Nilkuu leaned forward to examine the rocks and said, “Looks like a cave-in sealed off the passage.”
“Looks like it,” Korgot said, “but it’s not. See how all the larger stones are at the bottom of the pile? It’s all too neatly done. Someone put those rocks there, and placed the smaller rocks on top of the heavier ones.”
“But why?” said Kivoda. “To keep spiders out?”
“Possibly,” Korgot said. “Keep in mind we’re below the City of the Mask Makers. For all we know, these rocks may be blocking a passage that leads up to the city. There’s only one way to find out. We’re going through.”
Korgot reached for her adamantine star drill while the other Protectors stood back, giving her room to work. She placed the drill’s tip against the wall of solid rock to the left of the rubble-filled passageway and then powered up the device. The noise was so loud that Nilkuu winced behind his mask. Korgot pushed the drill forward and instantly transformed the slab of stone before her into a large, dusty hole. She made a slight adjustment to the drill to expand the hole, making it large enough for each Protector to pass through without damaging their armor or weapons.
Korgot stepped through the hole first and moved past several large boulders. Narmoto, who held his ignited flame sword in front of him so the others could see where they were going, followed her. They entered a chamber that was much larger than the cave’s entrance, so large that Narmoto instinctively drew his second sword to illuminate a wider area around him.
Looking back at the fresh hole in the wall, Korgot said, “We’d better seal this so spiders won’t get in. Nilkuu, give me a hand here.”
Nilkuu helped Korgot shift three boulders to block the hole. When they were done, Korgot gazed into the depths of the cave and said, “The breeze is coming from this way.” She gestured for the others to follow her.
They walked past a series of large stalactites, tapering columns that had formed by water dripping from the ceiling over the course of many centuries. Behind Korgot, Nilkuu glanced at one stalactite and said, “Hey, take a look at this!”
The others stopped and turned to look at Nilkuu’s discovery. He faced a wide stalagmite that extended up to connect with a stalactite at the ceiling. The natural column appeared to be almost completely covered with carved reliefs.
“Wow,” said Korgot. “I can’t believe I walked right past this.”
The Protectors immediately recognized various symbols and figures that represented the ancient Protectors. “See here,” Vizuna said as he pointed to a pair of pictograms. “These represent Ekimu and Makuta. I’m guessing these carvings aren’t as old as the ones on the cliff wall. I can read most of the letters, too.”
Moving slowly around the column, Izotor said, “This really is amazing. These images illustrate the history of the Prophecy of Heroes. Here’s Ekimu when he sights the six Elemental Creatures during the Festival of Masks, and he considers their appearance an omen.” Izotor pointed to the next sequence of pictograms and said, “And here, Ekimu and the Protectors—our ancestors—go to the Temple of Time, and Ekimu uses the Mask of Time to see into the future. That’s how he learned about the cataclysm that would change Okoto’s geography, and also learned that six comets would eventually deliver the Toa to our island.”
Narmoto leaned in beside Izotor and said, “And look, there’s Ekimu crafting the Masks of Power to prepare for the day when the Toa would arrive. And this part illustrates the cataclysm!”
Kivoda said, “Must I remind you all again that we’re on a mission? Come now, let’s not dawdle any longer.”
Nilkuu leaned closer to the column and said, “Wait, Kivoda. According to these images, long after the cataclysm, the Toa find Ekimu’s body in the City of the Mask Makers, and Ekimu returns to life. Then the Protectors—that means us—arrive in the city, and we bow before Ekimu. You know what that means?”
“That we’re wasting our time here?” said Kivoda.
“No! It means that it’s our destiny to reach the city! To meet Ekimu, and reunite with the Toa! We have nothing to worry about!”
Korgot groaned. “Nilkuu, remember what happened the last time you said we had nothing to worry about? The bridge to the city collapsed.”
“Enough!” said Kivoda with obvious impatience. “Let’s proceed.” He started walking away from the column, heading onto a long slab of stone that lay across the cave’s floor and led toward another passage. Narmoto, holding his flame swords out to light the way, walked behind Kivoda while the others followed.
