The Land of the Silver Apples by me

Author:me [me]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-10-27T20:10:23+00:00

81

“But they left their lice behind,” she grumbled, brushing her hair.

Brutus suggested camping in the tunnel. The hall was too dirty, and not even he relished the idea of

sleeping in an ominous space with openings snaking off in all directions. A fresh breeze met them as

they entered. “This is nice!” said Jack. “Why don’t we keep going?”

“The lassie needs rest,” Brutus pointed out, “but I can go ahead and see how far the opening is.”

“I’m not tired,” protested Pega.

“You’re practically falling over.” Jack pulled her down to sit beside him. Brutus strode on with

sword drawn, and they listened to his footsteps die away. The tunnel suddenly seemed much

emptier.

“There’s no branches on the ground here,” said Pega, stifling a yawn.

Jack held his torch high. She was right. “If the entrance is near, we won’t need more wood to

build a fire.”

“That’s not what I meant. No litter means no elves. We’re on the wrong path. Ohhhhh,” Pega

yawned again, and stretched.

“Maybe not,” said Jack, who hated to give up the idea of going outside. What difference did it

make anyhow? Once they found water, they could return.

Pega stood up, tottering on rubbery legs. “I’ve got to keep moving. If I lie down, I’ll never get

up again.” She staggered against a pillar of dragon poop. “I say! There’s a tunnel back here.”

Jack was up at once. On the other side of the pillar was a dark opening. He held out the torch. It

didn’t flicker. “The air isn’t moving. I think this is a cave.”

“It wouldn’t be a bad place to camp.”

“If it’s empty.”

“We ought to look,” argued Pega. “I’d sleep a lot better if I didn’t have to worry about things

creeping up on me. The ground is even soft… and sticky. I can’t lift my feet!”

“Get out!” yelled Jack. Suddenly, he remembered what the Bard and Brother Aiden had said:

Never go into a tunnel with no air movement. It will either be a dead end or a knucker hole.

“I can’t! I can’t! It won’t let go!”

Jack put down the torch and grabbed her around the middle. He pulled as hard as he could, but

he couldn’t budge her. He heard a stealthy movement at the back of the cave, a sucking sound, as of

something dragging itself out of deep mud.

“Keep pulling!” screamed Pega.

“Now my feet are stuck!” he cried.

Jack fumbled for the torch. He waved the flame back and forth at the cave. Something hissed

and retreated. He couldn’t see it clearly, but a lump of darkness at the far end seemed to flow down

the wall.

“Brutus! Help! Come back!” Pega shrieked.

“It doesn’t like fire,” panted Jack, trying to stay upright as Pega clung to him. He looked around

frantically for more wood and saw his ash wood staff. He dropped the torch. The staff was just out

of reach.

“Don’t leave me!” Pega screamed, hanging on to him. He had to tear her hands loose. He fell

forward and landed with one hand on the ground and the other grasping the staff. He twisted around

and pointed it at the cave.

By the dying light he saw a dark streak snaking across the floor.

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