Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent by Alan Early

Keegan.’
    â€˜Eh, no! If you go, I’m going. End of. Just because I’m a girl you think I should stay up here?’
    â€˜No, that’s not it at all, it’s just –’
    â€˜Come on down, Ash!’ Will called up.
    â€˜Okay,’ Arthur said, ‘let’s go.’
    However, as they started the climb downwards into the dark, he suddenly got the distinct feeling that this wasn’t such a good idea after all, but it was too late to turn back. If he did he would never hear the end of it from Will, and what would Ash think of him?

    â€˜Hey,’ exclaimed Deirdre as she caught up with Ruairí, ‘enjoying the tour?’
    â€˜Yeah, it’s all right,’ he said, kicking a stray lump of rock down the tunnel towards the rest of the group. ‘We could be spending our time better though. I keep thinking of all the plans I have to file today.’
    â€˜I guess.’ Her mouth suddenly felt very dry as she looked at him. She loved his cute, fat little cheeks hidden behind that manly yet uneven facial hair. She took a deep breath, ‘I just wanted to ask if you’d like to come with me for coffee some time maybe into town and then maybe a movie or whatever you’d like even a walk along the beach no pressure just if you wanted to it might be fun what do you say?’ She said it all in one quick breath and was now panting.
    Ruairí took a considered moment to answer. ‘Eh,’ he said, ‘well, it’s not really a good time, is it? I mean, we’re so busy with work at the minute.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ she agreed, dejected, ‘yeah, actually, you’re right. Work. Important. Never mind.’
    â€˜All the plans I have to file today. And this tour going on. We’re so busy these days. Another time.’
    â€˜Sure. Another time.’ Deirdre plunged her hands into her pockets, hoping her disappointment didn’t show on her face. By now she’d totally forgotten about the three stragglers.

    Arthur could feel rust on the cold iron of the ladder. There was also a very unpleasant smell of sewage which grew stronger as he descended. His eyes slowly adjusted to the gloom but he still couldn’t see further than a couple of feet in front of his face. Ash stepped off the ladder and straight into a puddle.
    â€˜Ew!’ she said, as she jumped out of it and onto a dry patch next to Will. Arthur climbed gingerly from the ladder and stood beside them. He looked back up and could see the small spot of light from the tunnel above. From here it looked like they’d climbed about forty feet down. Ash took out her mobile phone and put on the flashlight function. The two boys followed her lead and lit up theirs.
    The electronic blue lights allowed them to see more. They were in a smaller, arched tunnel. The ceiling was low enough for Arthur to reach up and touch. Old, stained bricks formed the walls on either side and slimy, stringy gunk hung off them. The river itself was, as Joe had said, little more than a stream now. The water was only a couple of inches deep and a couple of feet wide. They were standing on a brick ledge barely above water level.
    â€˜The Poddle is just a puddle,’ joked Will. Ash and Arthur looked back at him speechless. ‘What? It’s funny. Let’s go explore.’
    â€˜No,’ said Arthur, ‘we’re going back.’
    â€˜Are you afraid, Artie?’ Will turned and walked off, following the flow of the river. Arthur clenched his fists and walked behind him, along with Ash.
    The deeper they went, the more worried Arthur felt. In some parts the water over the years had worn the ledge to a smooth, slippery curve. In other parts even smaller streams gurgled from under the ledge, joining the river. The stench grew worse over these inlets – a mixture of over-boiled cabbage, raw sewage and rotten eggs. What worried Arthur most, though, was that they hadn’t passed another