exhalations. She began focusing on the boot heels
of the person in front of her as she pushed through the passageway.
“Don’t be afraid,” Evelyn said, placing a hand on the
girl’s shoulder. I have been with Travis in the wilds and he has been on many
more grueling trips alone I’m sure. He will not lead us astray. We’ll find our
way through this maze and you’ll feel the warmth of the sun on your pretty face
again my dear.”
After a while, everyone fell silent and continued
moving. The only sounds Travis could hear were their boots on the rough rock;
the shuffle-walk of Evelyn; the light steps of Katy and Becka; the clumsy tread
of Jim in the middle; the faint footfalls of Pete and LB.
With only a few rest breaks woven in, they marched
for three hours and then halted. The rock walls of the passageway had begun to
change, showing signs of slight cracks and fissures where there had only been
smooth rock. The tunnel began to widen and there was an inflow of chilled,
musty air coming from the darkness ahead. After twenty feet, the passage opened
into an immense cathedral-like chamber. Travis shined his headlamp but couldn’t
make out the full scope of the ceiling. The rest of the group emerged from the
narrow tunnel and gazed at the lofty walls and openness. About eighty feet from
where they entered, they could see two passages.
“Let’s take a break here everyone,” he said dropping
his pack on the hard ground. Pete came up alongside him. “Did you notice how we
passed through another geologic layer back there,” he said to Travis.
“Yep. We’re in the Kaibab Limestone layer, it seems,”
he said looking at Pete for reassurance.
“Not bad for an old, fossil of a guide, like you,
Trav. This is the layer in the bedrock where springs are typically found though
I’m not sure how many of those are going to be down here. It also means that we
should be close to the surface.”
“Water and sunshine- what more do ya need? The menu
keeps looking better. Besides, I hate caves,” he frowned, lowering his pack and
rifle.
Katy came up and offered a drink of water. “I know
you two are iron-men but the group could use some sleep. We just can’t keep
going in fifth gear like this.”
Travis nodded and took a swig of water. He looked
over at the group. “We’re all strung out and weary, so let’s sack out for a few
hours and get some sleep. We’ll take turns keeping watch. I’ll take the first
shift.” No one disagreed. With the exception of Katy, everyone quickly turned
their packs into makeshift pillows and collapsed on the cavern floor.
Katy knelt down next to Travis, who was sitting
cross-legged, staring off into the dimly lit cavern. As she looked over the
cave ceiling he said, “Prior to running from bloodsucking mutants, something
I’ve been wondering about most of our trip- how is it a jewel of a lady like
your self isn’t tied to a six-figure husband and a mansion in the hills?”
She thrust her chin up. “Is that what you think it
takes to win a woman’s heart? Besides, who says I wasn’t,” she paused, taking a
sip of water. “Men are a fickle breed of creature whose ambitions overrule
their sensibilities. If I ever meet one who thinks logically and listens well
enough, then I’d reconsider.”
“Huh, what was that last thing you said?” he smiled.
She leaned over and punched him lightly in the arm.
“What about you- has the military been your life so
long that you’ve forgotten how the rest of the world works?”
“The military was indeed my only world. Being
deployed three hundred days a year doesn’t exactly nurture a marriage. Some
couples in the special operations community make it work, but they’re the
exception I think. My wife could only take so many, ‘I love yous’ from
abroad and, after the birth of our son, it always seemed like I was an intruder
in our house after I’d return from a mission. My unit was the only stable
family I’ve ever known.”
“Then
of the person in front of her as she pushed through the passageway.
“Don’t be afraid,” Evelyn said, placing a hand on the
girl’s shoulder. I have been with Travis in the wilds and he has been on many
more grueling trips alone I’m sure. He will not lead us astray. We’ll find our
way through this maze and you’ll feel the warmth of the sun on your pretty face
again my dear.”
After a while, everyone fell silent and continued
moving. The only sounds Travis could hear were their boots on the rough rock;
the shuffle-walk of Evelyn; the light steps of Katy and Becka; the clumsy tread
of Jim in the middle; the faint footfalls of Pete and LB.
With only a few rest breaks woven in, they marched
for three hours and then halted. The rock walls of the passageway had begun to
change, showing signs of slight cracks and fissures where there had only been
smooth rock. The tunnel began to widen and there was an inflow of chilled,
musty air coming from the darkness ahead. After twenty feet, the passage opened
into an immense cathedral-like chamber. Travis shined his headlamp but couldn’t
make out the full scope of the ceiling. The rest of the group emerged from the
narrow tunnel and gazed at the lofty walls and openness. About eighty feet from
where they entered, they could see two passages.
“Let’s take a break here everyone,” he said dropping
his pack on the hard ground. Pete came up alongside him. “Did you notice how we
passed through another geologic layer back there,” he said to Travis.
“Yep. We’re in the Kaibab Limestone layer, it seems,”
he said looking at Pete for reassurance.
“Not bad for an old, fossil of a guide, like you,
Trav. This is the layer in the bedrock where springs are typically found though
I’m not sure how many of those are going to be down here. It also means that we
should be close to the surface.”
“Water and sunshine- what more do ya need? The menu
keeps looking better. Besides, I hate caves,” he frowned, lowering his pack and
rifle.
Katy came up and offered a drink of water. “I know
you two are iron-men but the group could use some sleep. We just can’t keep
going in fifth gear like this.”
Travis nodded and took a swig of water. He looked
over at the group. “We’re all strung out and weary, so let’s sack out for a few
hours and get some sleep. We’ll take turns keeping watch. I’ll take the first
shift.” No one disagreed. With the exception of Katy, everyone quickly turned
their packs into makeshift pillows and collapsed on the cavern floor.
Katy knelt down next to Travis, who was sitting
cross-legged, staring off into the dimly lit cavern. As she looked over the
cave ceiling he said, “Prior to running from bloodsucking mutants, something
I’ve been wondering about most of our trip- how is it a jewel of a lady like
your self isn’t tied to a six-figure husband and a mansion in the hills?”
She thrust her chin up. “Is that what you think it
takes to win a woman’s heart? Besides, who says I wasn’t,” she paused, taking a
sip of water. “Men are a fickle breed of creature whose ambitions overrule
their sensibilities. If I ever meet one who thinks logically and listens well
enough, then I’d reconsider.”
“Huh, what was that last thing you said?” he smiled.
She leaned over and punched him lightly in the arm.
“What about you- has the military been your life so
long that you’ve forgotten how the rest of the world works?”
“The military was indeed my only world. Being
deployed three hundred days a year doesn’t exactly nurture a marriage. Some
couples in the special operations community make it work, but they’re the
exception I think. My wife could only take so many, ‘I love yous’ from
abroad and, after the birth of our son, it always seemed like I was an intruder
in our house after I’d return from a mission. My unit was the only stable
family I’ve ever known.”
“Then
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