, and surprisingly strong. The celebration from Bill and

Sally's marriage was still in full swing and she had draggedhim to Jim and demanded, demanded, that they be married

right then and there. He had to admit, however, that he liked

being known as Joshua Green, it just sounded right somehow.

Joshua sighed deeply and was shocked to find that she could

wiggle closer to him. Stay! she muttered, giving him a

squeeze that brought an involuntary grunt from the large man.

As Joshua eyed the blankets that he had hung around

their combined pallets he decided the best word to describe his

new wife was 'shocking'. She was shockingly fierce,

shockingly strong, shockingly smart, shockingly beautiful and

possibly most shocking of all, she was married to him.

A high pitched shriek rang through the cavern

accompanied by a distant pattering sound of water and Kelly

sat upright so quickly the blanket was whipped off Joshua's

bare chest exposing him to the cool cavern air. Despite thechill he smiled at the sight of the small woman in her plaid

pajamas. She was breathing hard, as if she had just run a mile

and her beautiful green eyes looked ready to pop out of her

head, What was that? she asked breathlessly.

From the sound of it I would say Bill is taking a

shower, Joshua said laughing quietly to himself.

How can you tell who it is? Kelly asked as she

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adjusted the blankets and lay her head on her husband's chest.

If you listen carefully you can hear Sally laughing in

the background, Joshua replied as he put an arm around his

wife. A second, higher pitched shriek made the pair cringe asthe tone wavered at the lower end of the audible range.

I guess she is not laughing now, Kelly said with a

laugh.

Nope, Joshua said with a laugh of his own, I told

them the water was cold.

That you did, Kelly said, a soft beeping came from

above her pillow. She retrieved her watch and sighed as she

looked at it, Time to go check on my favorite patient, she

smiled and patted his cheek before throwing back the blanket.

He is your only patient, Joshua said as she stood and

started toward her trunk were her clothes where already laid

out and waiting for her. Before she could open it, however,

there was a hollow boom and the cavern was bathed in

darkness.

Joshua heard his wife bump into her large chest with amuted yelp, It seems you have a patient to see to as well my

husband, she said darkly.

Yes dear, he replied rolling over and groping for the

flashlight he kept in the front pocket of his bag. Joshua could

just imagine the disapproving look on the small woman's face.

He had seen that look before, though from a distance. Lord

help him but she was even beautiful when scowling. He felt

his face grow warm at the thought. He tried not to think aboutthe faint rustling noises behind him. As his fingers closed

around the flashlight a dim light filled the enclosure. Joshua

turned to see his wife fully dressed and sitting on her trunk as if

waiting patiently for something.

Hand me your light husband, she said crossing her

ankles.

Um, OK, Why? Joshua asked taking note of the

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amused light in Kelly's eyes.

I will hold it for you as you dress, she said one corner

of her lips raising in a impish grin.

Lord help me, he thought to himself as he pulled offhis pajamas and reached for his pants. He dressed as quickly as

possible feeling his wife's eyes on him as he did. The heat in

his cheeks did not subside until he and Bill were halfway up

the passageway leading to the surface, flashlight in one hand

and tool bag in the other.

Do you think it is him again? Bill asked as they made

their way toward the surface.

I don't know, Joshua answered with a shrug, It could

be, or the old generator could have finally broken down on it's

own. We can't be sure until we see for ourselves.

They found proof at the top of the passageway. The

generator itself lay at the mouth of the passageway. It lay on

its side broken and smoking in the orange light cast from the

fire in the chamber where it had once belonged. Joshua

dropped his tools and motioned for Bill to stay put beforesprinting to the cab of his semi, covering the distance as only

someone with his ground eating stride could. He uncoupled the

wire from the refrigeration unit reattaching it to the ones that

would allow the truck's engine to provide the power necessary

to keep their precious food supply frozen. Joshua climbed

behind the wheel of the truck and backed it as far from the

burning chamber as possible.

So much for the generator, Bill said as Joshua duckedinside the passageway once more choking from the smoke and

gasping for breath.

The engine took the worst of it, Joshua said,

examining the remains of their only source of power. He

tossed the flashlight to Bill and reached for his tools, Hold the

flashlight here, I will try and salvage what I can. I think we got

lucky, the dynamo seems fine and the power regulator and

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transformer look to be intact.

