Pitfall (5) (The Underground Kingdom)

by Steve Elliott

  “He knew that earthquake was coming,” Nix pronounced in awe. “That's amazing!”

  “Animals are more tuned in to their environment than we are,” I said. “They can feel things that we can't. Unfortunately, we've lost that ability.”

  “Who needs it, when we have Zenith?” Trix declared, looking up proudly. “He always looks after us.”

  “He's just a dog, Trix,” Janoma declared, contemptuously. “You're making him sound like some sort of a superhero.”

  “He saved your life, Janoma,” Trix snapped, angrily. “And don't talk about Zenith like that. Without him we would have been buried alive in that canyon.”

  “Maybe,” Janoma sullenly replied, “and maybe not. Don’t make him out to be something he isn’t. All he was doing was trying to save his own skin. He ran away after all.”

  “He showed us the way out,” I retorted. “The least you could do is show a little gratitude, Janoma.”

  “I still don't believe he saved us,” Janoma stubbornly maintained. “You're all making a big thing out of nothing.”

  “You're impossible to talk to when you get like this,” Trix announced, turning away. “Anyway, we're near the first reference point on the map. It's just around the base of that hill,” she announced, pointing just ahead.

  “Well, why didn't you say so?” Janoma enquired, eagerly beginning to walk in the designated direction. “Let's go.”

  “What a jerk!” Nix muttered.

  “Agreed,” Thorn said, “but I think he’s a grade below even that. He makes jerks look good.”

  Chapter 16

  With Janoma racing ahead in anticipation, we arrived at the long-deserted elf town, only to find complete and utter ruin, with not a single discernible feature apparent.

  “What's all this then?” Janoma demanded of Trix, when we finally caught up with him. “There's nothing here at all! Where's all the treasure? The artefacts? The relics?”

  “It's a disappointment right enough,” Trix replied, looking around forlornly, “but it's not totally unexpected after all this time. Nothing lasts forever.”

  “Well, that's no help!” Janoma exploded. “You promised me riches!”

  “I did no such thing!” Trix growled. Then she stopped, and looked at Janoma intently. “Is that all you’re here for, Janoma?” she asked, softly. “Has Stephen been right all along and you've just been using me? Tell me I'm wrong.”

  “Of course you’re wrong,” Janoma soothed, immediately discarding his angry demeanor. “You know I care only for you, sweetheart. I was just upset for you, that's all.”

  “What a load of baloney!” I whispered to Thorn.

  “Baloney?” she enquired, twitching an eyebrow.

  “Tell you later,” I told her. “Surely Trix will wise up to him now.” But apparently not, because she smiled at him in reconciliation and took his hand.

  “I don't believe this!” Nix groaned as he watched the charade. “What's wrong with that girl? Even Zenith’s fleas can see what's going on.”

  “She must be in love,” Thorn muttered.

  “And that reinforces what I said earlier,” Nix announced blithely. “Being in love makes you stupid.”

  “I'm in love,” Thorn said quietly and deliberately. “Are you saying that I’m stupid?”

  Nix looked at Thorn’s determined features and justifiably decided discretion to be the better part of valor. “Not as such,” he hedged. “Other people perhaps, but no, certainly not you. No one could ever say that.”

  “Uncommonly tactful of you,” I commented to Nix. “It shows promise. Keep this up and you might even survive a few more months.”

  We trudged on to the next reference point of Trix’s map but met with a similar lack of success. The next two towns proved as disappointing as the previous two had been and Janoma became increasingly gloomy. His mood began affecting us all and a sullen disquiet fell over our group. The only one apparently not affected was Zenith who appeared to be enjoying the whole outing. He still refused to come near Janoma and spent his time inquisitively exploring the surrounds.

  Our next stop proved to be somewhat more fruitful. At least the ruins of some buildings were still visible and we wandered among them, poking under the rubble here and there to see if anything of value had been left. We found a few trinkets and some coins but nothing much else, but it was slightly encouraging for all that. Janoma cheered up a little and we decided to break for lunch. While we prepared the food, Janoma sat fondling the trinkets in a rather disturbingly intense way.

