River Into Darkness by Sean Russell

Author:Sean Russell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DAW
Published: 2018-10-08T16:00:00+00:00

Forty-Four

Anna and Banks bent together over their translation of the wall text, hoping to uncover some hint that might indicate a way out of the crypt into which they’d been sealed. Occasionally they consulted with Erasmus, who seemed to be remembering more of his boyhood lessons by the hour. Only Deacon Rose continued to claim that he could offer nothing, though clearly the Tellerites did not believe him. If the priest could not help, he certainly kept his eye on all progress, and his actions were creating a palpable tension.

The others examined every inch of the chamber that could be reached, searching for a seam in the stone or any other sign of an exit. Hayes and Kehler worked together, starting in the long hallway. The walls seemed flawless to them, the rock carved and finished to a consistent texture, as though it had been meticulously shaped by hand, though from what Anna had said, there was some doubt that craftsmen had worked here at all.

“I am beginning to think this is futile,” Hayes said, lowering himself to the floor to rest for a moment. His stomach growled, for the most recent “meal” had been so absurdly inadequate that Kehler had actually laughed when he first saw it, though the laugh had died rather abruptly and he’d been left with a dark look in his eyes.

Small amounts of food seemed to waken the appetite, and Hayes began to have some pain from his stomach and even a burning in his esophagus. A headache had come to reside in his temples, and he had to be careful to rise slowly or his head would swim.

“Perhaps it is futile,” Kehler said, responding to Hayes, “but have we something better to do?” He pushed his back to the wall, bracing his legs out. “I put my hope more in the efforts of Anna and Banks. Perhaps there will be something written here that will help us.” Kehler looked around the chamber. “I can’t believe that our route in here was the only entrance.”

“Nor can I,” Hayes said, his tone a little defeated. “I think that our passage was left open so that the chamber could be discovered one day. So that the accomplishments of Landor and the others would be remembered. In some ways I think of this shrine as an act of colossal vanity. Can you imagine building a shrine to yourself?”

“Look at all the great houses and palaces in Farrland, Hayes. What are they but monuments to their owners, many of whom accomplished next to nothing?” Kehler fell to thinking. “And,” he pushed himself up, “how many of these homes had passages built in them to allow escape in uncertain times?” He paused. “There must be a way out. I cannot believe otherwise. And we must find it before we’re too weak to make use of it.”

Two hours later they came to the end of the hallway and were in such despair that they could not look at one another. It

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