Weis, Margaret - Dragonlance - Anth 01 by The Dragons of Krynn

Author:The Dragons of Krynn [Krynn, The Dragons of]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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When the drills finally shut down, it was too dark to read the surviving gauges and dials. Three feet of rock dust filled the cabin. Gilbenstock opened the rear door to shovel it out, then realized why it was dark-because the Iron Dragon had broken through the entrance and was approximately one hundred feet underground.

He carefully pulled off his earmuffs and pulled out the wax. Lighting an oil lantern, he found a brush on a wall tool rack and was dusting off the machinery when he remembered Zorlen. He carefully checked on the man, saw that he was still unconscious, then dusted around the overturned crate and quietly left the cabin by way of the ladder.

Faithful Squib was already on the ground, inspecting the machine. In the faint light, his broad smile was as welcome as the sun on a stormy day. The gnome and gully dwarf hugged each other in congratulations, then proceeded to check out the Iron Dragon.

"I trust all is well, " said Skort moments later, as he and Harbis walked across the crushed rock toward the drilling machine.

Gilbenstock jumped; he had almost forgotten his two threatening clients. "Excellent, " he said quickly. "Everything is going smoothly indeed, no permanent damage or problems, at least beyond the usual sort of scarring, denting-"

"Good, " interrupted Skort. "Kindly wait here. " He motioned to stony-faced Harbis, and the two men stepped over the Iron Dragon's huge wheel ruts and walked ahead into the broad tunnel of the mine.

Without lights.

"I suppose I should get the lantern from the cabin for them, " muttered Gilbenstock as he watched them go. "They might put in another diamond or two for... " His voice trailed off. The two men had vanished into the darkness ahead without slowing down.

For a few moments, he merely stared. "How peculiar, " he said faintly, stepping forward and squinting. Only the faint sound of footsteps on rock marked their passing, and even that was fading away against the hiss of steam from the great machine.

In the space of perhaps twenty seconds, the forces of wisdom and daring warred within Gilbenstock's mind. It was curiosity-which has killed more gnomes than cats- that won out.

"Good Squib," he whispered to his friend, who was again picking his nose. "Please wait for me here, by the machine. Don't follow me, only wait. " He hesitated, then added, "If those two men come back without me, you must climb aboard the Iron Dragon, lock yourself into your cabin, and drive back to Palanthas. Stop at the city limits and leave the machine there. Don't stop for anyone else. Um, except anyone in black robes."

Squib's brow furrowed as he tried to remember all of the instructions. With a pat on Squib's back, Gilbenstock undid his steam armor, took off his steel-toed boots and tool belt, and set off into the tunnel ahead in his stocking feet. He gritted his teeth from stepping on rock shards, but once past the Iron Dragon, the packed-earth mine floor was fairly smooth and level.

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