“Careful,” Kivoda said. “This rock is a bit slippery.” He had taken less than a dozen steps across the long slab before it tilted suddenly under his feet, transforming the slab into a long ramp that simultaneously lowered Kivoda while it lifted the Protectors behind him. All six Protectors slid and tumbled down the ramp and into a deep, smooth-walled hole.
Falling in front of Kivoda, Narmoto clung to his flame swords and held them away from his body, taking care not to accidentally jab his allies. The hole curved sharply and Kivoda tried to brace his feet to stop falling, but the walls were too slick. From behind, he heard Korgot shout, “We’re in a lava tube!”
The hole widened and Narmoto was first to launch out into the air and almost total darkness, but his bright swords enabled him to see that the hole emptied into a wide pit that was filled with sharp-tipped stalagmites. Still falling, he somersaulted through the air while sweeping his swords from front to back, cutting down the nearest stalagmites and then landing between them. The shattered stalagmites fell away to the sides of the pit just as the other five Protectors crashed down around Narmoto.
“What a ride!” said Korgot as she got up and brushed herself off. “We’re fortunate that we fell into an ancient lava tube instead of an active one.”
“Yeah, lucky us,” Vizuna groaned as he sat up and adjusted his mask.
Narmoto said, “Everyone all right?”
“I think so,” said Nilkuu. “But from now on, I think I’ll stop saying ‘We have nothing to worry about.’”
Kivoda said, “And I’ll take better care to watch my step. I’m sorry I got us into this mess.”
“It’s not your fault,” said Izotor. “Accidents happen.”
Korgot said, “Izotor’s right, Kivoda, it’s not your fault. But I don’t think we fell down that hole entirely by accident. I’m guessing someone shifted and positioned that rock over the lava tube as a trap to capture trespassers.”
Nilkuu said, “Maybe it was the same someone who made the blocked passage look like a cave-in?”
“Could be,” said Korgot. She looked at the broken stalagmites and walls of the pit, then lifted her gaze to the hole in the ceiling. “Going back the way we came would take too long. Unless we can find a passage out of here, I’ll use my drill to create a new—”
Hearing a shuffling noise from the far side of the pit, Korgot went silent. The other Protectors heard the noise, too. Korgot signaled Narmoto to extinguish the light from his swords. The swords went dark, but Narmoto continued holding them while his allies quietly readied their own weapons and listened.
Peering across the pit, Korgot saw a shadowy form move behind a wide stalagmite. A few seconds later, a single figure peeked out from behind the stalagmite. Despite the darkness, Korgot could clearly see that the figure wore a green mask and was holding a spear. “Well, well, well,” she said to her allies. “I believe we’ve located the missing archaeologist!”
“Hold your fire,” Vizuna said to the other Protectors. Rising from the pit, he called out, “Harvali, is that you? It is me, Vizuna of the Jungle Region.”
From the darkness, a female islander responded in a raspy voice, “Vizuna?”
Vizuna nudged Narmoto and said, “Please ignite your swords again.”
Narmoto’s swords blazed to life, filling the pit with light. The Protectors watched as the green-masked islander emerged from behind the stalagmite and walked toward them.
Harvali stared at the six P
rotectors as if she could hardly believe her eyes. She bowed to Vizuna, who bowed in return. She said, “I … I never thought you’d find me.” She had to clear her throat before she continued. “I can’t remember the last time I talked out loud. I’m sorry I didn’t heed your warnings about the risks of studying the reliefs.” She cleared her throat again. “I’m also sorry you fell into my trap. I made it to stop skull spiders.” She looked at all the Protectors. “All of you came searching for me?”
“Not exactly,” Vizuna said. “After your neighbors reported you missing, I looked for you, but failed to find more than spider tracks on your bridge. I assumed that the spiders had claimed you. I regret I didn’t search longer. But a mission forced me and my fellow Protectors here, and … and I am glad and relieved to see you.”
“I wish I could say the same,” Harvali said. “I’m afraid you and all the Protectors may now be trapped in here. Forever!”
Surprised by Harvali’s statement, Vizuna glanced back at his fellow Protectors, then returned his attention to Harvali and said, “What makes you think we’ll never get out of this cavern?”