OK, Great! Bill said with an ingratiating smile, So,

what does that mean anyway?

Joshua cocked an eyebrow in his direction.What? Bill said defensively, I'm a cook not a

mechanic. I can cook omelets for thirty on a camp stove, but I

know nothing about this sort of thing.

Well, Joshua said with a grin, generating electricity

is fairly easy. All you have to do is move a coil of wire through

a magnetic field. The magnetic field induces an electric current

in the wire and there you have it. That is what the dynamo

does It has a magnetic field and passes magnetic coils through

it to generate electricity. The power regulator and transformer

makes sure the output is one hundred and ten volts at sixty

hertz. All you have to do is spin the wheel, so to speak.

How are we going to do that? Bill asked, the engine

is toast and the last of our fuel was in that chamber.

Jim still has a full tank. I think I can figure out a way

to attach the dynamo to his engine while I work on a morepermanent solution. I have an idea, I just need the welder and a

few extra hands.

I can call down and have your assistants bring it, Bill

said taking John's portable CB handset from his belt.

No, Joshua said picking up the parts he had salvaged

and tucked them away under the walkway, We can't risk going

in the parking chamber while that fire is still going, the

ominous sound of stressed metal came from the chamber asone of the half full barrels expanded in the heat, whoever set it

packed plenty of wood in there. It looks like enough to burn for

at least another two hours, and we should probably wait for the

smoke to clear.

Halfway down the passageway another, much larger

explosion marked the end of the last fuel barrel as it burst and

it's vaporized contents mixed with the little air left in the

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parking chamber. The shock-wave knocked the two men from

their feet and was followed by the rumble of stone as the

chamber above collapsed.

You alright? Joshua asked Bill as he got to his feet.I'm fine, Bill said accepting an offered hand from his

large friend, What happened?

I think the upper chamber collapsed, Joshua said. His

head was throbbing and he felt a little disoriented. He could

feel a trickle of blood inching its way down his right temple.

The Food! Bill shouted and rushed back up the

passageway.

Bill! No! Joshua yelled as he stumbled after the man,

Wait, it could be dangerous.

He caught up to Bill in the mouth of the passageway.

He stood staring with his mouth agape. The parking chamber

had been transformed by the explosion. Half of the chamber

had collapsed. Bill could see the boiling clouds where the

chamber's roof had been illuminated by the lightnings they

produced as they swirled and danced. Jim's van lay on it's sideagainst a large stone not far from were the bed of John's truck

stuck out of the rubble at an odd angle. What was left of the

bus was completely buried except for the seats which where

still stacked on the other side of the passageway. Luckily the

side of the cavern that Joshua had parked the semi in was

relatively untouched. The truck's cab was half berried in rubble

but it was still running, keeping its precious supply of food

frozen.John's CB crackled to life and sally's voice could barely

be heard demanding, What happened? Are you alright?

We're fine, Bill said, There was a fire. The fuel

barrels exploded and most of the parking chamber collapsed.

The food is fine, and Joshua says he has a plan to get the power

back. But we will need some help. Can you send Mark and

Greg up with the welder?

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No problem, Sally said, Be careful.

Will do, Bill replied with a smile.

The CB crackled to life again and Kelly's voice

crackled angrily, Tell my husband that if he gets himself killedI will resuscitate him just so I can break his neck.

Yes Dr. Green, Bill said incredulously, I'll tell him.

Do me a favor, Joshua said with a wince, If I do get

killed, hide the body.

Heh, Bill laughed nervously.

Jim set to work stripping the rear axle and front drive

axles from the wreck of Jim's van. Mark and Greg arrived with

the welder just in time to help flip the remains of the van

upright once more.

Alright, Joshua said as he brushed his hands on his

pants, You two start down with that axle. Put it near the

passageway to the water supply and get some of those farm

boys to begin carrying those bus seats down. Bring the torch

back with you if you would please.

Yes sir, the two boys said in unison. Each took anend of the axle and were gone.

I wish they would stop calling me that, Joshua sighed

as he pried the hood open.

Calling you what? Bill asked.

