What Luck
by Elizabeth Averay
Spelunking. What a funny word for deep cave exploration, and my favourite hobby for the long weekends. I love it. Just me and the dark, imposing caves. You never know what you may find: old cave drawings or rare lost treasure…. For me it is the peace and the quiet, so different from the hectic life in the city. This is wherfe I can forget it all and breathe freely. And if I make a find that is a very welcome and unexpected bonus.
Today I have decided to try a new location for my spelunking. I have my overalls, heavy duty hiking boots, water, rope, pick axe, and of course my hard hat complete with miner’s light built in.
Climbing, crawling, slithering and sliding around a new cave system to me is sheer bliss. Tight fissures in the walls that I can just squeeze through always gives me a rush. Half way along the next tunnel the ground gives way. I slide down a steep slope, coming to a sudden stop because of a medium sized boulder jutting out – thankfully, as beyond the boulder is a sheer drop that my light can’t reach the bottom of.
Looking around I see no way to get back to the tunnel above. To my right there is a small opening. I slowly crawl over, taking extra care as the flooring is the loose rock and earth from the tunnel floor collapsing.
Getting to the opening I haul myself through and realise I have lost everything but my hard hat. Now I start to worry about how I will get back! At the same time I want to look around as the opening I just came through is man-made. It is a large chamber. Strangely there is a soft blue light emanating from the roof of the cavern, negating the need for my miners light.
Walking around I see wooden eating utensils and clay pots, what looks like a stone ring that once was used as a fire pit. Right at the back of the cavern is a recessed shelf with the only bejewelled object I have seen on my entire exploration. It is warm to the touch. As I hold it in my hand it starts to vibrate.
Worried it will break, I place the small box back on the shelf. As I return it to its home the blue light becomes stronger. The wall to my left shimmers and dissolves into nothing. Just utter blackness. Curious, I edge over to the dark wall. Stand inches away from the black nothingness.
A pale hand reaches out and pulls me in. The blackness is an illusion. It is a sweet little cottage-style living space with a pale child sitting on the overstuffed armchair, smiling at me. ‘You passed the integrity test,’ it says. ‘Go back in to the cave and you will get your wish to return to the cave entrance.’
Stepping back into the blue-lit cave there is a goblin waiting for me. Holding out its hand it says, ‘The guardian of the caves has granted your wish, but don’t be complacent. The guardian takes on the guise of a child to see if you will take advantage, and can be ruthless to those that do.’
With that I am returned to the entrance and decide never to come to this cave again. I don’t think I will be so lucky next time!
Scribble City: Write Now 