Escape From The Center of The Earth by Greig Beck

Author:Greig Beck
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Severed Press
Published: 2021-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Mariana Trench Mission, US Team – second twelve-hour block

The land became more rugged and for the last few miles, they trudged along an ever-narrowing, but long-dried water course, before their path then took them into a large cave.

So far, in the gloom of the cavern, all they came across were weird three-foot-wide growths that could have been either plant or animal attached to the rock walls and floor that waved feelers in the air as they attempted to net small flying creatures. The odd things seemed benign, and they were relieved to not be bothered by any larger denizens of the inner world.

The huge cave became damper and from up ahead, the background noise they had been hearing rose to become an all-encompassing roar. Loche got a heads-up from the drone pilot that had sped ahead.

“Waterfall,” Loche said. “Massive.”

“Can we get through?” Nina asked.

“We’ll soon know,” he replied.

In fifteen more minutes, the group came to a swirling pond and had to narrow their eyes from the spray that filled the cavern. The wall of thunderous water falling in front of them made what lay beyond invisible.

Jane wiped water from her face. “It’s too heavy to pass through.” She pointed. “Maybe beside it.”

Loche nodded as he saw that on one side of the falling sheet of water was a small gap between the rock face and the deluge. They could skirt the pool of water and avoid the falls.

“Okay, everyone, eyes out. We’re going to try and edge past the waterfall. Watch that pond there. Not sure if something lives in there, but I’d prefer we didn’t disturb it, or it, us.”

The rocks were slippery, and small crustaceans leaped from their path into the inky water as the group passed by. In minutes more, they edged out onto a rocky platform that was a series of massive slabs of stone as the water continued to tumble down the slope.

Loche walked to the edge of the slab of stone and placed his hands on his hips as the others joined him.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said softly.

Spread out below them was a deep valley with huge pine-like trees rising hundreds of feet into the air. Curls of primordial-looking mist swirled through the trunks and between the clumps of trees were large swathes of flat green. It was only about a third of a mile wide and traveled for a few miles before bending to the north, so its end was out of sight.

“River valley,” Nina said. “There’ll be food and game.”

Loche turned to Jane. “Is it safe?”

Jane hiked her shoulders. “We never came this way.” She turned to him. “But remember, nowhere is really safe down here.”

Mike slowly ran his eyes along the deep valley. “If there’s water, prey animals will come to drink. And while they’re drinking…”

“The predators come out to play,” Janus finished.

Mike nodded. “We were further north where it was a little flatter. We could go around, but most places will carry the same risk now.”

Loche squinted into the distance.

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