Sir. I'm not that old am I? The hood groaned as it was

forced open then gave a loud pop as it finally gave way.

They respect you, Bill said, They look up to you for

guidance. You are a role model.Just hold the flashlight would you? Joshua said with a

smile.

By the time Greg made it back pushing the dolly that

held the oxygen and acetylene tanks the air conditioning unit in

the van had been replaced by the dynamo. It only took a few

tries to get the battered engine running again. It had a

pronounced miss and produced a loud, throbbing whine, but

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run it did. Joshua connected the arc welder and began his work

by the light of the van's one remaining headlight. Bill had

never seen Joshua work before. It was like watching a master

artist at work. Twisted steel and scavenged parts salvaged fromthe wreck of the van and the remains of Johns truck soon

became a mounting bracket of some sort. One of the wheels

from what had once been John's truck was stripped of it's

rubber tire. Onto this was welded paddles cut from the top of

the van. The axle that the wheel had been attached to was

removed and stripped of its brakes before being attached to the

odd mount. With the help of a pair of come-alongs and three of

the five farm boys Mark and Greg had recruited John's truck

was pulled from the rubble and Joshua set to work salvaging

the remaining parts he needed. When he was finished the

dynamo was removed from the van and mounted on the odd

contraption. It took four people to carry the thing down the

long passageway to the chamber they now called home. The

thing was wrestled into place straddling the underground river

and was secured in place with steel spikes driven into holesdrilled into the stone. Some of the wiring from the upper

chamber was used to connect the cavern's lights to the

contraption completing the job.

That should do it, Joshua said knuckling his back,

There are a few things I need to do to improve it but hopefully

this will provide enough power for the lights at least.

A lever made from part of the twisted guardrail lowered

the wheel into the rapidly flowing water. The lights in thecavern began glowing dimly as the wheel was lowered and

began to spin. When it was in place with the steel paddles in

the icy current the lights glowed slightly brighter and far

steadier than they had with the ailing generator. A relieved

murmur came from within the main cavern. Everyone had

gathered in the center of the cavern near the raised stone

platform. They had been relieved when the lights came on, but

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now they seemed to be uneasy about something. Sally and Dr.

Green could be seen moving about the seated group taking a

headcount, and Jim wore a worried expression.

I had better get washed up, Bill said looking at hishands, grubby from his mornings work, It is nearly lunch time

and this lot hasn't eaten yet.

Alright, Joshua said clapping a big hand on Bill's

back making him stumble, I am going to see what has them so

upset.

OK, see you later Mr. Green, Bill said patting the big

man on the shoulder.

Same to you Mr. James , Joshua replied with a deep

chuckle.

Oh, great, Bill laughed, I have two first names.

Could you send Jeremy and Cathy over?

No problem, the big man answered with his amused

grin before walking away.

Bill washed and busied himself with the preparations

for the midday meal. He gave the makeshift counters arigorous scrubbing and laid out the knife set he allowed his

assistants to use next to the cutting board before disappearing

into the cool chamber used as a pantry. When he emerged

again carrying a basket he used to bring ingredients from the

cave Joshua and Dr. Green were helping Sally console a

notably upset Cathy.

Hey, whats wrong Cathy? Bill asked, placing the

basket on the counter. The girl opened her mouth as if to replythen buried her head in Sally's shoulder once more.

Jeremy is missing, Joshua said as sally whispered

comforting words into the crying girls hair, he and Jason

weren't with the group when the lights came back on. Cathy

said Jeremy wasn't in his pallet last night and sally last saw

Jason heading to the toilet before her shower this morning.

Do you think Jason could be our mystery attacker?

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Bill asked running a hand through his hair.

Could be, Joshua frowned, its hard to say. He could

be the attacker or he could just be missing.

Either way, Dr. Green said dryly, they need to befound. I understand you have experience in caving?

Climbing actually, Bill replied just as dryly, You

know, above ground?

I see, Dr. Greens tone made the finely ground dust of

a country road seem like mud by comparison, that still makes

you the most qualified to help search for them.

I didn't say I wouldn't, Bill said defensibly, I just

thought it important to make a distinction. I just don't think it

wise to search alone.

Of course not, the small woman said dismissively, I

just didn't want to send my husband with someone who didn't

know what he was about.