  “That boy is seriously beginning to creep me out,” Nix whispered to me. “He seems obsessed with those couple of things we found. It's not normal behaviour, if you ask me.”

  “It's like gold fever,” I noted.

  “Gold fever?” Thorn asked, curiously.

  “It's a well-known phenomenon in the human world,” I lectured. “A miner can search for gold off and on for ages and not find any, but one day he might come across a small patch of it and from then on he can't think of anything else. He’ll spend every waking minute digging. Gold fever, see?”

  “So, it's like some sort of illness, then?” Thorn commented thoughtfully.

  “Pretty much,” I agreed. “It takes over your life and can be very contagious, so be careful.”

  “I've got all the gold I need right here,” Thorn declared, putting her arm through mine and snuggling up to me. “I don't need any more.”

  “Do you mind?” Nix proclaimed, pretending to be revolted. “I've just eaten!”

  In answer, Thorn poked out her tongue at him. “You're such a misery guts,” she complained.

  “Where on earth did you get that disgusting expression from?” Nix asked, astonished.

  “From Stephen,” she shrugged. “Where else?”

  “It figures,” Nix said in a severe tone of voice. “You humans have a lot to answer for.”

  “I know,” I agreed.

  Chapter 17

  After lunch, we set out for the next town. It, too, contained nothing but a wasteland and we would have bypassed it entirely except for Zenith. He began chasing a squirrel, or rat, or something small and furry, anyway. I couldn't exactly tell the species of Zenith’s quarry because it moved so fast. Well, you would wouldn't you, with a wolf snapping at your hindquarters? As it so happened, the mystery animal dived into a small hole under a fallen piece of masonry. Zenith began scrabbling like a mad thing at the hole, endeavoring to chase the escapee even further. Trix tried to call him off, but he took no notice. In fact, he redoubled his efforts and began barking into the bargain.

  “Zenith!” Trix shouted. “Come away!” she added, but she might as well have been talking to a brick wall.

  “What's up with Wonder Wolf this time?” Nix asked with a frown. “Surely he can't be hungry.”

  “Maybe he’s found something?” Thorn proposed. “He doesn't normally carry on like this.”

  “I think you may be right,” I agreed, watching Zenith's frantic activity. “When he chases something he usually gives up in the first couple of seconds if it gets away. This is a whole new level of tunnelling.”

  We went over and grouped around our quadruped companion. Dirt flew up everywhere under his paws as he continued to dig like a miniature bulldozer.

  “Give me a hand with this block,” I ordered. “Let's see what it’s hiding.” Under Zenith's approving eye, everybody grabbed a piece of masonry and hauled upright. What came to light, after we’d cleared away a few more rocks, was a series of steps leading downwards.

  “Would you look at that?” Nix whistled. “Wonder Wolf does it again! Who would have thought? I wonder what’s down there?”

  “Only one way to find out,” I announced. “Is everybody game?”

  “I am!” Janoma eagerly declared, pushing his way to the front and preparing to go down the stairs.

  “Not so fast, cowboy,” I told him, grabbing his arm. “In these sorts of situations, Zenith always goes first because he can dete
ct traps. We don't want anyone getting killed over this.”

  “If you say so,” Janoma complied reluctantly, grudgingly giving way to Zenith. “I suppose it makes sense. If anybody is going to trigger a trap, it might as well be the dog.”

  Even for an insensitive jackass like Janoma, his remark would have to be rated as an extraordinarily stupid thing to say in front of Trix. I could see her bristling with anger at his remark. Nix inhaled sharply and took a hurried step away from the doomed Janoma.

  “What did you just say?” Trix asked in a deadly undertone.

  Suddenly realising the verbal gaffe he had just made, Janoma desperately tried to reclaim lost ground. “I didn't mean that how it sounded,” he gabbled, trying to sound sincere. “I'm just as concerned with Zenith's welfare as you are. Although, well, he's just a dog, isn’t he, when it's all said and done.”