A loud hiss filled the air. Harvali cringed as she tightened her grip on her spear. She whispered, “We’ll talk later. We must move fast to the next chamber before that biomechanical snake gets here.”
“Snake?” said Izotor. “How big is it?”
“Very big.” Motioning for the Protectors to follow her, Harvali turned and sprinted toward a narrow gap between two boulders that extended from the cave’s floor to its ceiling. As she led Vizuna, Korgot, Narmoto, Kivoda, and Izotor through the gap, she said, “The snake can’t fit through here.”
Running behind the group, Nilkuu had nearly reached the gap when something struck the side of his foot, sending him sprawling. He rolled across the rocky ground and came up standing. Drawing his sandstone blaster, he spun fast to face a massive biomechanical snake covered with armored scales. As the snake rose up before him, he could see that the ventral scales covering its belly were also heavily armored. Although he didn’t have a clear view of the snake’s head, he could see that its eyes glowed red, and also saw its tail moving from side to side.
Nilkuu realized the snake must have used its tail to trip him. Despite the darkness, he guessed the snake was at least eight times longer than his own height. With a loud hiss, the snake moved closer to him, and he saw that a large skull spider covered its upper head and eyes.
Izotor and Kivoda noticed that Nilkuu had fallen behind, so they turned around in the nearby passage and looked back to see that their ally was in trouble. Izotor shouted, “Nilkuu!”
Nilkuu fired his sandstone blaster at the skull spider. Blistering sand slammed into the spider, knocking it off the snake’s head. The spider screeched as the blast carried its body straight into the ceiling before gravity delivered it to the ground.
The snake looked at Nilkuu with a dazed expression, then shook its head back and forth, as if it were trying to shake off an invisible enemy. Then the snake spotted the motionless spider. The snake lifted its tail and brought the tail down hard, thwacking the spider with such force that it bounced across the cave.
Shifting its own long body again, the snake moved toward Nilkuu. He took an instinctive step backward, but then the snake stuck out its tongue and licked the side of Nilkuu’s mask. Nilkuu said, “Does that mean we’re friends now?” The snake licked his mask again and bobbed its head up and down, happily.
Nilkuu chuckled. Looking away from the snake, he saw Izotor and Kivoda watching him. “What do you know?” he said. “This snake is playful!”
“Well, stop playing around and get in here!” said Izotor.
Nilkuu patted the side of the snake’s head. Leaving the snake, he followed his allies into the next chamber. The chamber was smaller than the previous one, but was illuminated by phosphorescent stones. Narmoto had dimmed his flame swords, but Nilkuu could see that the chamber’s walls, ceiling, and even parts of the stone floor were covered with ancient reliefs. Vizuna and Korgot stood near Harvali, who sat huddled on a wide rock beside a bubbling pool of water. Small plants with dark blue and purple leaves surrounded the pool.
Facing Harvali, Nilkuu aimed a thumb at the chamber’s passageway and said, “Don’t worry about the snake. I knocked the spider off of its head. The snake is friendly now.”
“Thank goodness!” said Harvali. “I tried using my spear to get rid of that spider, but I could never get close enough.” She gestured to the reliefs on the walls. “As you can see, there’s much to study down here.” She looked at the pool and plants. “I was lucky to find water and edible plants soon after I became trapped, but … we’ll have to grow more plants if we’re all going to survive in here.”
Vizuna said, “Again, I ask: Why are you so convinced that we’ll never escape?”
“Because I’ve been living underground for over a year, and I’ve explored every passage. There are only two routes in and out, but they’re both impassable. You must have entered the same way I did, by way of the ledge.” Behind her mask, Harvali’s eyes went wide with concern. “I hope you sealed off the passage to prevent spiders from getting in!”
“It’s sealed,” Korgot said. “However, that route isn’t much of an option anymore, because your rope bridge is gone.”
“What?!”
“I blasted it to stop scores of spiders from attacking us,” Narmoto admitted.
Harvali shook her head. “Then we’re definitely permanently trapped!”
