Ark- a Dane Maddock Adventure by David Wood

Author:David Wood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, adventure, mystery, action, pulp, bible, archaeology, noahs ark, womens adventure
Publisher: Gryphonwood Press

Chapter 25

The tiny town of Halac lay deep in the shadow of Mount Ararat. Faruk steered the jeep along the narrow dirt street that ran between the mud and stone huts. Few passers-by looked up as they passed. Tourists were, according to Faruk, not uncommon here. People came to see Ararat or Durupinar, but the ice cave drew its share of interest.

"What do you think he was looking for in the ice cave?" Bones asked, keeping his voice low.

"Difficult to say," Maddock said.

"The cave is part of a massive system of lava tubes," Dima said. "Maybe he was looking for a passageway leading to…I don't know, maybe up to the anomaly?"

"It's possible," Maddock agreed. "Or maybe something connected to the monastery, since that's what he was interested in, according to Bentley."

They spent the remainder of the short ride exchanging ideas. They quickly ran out of realistic scenarios and soon delved into the absurd, each idea more ridiculous than the one before, until they had one another in stitches. By the time Faruk stopped the jeep, the three were in high spirits.

Maddock stepped out into the hot afternoon sun and looked around. "I don't see a cave."

"It's down in the hole." Faruk pointed to a spot in the distance. "We will have to walk the rest of the way."

"You can wait for us," Maddock said. "No need to exert yourself unnecessarily on our account," he added, seeing the hurt on their driver’s face. "We've already taken you out of your way with this side-trip."

"It is no trouble. I would also like to visit the cave," Faruk said. "It would get me out of the heat."

Maddock couldn't think of a believable reason the man should remain behind, so he acquiesced and they followed the guide to a deep hole at the foot of the mountain.

"You can't see the cave from here," Faruk said. "It's at the bottom. We must be careful on the way down. The way is, how do you say it, steep?"

Maddock and Bones exchanged amused smiles.

"We've made our way down a steep hill or two in our time," Bones said.

"Very good." Faruk bobbed his head, smiled, and beckoned for them to follow him into the hole.

They worked their way down the steep slope until they reached the bottom. Here, the ground was flat but cluttered with undergrowth, boulders, and sharp, broken rocks. On the far side of the pit a dark shadow beckoned.

"That is the way in," Faruk said. He led the way toward the entrance, which was partially obscured by fallen stones from the ceiling of the cave entrance.

The moment Maddock set a foot inside the cave, the cool air raised goose bumps on his flesh. The difference in temperature from outside was remarkable.

The fifty foot descent to the main chamber, over slick, mud-covered rocks, proved to be much more challenging than their climb down into the pit, and by the time they reached the bottom they found themselves in deep darkness, with only faint light from the entrance to show the way.

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