  Way to dig yourself in deeper, Janoma, I thought, as I reflexively closed my eyes against the oncoming storm.

  “Just a dog!” Trix gasped, her fury depriving her of breath. “Just a dog!” she repeated incredulously, clenching her fists and her whole demeanor radiating unadulterated insult. “Do you know what you're saying, Janoma? Zenith is not just a dog! If you had even the slightest speck of understanding in your body, you'd know that. I'm beginning to wonder if you understand me at all! We've been together for ……. how long now? Two months, isn't it? And you still think that I look upon Zenith as a mere pet? What's the matter with you? Don't you pay any attention my feelings at all? Gods, I don't believe this! Don't talk to me! I can't even stand to look at you right now.”

  She turned away from Janoma and began to cuddle Zenith. “Don't listen to that nincompoop, my darling,” she urged Zenith. “Just a dog, indeed! What does he know? Idiot!”

  Nix clapped a hand on Janoma’s shoulder. “Tough luck, buddy,” he proclaimed insincerely. “Females, eh? So touchy. You have to be on your guard all the time against making brainless remarks like that one. Well, like all the ones you been making recently, really.”

  To prevent further conflict, I urged Trix to send Zenith ahead as scout. With a last withering look at Janoma, Trix pushed Zenith forward. He wagged his tail, licked Trix’s hand and trotted down the steps, with the rest of us carefully following. A disgruntled Janoma trailed behind us, shaking his head with bemusement.

  “What a dope!” Nix hissed at us. “He's still doesn't understand what he's done wrong. How dumb can he be? I can't believe that Trix fell for him.”

  “We all make mistakes,” Thorn informed him. “For instance, we’re friends with you.”

  “Oho, so witty!” Nix praised. “Not bad for someone who can't take her mind out of the bedroom for more than five minutes and whose reading ability is still confined to the ‘Jane sees Spot. See Spot run’ book.”

  “You cheeky toad!” Thorn huffed. “Remind me to reduce you to a pool of bloody mucus when this is all over.”

  “Hah!” Nix snorted. “Yes, I'm absolutely terrified. Please spare me! I'll do anything you want!”

  “That's better,” Thorn pompously announced, waving a majestic hand. “It's about time you lower classes knew your place. Carry on.”

  “Quiet, you two ratbags!” I told them. “We're coming to the end of the steps. Be prepared for anything.”

  Chapter 18

  We had indeed reached the end of our descent. In front of us stood a door, worn with age, but still visibly adorned with ornate carvings.

  “Nice,” Nix exclaimed, carefully examining the carvings. He glanced at Trix. “Your ancestors were quite skilled.”

  “Yes, they were, weren't they?” she replied, a trifle smugly.

  “Open the door!” Janoma insisted eagerly, jumping up and down. “Open the door!”

  “Calm down, Mister Impatience,” I grunted. “We'll get around to it. Trix, can you interpret what it's saying?”

  “I think so,” she replied, brushing collected dirt away from the carvings. “Let's see now ……… hmm, it's a warning.”

  “A warning of what?” Thorn asked.

  “It says ‘Beware. That which was hidden will come into the light’,” Trix translated slowly.

  “What does it mean?” Nix commented, scratching his chin.

  “Typical cogdommina gibberish!” Janoma sourly announced.

  “Give that boy a prize,” Nix congratulated. “You're on a roll, Janoma. First the Zenith debacle and now this! It has to be some sort of a record. I'll notify your next of kin.”

  “Gibberish?” Trix questioned, sweetly. “The writing of my ancestors is gibberish? I see. Thank you for that candid observation.”

  “But ….. I didn't mean …….” Janoma began, only to be cut off by Trix.

  “Shut up, Janoma,” she announced, coldly. “I don't want to listen to anything you have to say.”

  Janoma opened his mouth to protest, but Thorn stopped him with a heavy hand on his shoulder. “You'd best leave well enough alone,” she advised. “You're not going to win this one.” He nodded reluctantly, accepting her statement as fact.

  “Any other warnings?” I asked Trix.