“Relax,” Korgot said. “I have a friend here who can help us with another way out.” She held up her star drill for Harvali to see. “This drill can bore through anything!”
“But drilling takes time,” Vizuna said, “and we’re in a bit of a hurry. Harvali, allow me to bring you up to speed. The Prophecy of Heroes has come to pass. Weeks ago, the Toa arrived on Okoto. Earlier today, they defeated the Lord of Skull Spiders and entered the City of the Mask Makers. Unfortunately, the city’s main bridge was destroyed. Because the Toa may be in need of help, my fellow Protectors and I sought a different route into the city. Which brings us here. So please, tell us about the other route you mentioned.”
Harvali’s eyes grew even wider behind her mask. “The Toa are really here?” She grasped the edges of her mask in astonishment and shook her head again. “All this information is a lot to absorb. And I don’t understand … I thought the Lord of Skull Spiders controlled all the skull spiders. But if the Toa defeated him, why was the giant snake still under the spider’s control?”
“Because evil forces are still at large,” said Vizuna, “and the spiders are a part of that evil.”
“The only other route out of the caverns,” Harvali said, “is through the Lord of Skull Spiders’s lair. I never dared attempt to enter that chamber before, but if you’re certain he’s no longer a threat—?”
“With my own eyes,” Vizuna interjected, “I saw the Toa defeat the Lord of Skull Spiders, and saw his body plunge into the chasm that surrounds the city.”
“Very well,” said Harvali as she stood up. “I shall guide you to the Lord of Skull Spiders’s lair, and up to the city.” She looked around at the reliefs. “If we do survive, I vow to return to this place and make sure it’s preserved, along with the other reliefs in the caves.” She led the Protectors out of the chamber.
They found the large snake waiting outside. Seeing Nilkuu, the snake bobbed its head again.
Harvali looked at the snake warily, then pointed beyond the pit filled with stalagmites to a dark area. She said, “We’ll go through a series of tunnels that way. I hope you’re ready for a long walk!”
The snake lowered its head beside Nilkuu. Nilkuu was about to give the snake a pat when the creature tucked its head below Nilkuu’s arm and lifted him off his feet. Nilkuu said, “Hey!”
The snake twisted its head and lowered Nilkuu so he straddled the snake’s back. The snake slithered forward, then looked at the other Protectors and Harvali. Nilkuu said, “
I think my new friend is offering us a ride.”
Harvali said, “The snake can move very fast through the tunnels, but are you sure it’s safe to ride?”
“Only one way to find out,” Korgot said. She hopped up onto the snake’s back behind Nilkuu. The snake nodded at her. “What are the rest of you waiting for? Climb on!”
“I think I’m going to regret this,” Harvali muttered as she climbed up onto the snake. The remaining Protectors hopped onto the snake’s back and locked their fingers beneath the creature’s scales.
The snake took off with surprising speed. The snake’s riders tightened their grips on its scales as their mount swerved around each stalagmite in its path, heading into a tunnel that sloped upward. Because the snake was traveling swiftly through almost-total darkness, Korgot assumed its night vision was as good as her own. But as the snake rounded a corner in the tunnel, Korgot looked ahead and shouted, “Everyone duck! Low stalactites up ahead!”
All seven riders hunkered down close against the snake’s back. As the snake rounded another corner, Korgot lifted her head and said, “All clear, but everyone should stay low.”
Nilkuu said, “A little light would help. Narmoto?”
Narmoto clung tight to the snake with one hand as he drew a flame sword and ignited it, allowing the riders to see the cave’s walls and ceiling flowing past them. Sounding slightly queasy, Harvali said, “I think I felt safer when I couldn’t see how fast we’re moving.”
Looking ahead, Nilkuu said, “There’s a fork in the tunnel. Harvali, which way do we go?”
“To the left!” Harvali gasped.
Nilkuu shifted his weight to the left and was very surprised when the snake swerved to the right. As the snake traveled into the wrong tunnel, Nilkuu said, “Oops. Maybe I should have practiced steering before we got moving.”
“There’s a lava tube on the left!” Harvali shouted. “Take it or we’ll plunge into an underground chasm!”
Revenge of the Skull Spiders Page 3