Um... Joshua rumbled, eyes widening in shock, I'm

not really that good in tight places.

You and Bill seem to work well together dear, you willbe fine, Bill was surprised how quickly Joshua's wife could

go from dry and severe to sweet and reassuring. He was even

more surprised how fast she could go back to dry and severe,

Someone has to protect Bill if you do run into our mystery

guest.

OK... Joshua said slowly, You are right though. I

guess that leaves Jim and Sally to watch the lower passageway

while we search?Yes, Sally said. Cathy looked calmer then she had

but her eyes still held unshed tears and a pleading expression

whenever she looked in ether Bill or Joshua's direction, and

Kelly will be watching the upper passageway with Jaime.

Don't worry, we will be fine.

If you say so dear, Bill said with a smile for his wife,

If you could help Cathy with lunch we will get started. Just

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make some sandwiches. You don't need to make anything

fancy, everyone is too hungry to wait long.

No problem, we can handle it. Isn't that right Cathy?

Sally's smile was warm and comforting and seemed to have arevitalizing effect on the sorrowful younger woman.

Yes, Cathy said wiping her eyes, we can handle it,

Just please find my brother for me. He may be annoying but he

is all I have.

Don't worry Cathy, Joshua rumbled, clapping Bill on

the back, Bill and I will find him.

Well, Bill said, I stored the climbing equipment with

the kitchen equipment. Come on Joshua, lets see if we can get

a harness around you.

The two men walked to where the kitchen's equipment

was lined up neatly near the cavern's wall near the cold storage

chamber. Bill managed to get the larger of the four climbing

harnesses around Joshua. It had to be let out as loose as it

could safely go, and still looked uncomfortably tight. He fit a

harness around himself as well and started carefully arranginghis equipment on the belt before helping Joshua organize his.

He went to retrieve his carefully coiled rope and froze. One of

the coils was missing.

What's wrong? Joshua asked noticing Bill's

discomfort.

Some of the rope is missing, Bill said rummaging in

some of the other equipment to see if it had just been

misplaced, it had not.Do we have enough? Joshua asked.

Yes, Bill said simply, handing Joshua one of the

remaining three coils and hanging the other two on his belt.

From another of the boxes he produced two lights with straps

around them. He strapped one to his head so the light was

centered on his forehead and handed the other to Josh before

retrieving two more meant to be worn on the wrist and another

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pair that clipped to their belts. Once the two were fully

equipped with climbing gear and light packs containing meal

bars and emergency supplies Bill clipped the portable CB radio

to one of the chest straps of the climbing harness beforecarefully checking the gear once more for good measure. Both

men were nervous about setting out to search the caves, neither

man had experience in exploring caves.

I guess we are as ready as we ever will be, Joshua

said nervously.

Ah crap, Bill said suddenly.

What? Joshua asked.

Went to all the trouble of putting this harness on and

now I have to pee, Bill said and stomped of in the direction of

the bathroom, jangling the whole way.

His business done, Bill managed to get his harness

refastened with little trouble. He flushed and took one last look

around the chamber that was used as a restroom. The pool of

light cast by the forehead mounted flashlight fell on scrape

marks on the floor near the far wall. Closer examinationshowed that what, in the dim light that normally filled the

chamber, looked like a natural stone formation was a flat stone

leaning against the wall. The flat stone concealed a small

opening just large enough for him to wiggle through. He dared

not do more than look within the small crawlspace without

Joshua there to pull him out Just in case something happened,

but it looked like it let out into another chamber after three feet.

He poked his head back into the main chamber to gestureJoshua over. I need some help, he said as the big man drew

near.

I think my wife has some laxative in her supplies,

Joshua said, let me ask.

No, Bill laughed, Not that. There was a passageway

in here hidden by a stone slab.

OK, Joshua said, But if you say the butler did it I am

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out of here.

I'm serious, it looks like something was dragged

through it. Bill said, reentering the restroom and leading the

larger man to the crawlspace. He uncoiled one of the ropes andattached one end to the clip on his harness before going to his

knees and poking his head into the opening, If I get stuck I

may need you to pull me out.

Will do, Joshua said.

Bill started crawling into the small space and stopped,

seeing something that reflected wetly when his light fell on it.