  “Not as such,” she replied. “Just that one. I don't understand it, however. What’s hidden that has to be brought to the light?”

  “Money!” Janoma blurted out, unable to help himself.

  “Perhaps,” I reflected. “But the ancient elves were a technological race rather than a materialistic one, so it could be machinery of some sort.”

  “Are we going to debate this forever,” Nix declared, “or are we going to open the door?”

  “Good point,” I concurred. “Okay, the door it is.”

  With a fair degree of effort on our part, the door swung open to reveal a large room, quite dark and musty smelling. Vague shapes were visible, but were so shrouded in shadow that their function was impossible to determine.

  “I can't see anything,” grumbled Nix.

  “The temple that contained the Book of Records had a light source,” I maintained, “so hopefully, this one has one as well. The logical place for a switch would be near the door. Everybody search for it.”

  And we found one, more by luck than design. I don't know what sort of power the ancient elves used, but it must have been effective for it to be still functioning after a millennium of disuse. The room flooded with light, making us all blink in reaction. The scene that unfolded showed a sizeable room, full of incomprehensible machinery and unknown devices. We wandered around, peering at everything, but not having the faintest idea of what we were observing.

  “Blast!” Nix remarked finally. “It'll take forever to work out what these things do. Where did they store the instruction manuals?”

  “It's a puzzle all right,” I conceded. “But that warning still worries me. What's the hidden thing?”

  “A treasure room?” Janoma hopefully supplied.

  “You have a one track mind,” Thorn commented. “Don't you think of anything else?”

  “I admit that the thought of money occupies a great deal of my time,” he confessed, “but I do think of other things, you know. For instance, I really, really like Trix. I think she's wonderful! I want to spend more time with her. She's everything I ever wanted, but if I had to choose between her and treasure, I'd leave her in an instant.”

  It was a bizarre statement to make, almost as if Janoma had exposed his very soul. And I believed him. He did care for Trix in his own way and that in itself was astonishing. Up until now I’d believed he cared only for himself. I stopped short and examined my thoughts in amazement. I felt strange, almost as if I was somebody else. My emotions were struggling to free themselves; to broadcast to the world how I really felt. Trix interrupted my train of thought by proclaiming, “Janoma, I don't love you. I convinced myself that I did, but all I actually wanted was companionship. You're selfish and self-centred, and I could never love somebody like that. I'm not even sure that I want you as a friend.” Having said this, she slapped a hand over her mouth in consternati
on.

  “Okay, what's going on?” Nix demanded. “Why is everybody being so honest all of a sudden?”

  “The warning!” Thorn gasped. “The hidden things! It’s how we truly feel!”

  “I think you're right,” Nix agreed. “And while we're on the subject, Arugohumna, can I say that you're the best friend I’ve ever had? I’d do anything for you. And, to round things off, I think you're extremely attractive into the bargain. If you were a borgulessa, I’d be chasing you around the room right now.” As with Trix, Nix also tried to stem his flow of words with his hand.

  I could see Thorn struggling against the compulsion to talk but in the end, like the others, she also succumbed.

  “You're a true friend, Nix,” she confided. “I say nasty things to you to hide my feelings. I really care for you and I actually enjoy our confrontations. You make my life interesting. I wish I had a brother just like you.” Then she turned to me. “Stephen, I love you more than life itself. I've never been in love before but it's everything I always imagined it would be.” And then, before she could stop herself, I imagine, she added disparagingly, “I'm bossy, overbearing and intolerant. I don't know why you put up with me.” She joined Trix and Nix in endeavouring to dam her words with her fist. Not that it did any good because they all rejoined the conversation, speaking through their fingers.

  “I'm a terrible boyfriend,” wailed Janoma. “I’ve never cared for anyone but myself.”

  “I became jealous of the happiness you share with Traculimna and Arugohumna,” Trix told me. “I just wanted some of your joy and that's why I went with Janoma.”

  “Traculimna makes me so angry sometimes,” Thorn admitted. “I've always been envious of her looks and all her boyfriends. And she's never lifted a finger to deserve any of it! It's not fair!”