by Greig Beck
Khaled moved his light closer and Matt cautiously leaned across. Joshua squeezed the tendril.
“It’s got a sort of exoskeleton, like an insect, but leathery. More like, a spider I guess.”
“Shit, that thing is a spider?” Matt got to his feet with Rachel grabbing him under the arm.
“This is getting a habit.” She held him up.
He grinned brokenly. “This is why I love fieldwork.”
“Maybe this thing once was a spider. But you live in a lightless cave, you adapt to hunting any way you can.” Joshua reached down to pick up a length of tendril that was a good three feet long and as thick as a garden hose – it was spiked with hair. “And I can tell you one thing, for this creature to have adapted like this, it’s been here a long, long time.”
Khaled grimaced. “That thing was big. To sustain that bulk, it must get a lot of food.”
Matt pointed at the ground. “All the skeletons on the ground – I should have known. This is its killing field. Fed on bats and anything else that wandered along this cave corridor.”
“Yeah, mostly.” Joshua picked up a larger shard of bone. It was the remains of a jaw of some sort of simian. “If it only fed on bats, it would have steered clear of something the size of you. I think it’s also proficient at trapping bigger game than that.” He looked up at the ceiling. Blood still dropped from the edges.
“We should move away from here,” Joshua said, looking jumpy again, his eyes showing all their whites.
“Gets my vote,” Matt said cradling his hand.
“Hey, look here.” Khaled bent over to pick an object up from the cave floor. “Gold.” He rubbed at it, and then flicked it open. “Ha! An old cigarette lighter.” He spun the striking wheel but got no response.
“Looks like we aren’t the first people through here.” Khaled looked around. “And either this means they made it past the spider-trap.” He turned to the group. “Or he was just about to walk into it.”
Khaled squinted at the lighter. “There’s something written on it – C.V.H.”
“Let me see that.” Eleanor held out a hand, and Khaled handed it to her. “Well, give me some light here, young man,” she demanded.
Khaled held his flashlight over her shoulder onto the object. The old woman’s lips curled up at the corners. “C.V.H. – Clarence van Helling.” She pressed it to her lips momentarily and ground her eyes shut. “He was here.”
“And we know he made it out… eventually,” Khaled said. He turned his light down the dark cave tunnel. “So, this might be the right way after all.”
“Then let’s keep going,” Rachel said. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s just get away from here.” Matt straightened but knocked his hand, and yelped. He chanced a look at it. The fingers were bent at odd angles, were now multi-hued and looked as horrifyingly painful as they felt. Luckily the skin wasn’t broken and no compound fractures had burst through the skin.
“Wait.” Khaled held out his hand taking Matt’s in his own. “If we don’t get those bones into alignment, they may cut off the flow of blood. You’ll get gangrene. We need to straighten them.” He looked into Matt’s eyes. “Do you know what that means?”
“Something extremely painful, I’m sure.” Matt tried to pull his hand back but Khaled held on. He felt perspiration break out on his top lip. He looked down at his damaged hand, and at the fingers that bent every which way. He knew Khaled was right.
“Close your eyes,” Khaled said softly.
“Ah, Jesus.” Matt did as he was told and felt the Saudi take one of his broken fingers in his hand.
“Think of something nice,” he said. “On the count of three.”
Matt took himself to a beach, to blue shimmering waves, endless sunshine, and…
Khaled began. “One…”
There was a sudden yank accompanied by a crunching noise that was immediately drowned out by a scream – his own.
“What happened to two, three, go?” Sweat had broken out all over his face, and he looked down at the finger. It was now straight, but purple-black and obscenely fat around the knuckle.
“Well, there’s two to go,” Rachel said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Matt sucked in a huge breath and looked away. “Go for it.”
Two more yanks, and two more fingers, still broken, but at least all poking in the right direction now. Rachel wrapped the hand in her handkerchief, and helped him put it into his open shirtfront to act as a sling.
“We can try to splint it, when we’re away from here,” Khaled said.