The sight of it made him sick to his stomach, There's blood in

here, I don't think Jason came this way willingly.

He continued wiggling until he could carefully poke his

head into the chamber. It turned out to be a low passageway

filled with the sound of rushing water and a steady squeak,

squeak squeaking. Darkness swallowed the passageway to the

left but in the distance to the right there was a slim section

bathed in a dim light casting a shadow against the cavern wall.

The shadow appeared to be moving. After a few moments Billrealized the regular movement came from the paddles on

Joshua's generator. He looked at the floor of the passageway

and saw drag marks and a smear of blood leading off into the

darkness, OK, pull me out, Bill said and felt Joshua's

massive hands close around his ankles. He was shocked at the

ease with which Joshua pulled him out. He wasn't yanked, or

jerked. He was just steadily, smoothly, inexorably pulled.

Are you alright? The big man asked as Bill got to hisfeet.

Yea, Why? Bill asked.

There is blood on your shirt...

It's not mine, It was in the crawlspace, Bill said

feeling sick once more. He pointedly didNOTlook down at

his shirt, There is a passageway at the other end of the

crawlspace. It looks like it leads from the lower passageway

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with your generator. I couldn't see were it went in the other

direction but it looks like Jason was dragged that way.

I didn't think the passageway came this direction, but I

guess these tunnels can be tricky, Joshua said, I never spentmuch time underground.

Understandable, Bill said leading the man out of the

chamber and down to the lower passageway were Jim and

Sally were going over Sally's carefully compiled lists.

We thought you had left already, Sally said as they

approached, then she noticed the blood and dirt staining his

clothing, Oh sweaty, are you alright?

It's not mine, Bill sighed, We found a crawlspace in

the bathroom. I'm not sure but I think Jason was dragged

through it.

Wow, were does it lead? Jim asked as Sally poked

and prodded her husband.

We aren't sure, Joshua answered as Bill attempted to

fend her off bringing an amused grin from his wife, it looks

like it starts in this passageway though. I wouldn't be able tosqueeze through the crawlspace so we are going to look for the

entrance.

Good luck, I pray you find them safe, Jim said, Just

be careful, we need both of you back in one piece.

We will, Joshua said as Bill managed to escape from

Sally's playful probings. The two men entered the lower

passageway and began searching for the entrance to the side

passageway. They found the entrance hidden behind astalagmite cluster. It was a thin slit in the cavern wall barely

waist high and two feet wide at its widest point. He had to

push his pack through ahead of him and squeeze his massive

shoulders first and drag his body through behind him. The

passageway gradually widened enough for the two men to

crawl through on hands and knees. After about one hundred

yards they came to the drag marks under where the crawlspace

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intersected the passageway. As they followed the drag marks

the tunnel sloped steadily downwards, and the stone floor gave

way gradually to sandy grit and silt as if the passageway had

been underwater at one point. The tunnel curved aroundsteadily to the left and before long the passageway branched off

to the right. The tunnel that continued left held a strong oder of

human waste.

On closer examination the left hand tunnel quickly

shrank to barely a foot in height and only a few inches in

width. Thankfully the drag marks went to the right. The two

men continued following the drag marks in silence, feeling the

weighty feeling of thousands of tons of earth and stone

between them and the world above. The roof of the tunnel

slowly drew down on them as they went and widened out to the

sides. It felt as if they were being pressed thin and the two men

were forced to crawl on their stomachs, pushing their packs

ahead of them.

They were forced to dig in the sandy dirt to allow

Joshua's bulk to pass. They crawled this way for what seemedlike hours in the cramped bowels of the earth. Bill's muscles

burned and his joints ached. The muggy, humid air made Bill's

clothes stick to his skin and added an air of weighty oppression

to the heavy feel of the stone above. Bill felt like he was

suffocating, the air felt heavy and hot. He could not imagine

what this felt like for the larger man behind him.

The cavern opened into a huge chamber so suddenly

that it left the two men breathless. As the two men lay on theirbacks staring upward they were shocked at what they saw. The

cavern was three hundred yards in diameter and easily twice as

tall as it was wide and brightly lit by lamps set in the walls.

