by Don P. Bick
Chapter 6
Bran was just finishing the torches. They put off starting into the cave for as long as they were able. Now it was time to see what the darkness beyond the opening held in store for them.
The cave entrance was high and wide, but after a few yards narrowed to a wide corridor, approximately ten feet high. Their camp fire was extinguished after they each lit one of the torches Bran had made. He made more than a dozen. They shoved the extras through the straps on their backpacks. They also decided to take all of their gear with them, having no idea how long they would be inside the mountain.
"Well, are we ready?" asked Twil as he started to take the lead. Bran stepped in front of him and started into the wide opening. Camran followed Bran while Twil brought up the rear.
Their nerves on edge, they said very little as they made their way down the passageway. Even though it was unnecessary they also kept the noise as low as possible. Each was left to his own imagination as to what might be awaiting them around the next bend.
The corridor into the mountain was an easy walk for the three, especially after the hike up to the cave through the steep terrain. The underground tunnel sloped gently downward toward the heart of the mountain. For an indeterminate period of time they followed the passage down into the darkness, following the directions on the map. Mainly they were to stay to the left at each junction they came to, until they came to a cavern filled with white rock. There, they were to take a right fork, which angled slightly upward before starting back down.
The cave wasn't as cold as they were expecting it to be. It started out cool but the longer they walked the warmer it became, until there was sweat dripping from their foreheads. They came to the cavern of white rock and decided to stop for a rest and something to eat. Prior to setting out that morning none of the three felt able to swallow even one mouthful of food. Their uneasiness over what may lie ahead quelled any desire to eat, so they didn't even try. After walking for as long as they already had without incident their confidence was building and they were beginning to feel somewhat more relaxed. They had regained their appetite by the time they stopped to rest.
There was a small creek flowing through this cavern of white rock. Camran washed his face in the cool water, while Bran put together something to eat. Twil, meanwhile, investigated the cavern and tunnels coming into the room. Assured there was no apparent danger; they sat for a while and ate the fruit and bread Bran had prepared.
After resting, they continued up the tunnel indicated on the map. In a short while the tunnel turned down, Camran felt relieved to know they were on the right path. It wouldn't do to get lost down here. There were hundreds of side tunnels and caverns that all looked the same. It was hard to believe the Ruler of the Waters had come here exploring all by himself. It was a wonder he had found the Oracle at all. And even more amazing to think he had made it back out without getting lost.
Camran stopped to light a new torch, the third one since starting out, when Bran called to them from a few yards down the tunnel. The tunnel had narrowed considerably and the ceiling was now only about seven feet high, causing Bran to walk stooped over to avoid that occasional lower piece of rock protruding down from the tunnel ceiling. They made their way to where Bran waited and saw what he was calling to them about. Unlit torches lined one side of the tunnel wall. Further ahead they could see a large smooth stone slab.
The darkness gave way to light as Bran lit the torches along the wall. What looked like a smooth slab turned out to be a stone door. Bran pulled and tugged at the stone, unsuccessfully trying to get it to open. Camran and Twil had shed their packs and were standing by watching. If Bran couldn't open it they surely couldn't. There wasn't enough space for more than one person at a time to get in close and pull on the stone doorway. After a while Bran gave up and sat down panting, trying to catch his breath. The air was heavy and warm. Sweat poured off Bran as he sat back against the wall.
Out of curiosity Camran walked over to look at how the door was constructed and fastened. It was ancient, that much he was certain. He could not tell how the door latched from the side they were on. He gave the door a half hearted tug, more out of frustration than anything else. And the door swung noiselessly open.
"Guess when you want something done you need to have a man do it," said Twil, obviously ready to run if Bran got up. Bran just sat there looking up at Camran with a look of awe on his face.
It was pitch black beyond the open doorway. Camran held up the torch and moved a step into the darkness. His eyes widened in amazement as soon as the torch light passed through the opening. The cavern of his dreams was there before him. He wasn't sure whether to turn and run or continue on. As he took a step into the cavern his fear quickly evaporated. Strange, he thought, it feels good in here, not evil. Then he remembered the warm comforting presence in the room during one of his dreams. That was before the evil laughter had started.
Bran and Twil crowded in close behind him. The torch light played upon the cavern walls. They were unable to see the entire cavern from where they stood it was so large. They slowly walked toward the dark end, the light dancing on the gray and white rock. The shadows were eerie. Since there was no visible shining sun in this land, there were no shadows during the daylight, something Camran was just realizing.
As they moved farther into the room the far wall became faintly illuminated. Once they had moved closer to the dark end of the cavern they were finally able to see it, the smooth stone containing the chiseled words of the Oracle. They stood gazing in wonder at the writing in the rock. Over in the corner was a small pool, filled by water seeping in through the cavern walls.
The three of them lit all the torches, so the room glowed brightly around them. Camran recalled how brilliant it had been in his dreams as well. Returning to the Oracle the three sat and began to read. After reading through it a couple of times he got up to fetch his paper and pen. He decided to write it all into his little book. Bran and Twil sat raptly studying the text.
Bran waited for Camran to finish copying before speaking. "I think we should put out some of the torches before they all burn out."
"That's a good idea," voiced Camran, as they went around putting half of them out.
They didn't know how long they had been there, but knew they would be unable to reach the outside before nightfall. Besides, it was an uphill journey to get out and they were all exhausted.
Camran went back to studying the Oracle while the other two went about setting up camp. They had nothing to start a fire, so they had to settle for a cold dinner.
After eating they sat back and discussed the Oracle and its meaning. One thing was certain; there were a lot of cryptic parts to it. The torches began to dim as the hour got late. One by one they began burning themselves out. No one said it out loud but they all felt the same; they didn't want to go to sleep down there in the cavern so close to the chiseled Oracle, especially not with the knowledge of Camran's dreams on all of their minds. But they were drowsy and their eyelids heavy.
The last of the torches had long since gone out, but the trio still remained seated in the dark cavern. At first they thought it was an illusion, a trick being played on them by their tired eyes. A soft white fire began to glow on top of the still pool of water: growing in intensity the room took on a soft comforting light and warmth. The radiance of the fire warmed their souls. They felt a presence in the room, a comforting and good presence. A light harmony flowed through their bodies, barely noticeable, yet it felt like the flow of a small electric current. It traveled through the blood stream, reaching every cell with its calming sensuous effect. They stared at the fire in trancelike rapture.
All of a sudden the fire came alive. A glorious bridge of seven colors floated before their eyes. People were waving and laughing as they crossed its span.
Abruptly the scene changed. Death and destruction was everywhere. Evil dominated the land and there were diseases and wild animals preying upon the people. An unnamed horror pe
rvaded the world. But these pictures were unable to reach their emotions during their trancelike state. Later, they would have a big impact on the three men.
The scene switched back to the wondrous bridge. At the end of this bridge were pictures and scenes indescribable. Rapturous beauty beyond words could only begin to describe the paradise among paradises depicted in the pictures. The three lost themselves in the glory of those scenes for the remaining hours of the night. Long after the fire pictures faded away they still stared, remembering the living beauty of the bridge. At the same time, they were unable to rid themselves of the vision of terror and death which they had also witnessed. While the tranquil beauty of the bridge made their spirits soar, the scenes of death and destruction pulled their souls downward toward darkness. The experience left them emotionally drained.