“Thanks.” Matt was content to just let it throb away close to his chest. He was also glad the fingers weren’t ripped free, or worse; his head pulled up into the thing’s lair inside the crack.
“Let’s move,” he said between compressed lips.
Captain Okembu wiped the sticky, black fluid from his blade and resheathed it on a belt. He checked a large fake-looking Rolex on his wrist. “Dawn is only an hour away.”
“In here, that means nothing,” Joshua said.
Khaled led them out. The going was slower, as they now needed to check every nook and cranny before they stepped over it, ducked under, or squeezed past it. The slight breeze grew stronger, and thankfully cooler, and soon the cave had opened out into a wider passage.
Underfoot the ground squelched, and here and there small, pale plants rose from the sodden ground.
“Thank all the prophets, there’s something up ahead,” Khaled said. “And I can hear, I’m not sure, but it sounds like, rustling.”
“Like wind in the trees,” Rachel added.
They stepped under a low archway, and then stopped. Even though it was stygian dark inside, Matt tilted his head, concentrating; he had the impression of vast size.
Rachel took off her backpack and fished inside. She pulled free a flare gun, which she quickly broke open and checked.
“This is a one and only, so hope it works.” She snapped it closed, pointed the gun up and forward, and then fired.
The red flare shot into the air above them, before igniting at about 150 feet up and that far in. It floated down slowly on its tiny parachute, its miniature red sun illuminating the vista before them.
Matt felt his mouth drop open, and Khaled turned, a huge grin splitting his face.
“Akebu-Lan – the Garden of Eden.”
Chapter 18
The group spread out along the small ledge. The sight that met their eyes was beyond anything they could have imagined.
It was a jungle, enormous, stretching as far as they could see within the glow of the flare. As the ball of light fell, it illuminated the tops of ferns, huge trees, and towering palms, with even the glint of a small stream cutting through it. Matt knew that shallow caves could support shade-loving ferns and, deeper in, liverworts, mosses and lichens, but this was a growth that would rival the jungles of the Amazon or Congo basin.
“It’s hollow,” Khaled breathed.
“Oh my god.” Rachel’s mouth was also hanging in an open smile, and the red blush from the flare was reflected back like dots of blood in her pupils. The flare slowly died, and the massive cavern returned to blackness.
Matt held up a hand flat. “Even in the dark, I can sense it – the life.” He closed his eyes and inhaled. “There’s our answer to the smell of dampness, the fresh air and earth.”
“I wish Prince Najif could see this.” Khaled smiled dreamily. “I know it is exactly as he hoped.”
“How?” Rachel whispered. “How did it get in here? How does it even survive in here?”
Okembu started to look for a way down, but Matt stopped him.
“Wait; we’re not ready yet.”
“Maybe you aren’t.” The Chadian soldier snatched his arm away, and then looked at his watch. “I am hungry and thirsty, and I think there will be game here… for all of us.” He held up his large watch to Matt’s face. “Nearly 6 am, and that is my breakfast time, Professor.”
; “Look.” Joshua pointed.
Out on the floor of the cavern, still partially obscured by the trees, a soft, blue glow had begun to emanate.
“Did we just make that happen?” Matt asked.
“There’s more,” Rachel said as columns of light began to drop down from above. “Somebody is turning on the lights for us.” She flicked off her flashlight.
Matt laughed. “This is so cool. Remember the image in the stained glass – what we thought was the radiance of God?” There were beams of golden light falling from high up to one side of the cavern ceiling. “This is what it meant.”
He grinned and pointed. “You asked about how it survives, the forest.” He pointed to the huge columns of light. “There’s your answer – the cave is punctured, letting in some light.” He held out a hand. “And the ground is warm, maybe from some sort of hot spring beneath us. The vents in the ceiling allow light to enter, but the cavern traps the moisture – it’s like a giant greenhouse in here.”
“It’s enormous,” Joshua said. “I can’t even see where it ends.”