The top of the chamber looked as if a giant spider had been at

work on it, spinning a shining web to cap the chamber. There

was a flash behind the web and the two men realized the web

was a frame supporting a glass dome over the chamber. Even

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more surprising was the large oak tree growing in the center of

the chamber.

Joshua started laughing, Its the visitor center, he said

breathlessly, I remember seeing this chamber when I camehere a few years ago. I didn't know it was a part of the main

cave system. I guess I was wrong.

I guess so, Bill said. The two men were too busy

staring at the glass dome to notice the approach of a massive

dog until it stood over them, sniffing them nervously. It was

easily three feet at the shoulder with a large head, sleek brown

fur and, as Joshua found out with a shock as the dog began

sniffing at him, a cold, wet nose. On the dog's neck was a thick

leather collar. Joshua yelped in surprise as the wet nose

brushed his cheek just moments before a large, wet tongue

licked his ear. The two men got to their feet and backed against

the cavern wall, eying the massive dog warily. The dog just

stood there looking at them, tongue lolling over huge, yellow

teeth.

I have never seen a dog this big, Joshua said in ahoarse whisper, What kind of dog gets this big?

Great Dane I think, Bill whispered nervously, Heh,

nice doggy.

The massive dog gave a loud, deep bark and stared at

them expectantly. The two men could do nothing, fear rooted

them to the spot. The dog simply walked forward and grabbed

the rope the two men had clipped to their belts for safety,

turned and started walking. Bill and Joshua looked at eachother in shock as they were left with but two choices. Either

they could walk, or they could be dragged along behind the

beast. Even Joshua's massive frame could not resist the dog's

brutal strength. The dog walked them toward a small side

passage on the other side of the chamber.

It dropped the rope and entered the chamber ahead of

them, beckoning them onward with a mournful whimper. The

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smell of human waste and unwashed flesh coming from the

mouth of the passageway was nearly overpowering. The two

men entered the passageway and the dog looked up at them

with sad, sorrowful eyes as it rested its head on Jason's lap.The dog gave another sad cry and closed its eyes. Jason lay

flat on the floor breathing raggedly. Not far from where they

stood, Jeremy lay curled in a ball near the wall of the

passageway. He was moaning softly and muttering

incoherently. Both boys were bound at the wrists and ankles

with what looked to be some of the missing climbing rope.

Jeremy's face was pale and his hair was crusted with dried

blood. The young man's eyes shot open as Bill bent to touch

his forehead, and he let out a blood curdling shriek before

collapsing in a heap once more. Bill felt Jeremy's forehead and

drew his hand away as if burned.

He is burning up, Bill said concerned, we have to get

him back, but I don't think he would survive going the way we

came

Well, the visitor center is is only a quarter of a milefrom the mouth of our cavern, Joshua said bending to examine

Jason, We would stand a better chance of making it through

the ash then dragging these two through that tight passageway.

Neither of them would survive that, The large man took the

first aid kit from his pack and tossed some powdered aspirin to

Bill, Mix this with some water and try to get him to swallow

it. It should help with the fever.

OK, Bill said, I'm going to let the others know wefound them, he mixed the aspirin with water in the cap of his

water bottle and slowly trickled it into Jeremy's mouth before

depressing the button on the CB and saying into the handset,

Jaime, you there?

Bill was answered by silence, he repeated the call with

the same response, I guess there is too much rock between

us.

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I guess so, Joshua replied as he carefully wrapped

Jason's head, I guess we have get them out and try again when

we are within range.

It looks like Jeremy will have to be carried out, Billsaid wetting a rag and wiping the crusted blood from his

forehead, how is Jason?

He has a nasty bump on his head, Joshua said as he

tried to make Jason as comfortable as possible. Jason's

breathing still came in ragged gasps, I think he has a few

broken ribs. We will have to be careful when we move them,

Joshua carefully cut the cords binding the young man's wrists

and unbuttoned his shirt. Jason's chest was a mass of deep,

purple bruises. As Joshua had guessed several of his ribs were

cracked and at least two were broken. Joshua pulled the elastic

bandages from his kit and dug into Bill's pack adding them to

his own. He turned back to Bill, who was untying Jeremy and

trying to make him comfortable, Could you give me a hand

please, I need you to hold him while I bind his chest.

Alright, Bill said.The two men carefully lifted Jason into a sitting

position, bringing another pained groan from the stricken

youth. Bill held him steady as possible as Joshua wrapped his

chest tightly. When they gently eased him back on the hard

ground his breath still came in labored gasps, but they were far

less ragged than before.

Stay with them, Joshua said getting to his feet, I'll be

right back. I'm going to try to find something to carry themon.

Sure, Bill said with a worried expression. He turned

back to Jeremy who still babbled incoherently.

Joshua walked out of the passageway and to the

stairway that led into the only other passageway out of the

main chamber that didn't require crawling on his stomach.

About ten yards in the passageway split, the left hand passage

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was barred with an iron gate and strong looking padlock, so he

went to the right. The right hand passageway took a sharp

turn, then the boarded walkway ended abruptly. Stone and

rubble blocked the passageway where the tunnel had collapsed.The broken wood had not had time to turn brown, marking the

collapse as a recent event. Joshua had the feeling that it had

been caused by the morning's explosion. Joshua stomped back

the way he came. When he came once more to the fork in the

tunnel his frustration got the better of him.

Screw this, he rumbled and gave the lock a massive

kick that sent dust flying from the iron gate and shaking it in its

fastenings. Joshua watched amazed as the whole thing slowly,

almost comically fell backwards to clatter loudly against the

stone floor. The large man shrugged his massive shoulders and

stepped inside. The left passageway turned out to be a side

chamber used to store left over building materials, some

gardening supples for tending the plants in the chamber, and

some safety equipment. A couple eight foot lengths of steel

pipe apparently left over from the walkways some utility ropeand a silver emergency blanket was all Joshua needed to make

a stretcher strong enough to carry the two sick youths. He

laced the rope between the two poles, securing them in place

with simple knots then wrapped it in the blanket. He grabbed

two more blankets and carried the whole thing to where Bill

waited with Jeremy and Jason. The massive dog began

wagging his tail, producing a loud thump thumping noise as it

slapped against the passage's floor and echoed down it's darkdepths. Joshua laid the stretcher between Jason and Jeremy

and, with the help of Bill, carefully rolled Jason onto his right

side, tucking rolled edge of one of the emergency blankets

under him. He then rolled him on his other side unrolling the

blanket under him. He wrapped the edge of the blanket over

the young man and tucked it under his right side before tucking

the remaining edge under his left. When he was done the

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young man looked like a burrito wrapped in aluminum foil

with his head poking out the top. The two men carefully

transferred the young man to the stretcher and repeated the

process for a still babbling Jeremy.She said she needed to talk to me, Jeremy muttered

suddenly as he was transferred to the stretcher, Said it was

important, we needed to talk somewhere private, the young

man groaned, She was a messenger, she said, had a message

for me, she said... the young man trailed off into incoherent

babble once more.

What was that about? Bill asked.

I have no idea, Joshua said as he knuckled his back,

he really was not built for all this stooping and bending, It

could be a dream I guess. Or... Joshua ran a hand over his bald

head in thought for a moment, or our mystery attacker is a

she. Someone who is surprisingly strong for her size.

OK, Bill said, No offense or anything but as scary as

your wife is it couldn't be her. Her whereabouts are accounted

for during both attacks.None taken, Joshua said, But I didn't mean her, if

Kelly can be stronger then she looks then any of the others can

be too.

True, Bill acquiesced, But it won't do anyone any

good if we stay here all day.

Well, Joshua said, rubbing his head once more, The

other passage is collapsed, we can't get out that way. I guess

we have no choice but to see where this way leads.OK, Bill said standing, I will take the front. That

way we can both see where we are going.

Good idea, Joshua said scratching the dog behind a

large ear. As he did he got a better look at its leather collar,

Well this explains a lot. It says his name is Rembrandt, and

owned by a Jason Phillips. No wonder he is acting this way.

Joshua uttered a silent prayer for their safe return as

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they made their way down the passageway, followed closely by

Rembrandt. The passageway wound its way through the

recesses of the earth and eventually began sloping upward.