The multiple beams of light grew stronger as the sun rose outside the skin of the cave. The golden columns illuminated a lush forest of palms, ferns, and towering trees that could have been banyan, and a broader tree type below them.
“Acacia.” Captain Okembu snorted. “Nearly 50 years ago the last acacia died in the Sahara desert. There was much weeping by environment people. And yet here, there are too many to count. Hiding perhaps.”
“Eight to ten thousand years ago, the whole area was covered in forest. This is probably the last remnant,” Matt said. He turned to Okembu. “This is probably what your country looked like 5000 years ago.”
“Beautiful,” the tall Chadian whispered.
“Trapped in its own specimen jar,” Joshua said. He looked around slowly. “It’s warm, damp, twilight-lit and heavily forested – perfect for parasites. We need to be careful.”
“Well, that certainly breaks the magic moment,” Rachel jibed.
Joshua spun. “I’m being serious.” His voice was high. “And I meant it… be careful.”
Matt showed his bandaged hand. “Yeah, now he tells us to be careful?”
“The light over there is different.” Khaled pointed out toward the center of the huge space, where the soft glow seemed to emanate. But there it looked like it rose up from the ground instead of filtering down.
“It’s blue,” Joshua said. “Could be some form of bioluminescence. Some organisms are able to activate a protein called luciferase that produces a natural blue light.”
“We should check it out,” said Matt.
“Pretty dense forest – more a jungle,” Rachel said. “Given what attacked you in that cave, I’m not happy about all that cover for potential predators.” She turned to the group. “And did anyone notice it’s not silent in here anymore?”
As one, they turned back to the forest – she was right. They had all been focusing on the visual wonders, but failed to notice that there were now strange bird calls, insects humming, and rustling in among the foliage, and even more movement in the tree canopies.
“Could it have been the light that did it?” Khaled asked.
“Maybe; their own version of a dawn chorus,” Matt said.
“This place is a self-contained, fully functioning ecosystem – we should have expected it the moment we saw the plant life.” Joshua wrapped his arms around himself. “I don’t like it.”
Matt saw that the parisitologist had taken to biting his bottom lip, so much so there was blood on his chin. “You okay there?”
“And if I wasn’t?” Joshua grinned a little too wide for a moment. “Sure, sure, just a little… overwhelmed.”
“I can see a path of some sort.” Khaled pointed. “Or a watercourse we can follow.”
“Yeah, great, stick to the water.” Joshua giggled. “Like no parasites have ever been found in water.”
“Will you put a lid on it?” Rachel rounded on him. “Jesus Christ, we’re all on edge here. Just keep your shit together, and we’ll be fine.”
“You keep saying that – we’ll be fine.” Joshua scratched his head. “Thank heavens, because I thought for a moment there that we were trapped in the middle of the Sahara Desert, hundreds of feet underground, after most of our people had been killed, and Professor Kearns was attacked by something that dropped from the ceiling like some sort of spider–jellyfish thing from hell.” He put a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh, but then spoke through his fingers. “We’ll be fine, so now let’s all walk into a dark jungle.”
“See, you sound better already.” Rachel walked away from the man.
“The man’s a coward and an idiot, but he’s right.” Eleanor allowed Greta to ease her from her back, so the small, bird-like old woman could stand by herself.
“Gee, thanks, Mom,” Joshua sneered.
“We are trapped in here,” she said. “Maybe we will find everything we seek in that forest. But what good is it if we cannot find our way back out?” She smacked her lips, and Greta immediately gave her a sip from a canteen.
Eleanor pushed her away. “We should split up; a few of us go and explore the pool, and the rest look for a way out.”
“Pool? What pool?” Matt turned to her.
“Or whatever that blue glow is.” She waved it away. “But I know that you know, Professor, that time is against us now.”
“It’s not a good idea.” Matt felt his slung arm. “We need to stay together. Who knows what else we’ll encounter down here.” He went to sip his water, but found he had already drained it. “Shit.”