The two men had no way of knowing where it would lead, butboth men prayed it would let out somewhere near the entrance

to their home. They trudged on for what seemed like hours,

their way winding ever closer to the surface. Their legs were

burning, and their backs ached by the time they came to a fork

in the tunnel. They carefully sat the makeshift stretcher on the

ground and took a much needed rest. They shared what little

remained of the water with their passengers, trickling small

amounts into their mouths. Joshua's stomach chose to remind

them that they had not eaten yet this day. Bill dug in his pack

for the meal bars, passing one to Joshua and offering one to

Rembrandt, who gulped it down hungrily before laying next to

his injured master. Bill tried his luck again with the radio, and

was answered once again with silence.

So much for that, Bill said after a few tries.

Well, the things weren't meant to work underground,Joshua said, All this stone blocks the signal.

So why did we bring it, Bill asked with a yawn.

Because our wives told us to, Joshua said answering

Bills yawn with one of his own.

So which way do we take? Bill asked.

The right passageway, Joshua said with a smile.

Yes, Bill said with laugh, But which one is the right

passageway?Joshua barked a laugh, The one that is not wrong of

course. But seriously the one to the right.

How do you know? Bill asked.

Because from it a foul wind doth blow my friend,

Joshua smiled waving a hand in front of his nose.

No crap? Bill asked sniffing the air. There was,

indeed, a faint smell of human waste in the breeze from the

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right hand passageway.

That is were you are wrong, Bill, Joshua said happily,

From the smell of things that way leads to were our toilet

empties out. There may be a way into one of the surroundingtunnels from there.

Good lord I hope so, Bill said with a frown, lets just

hope no one decides to flush when we are under the thing.

That wouldbe a mess, Joshua said as he took up his

end of the stretcher, But look on the bright side, we could get

a signal from in there.

Very true, Bill said as they started down the tunnel.

The stench grew as they made their way along the

tunnel but they only stopped once when they had to replace the

batteries on their forehead mounted lights. The passageway

ended in a small chamber about fifty yards across who's roof

vaulted high overhead and a narrow ledge skirted a deep, dark,

and above all stinking pit. As they approached the ledge a

gurgling noise could be heard followed by the sound of water

falling and a sickening plop.Oh man, Bill said wrinkling his nose in disgust, I

think we found the privy.

Yea, I think we should try the radio now, Joshua said

and the two men backed into the passageway before laying the

stretcher down.

Anyone there? Bill asked into the handset.

The radio crackled to life and Sally's voice came sweet

and clear, Thank God you are alright, we have been trying tocall you all day. You are alright aren't you? Did you find

Jeremy and Jason?

Yes we are fine, Bill said, Jason and Jeremy are not

in good shape though. Could you make sure no one flushes the

toilet please?

OK, Sally crackled, Why?

We're right under it, Bill said.

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Eew, Sally said, No problem.

After a few moments Sally's muffled voice could be

heard from far above saying, Whatever you do, don't flush!

OK, came the startled reply.Bill and Joshua carefully carried the two young men

along the ledge and into another passageway, followed

reluctantly by Rembrandt who sneezed at the stench. About

half an hour after they left the chamber where the toilet

dropped it's foul contents, Bill spotted something shiny on the

floor ahead.

What is it? Joshua asked as they drew near.

Its a wrench, Bill said setting down the stretcher and

picking the tool up and handing it to Joshua.

I have been looking for this, Joshua said after

examining it. one of my assistants must have dropped this

while we were working, but how did it get down here?

Bill, who had been examining the floor and wall,

looked further along the passageway and said, It looks like he

was taking a leak. The wall did have the dust washed awayand scuff marks lead away down the tunnel.

Has to be Greg, Joshua said with a laugh, he scuffs

his heals when he walks.

The tunnel intersected another not far from where they

found the wrench. They both were relieved to hear the familiar

sound of rushing water and the steady squeak, squeak of the

wheel as it turned.

I really need to do something about that squeak,Joshua said as the two men headed towards home followed by

their new four-legged friend.

To Be Continued...

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Stories in this series:

Pt. 1: Storm-frontPt. 2: Madness

Pt. 3: Marked

Pt. 4: Darkness and Light

Pt. 5: Guidance

Pt. 6: Salvation

Pt. 7: Redemption

Pt. 8: Preparations

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the end pt4

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