“Here.” Rachel pulled her canteen from her belt pouch and held it out. She paused, frowning. “Are you okay?” She came closer, holding her light up. She shook her head. “You’ve got to take it easy, you look like crap.”
Matt felt his face. Even with his fingertips he could feel the sunken cheeks and hollowed eyes. He held up his broken hand. “Cut me some slack; I’ve had a bad day.”
Rachel held his chin. “I’m worried, Matthew.”
Matt jerked his head back from her tender touch. “I feel fine.”
“Leave him be,” Eleanor said. The old woman continued to stare at Matt from half-closed eyes for a moment. She turned to Khaled. “We need to find a way out, now.”
“She’s right. Look at Professor Kearns; we’re all being worn down. We need to get back home,” Khaled said. “We’re close to the cave wall, and where the sunlight vents are. Might be a way up to one of them. Wouldn’t hurt for a few of us to check them out, save time. Then we can all meet at the blue thing.”
“It’s been my professional experience that the longer we’re exposed to host-feeder environment, the more chance of a parasitic pathogen uptake, and permanent damage to the host,” Joshua said, his eyes wide and feverish.
“Parasitic pathogen uptake.” Rachel sampled the words in her mouth, before rubbing her neck. “Matt?”
“We don’t know if this is even the source of the illness,” Matt said. “Or even if it is an illness. I just don’t like us splitting up at this time.”
“But we do, and time matters, Matthew.” Eleanor raised tiny painted eyebrows.
Khaled held up a hand. “I can check for a way out. Meet you at the center; it won’t take me more than a few hours.”
“I’ll go with you,” Matt said.
“No.” Khaled held up a hand. “You’re the only one who can decipher anything that might be relevant and important. You need to go to the interior.”
“Where Matt goes, I go.” Rachel thrust out her chest.
“Greta will go with you, Khaled,” said Eleanor. “And might I also suggest the tall and strong Captain Okembu.”
Matt had a horrible thought. “I’m sorry, but I can’t carry you Eleanor.” He held up his bandaged hand. “I’m walking wounded.”
“Oh no, no way.” Joshua backed away.
“Shut up, the pair of you.” Her wrinkled face creased with d
isdain. “I wouldn’t trust either of you pansies. For your information, I’ll walk from here.” She straightened, almost coming to Rachel’s shoulder.
“Then it’s settled,” Khaled said. “The captain, Greta and myself will look for an opening to the outside. And successful or not, we will meet you at the interior in…” He checked his watch, “… six hours.” He started to turn away, but paused. “And if there’s any trouble, fire a shot in the air; we’ll do the same.”
“Deal,” Matt said. “Good luck.” He shook the Saudi’s hand.
Okembu gave Matt a small salute with a couple of fingers, and then turned away. Greta’s eyes lingered on Eleanor for a moment longer, before she followed the two men.
*
Captain Abdulla Mokelemee Okembu was 32 years old and had been in the Chad National Army for a dozen years. Before that he was a boy soldier fighting in one of the many tribal collisions that seemed never-ending out in the desert nothingness of the great plains between Zouar and Bardai.
He had killed many men, and he had come across many people, men and women, who had been killers – some were brutal blunderers that were big enough to crush a man’s head with their bare hands. Others used knife, spear or gun, or snuck into windows in the dead of the night to slit throats or throttle the soul from a body.
Okembu could spot them now. All of them, the killers had the same eyes, ones that were dead inside. They were like dark glass, which were windows onto a black soul. He saw that look now.
The group was mostly lambs, but among them hid a wolf. He would need to watch himself, sleep with an eye open, and never turn his back.
He would be patient; if they struck, then he would be ready and strike back harder. Okembu knew how to survive.
*
He watched Khaled’s team vanish toward the cave cliff wall, and then Matt faced the thick forest. “Let’s follow the stream; it looks like it heads to the interior and to the, ah, pool, right, Eleanor?” He turned and raised his eyebrows at the old woman.
She ignored him, and so Matt started down to the forest floor. Rachel grabbed him.
