Adena frowned. Jake thinks Zared’s lying dead of exposure somewhere in the mesa's caverns. I suspect our former supercargo will cause trouble yet.
The three of them checked each other's gear, tightening straps and buckles where necessary. Greg needed more help. Adena felt sympathy for the wounded hero when she saw the expression of frustration he tried to hide. The crew watched from a short distance as if the trio had already departed from their close-knit circle.
When all was ready, Adena turned to Jake. "You have command until we return, Number One. If we don't return within five days, you're clear to move out with Nightingale and return to Penumbra City."
Jake's face was somber. "We'll look for you, Skipper."
Adena knew when to make a small concession. "Look for us after four days, then, but search for no more than a day." Stepping back, she looked him square in the eye. "You have your orders, Mr. Dyer. Carry on."
He saluted. Adena returned the salute then looked to the others. "Ready?" They nodded. "Then let's move out."
They entered the tunnel leading to the abyss that lay at the heart of the mesa like the hollow interior of an upturned vase. The two crew members who'd gone ahead stood guard at the end of the tunnel, their own lanterns casting a glow around them. They turned as the small party approached.
"Nothing to report, Skipper," one said.
Adena nodded. "Right. Thank you. Return to the ship."
The man hesitated. "The gods go with you, Skipper."
Her throat felt tight at his obvious concern. She coughed. "And also with you."
The tunnel emerged onto the broad lip of basalt that formed a natural walkway around the abyss. A waist-high stone wall guarded walkers from the unpleasant drop into the void. Adena remembered how the feature had been improved over months of steady labor. A multitude of hammers and chisels had woken the echoes until the whole cavern rang like a bell, their work lit by massive flares that kept the light-hating murriks at bay. They'd posted armed guards around the periphery against those creatures which didn't fear the light and noise.
Ahead, the bridge across the abyss leaped out into the darkness. Only the first few yards, where Mr. Phibuli had fallen, were visible in their lantern light.
Now that took some doing to build. She reflected on the past, saddened to see the once-thriving way station abandoned. Maybe we could open it again. I'm sure I can find some justification.
Adena emerged from her reverie to see the others looking at her expectantly. Embarrassed, she blinked away her thoughts. "Memories, gang. Too many memories of this place." She pointed off to the right. "We'll head that way. There's a ramp that marks the beginning of the path to the lower levels."
They walked, footsteps echoing, enclosed by a bubble of light. Soon the light enclosed their entire world, the walkway appearing and receding under their feet like a moving belt. She counted off the paces, and after a hundred she began looking at the wall to their right. The others followed her with dutiful tread. They do trust me.
At last an archway appeared in the wall. "Here it is," she said, walking through it. She gestured at the head of the ramp that sloped down and around the slight left-hand curve. "And here's the ramp. It spirals around the interior of the mesa. It'll take us all the way down to the bottom."
Greg whistled softly. "This all took quite a feat of engineering."
"So it did."
A steady cold breeze blew upward, ruffling their hair. As they descended into a tunnel, the breeze grew stronger, bringing with it a musty scent of dampness. After a hundred yards or so, an archway opened in the left wall, and they could see a walkway much like the first. Adena kept going. "That's the last open walkway we'll see. From here on down it's just tunnel to about halfway to the bottom."
Greg trudged alongside her. "Is there any place to rest down here? It could be difficult camping out on this slope."
"There are storerooms and such here and there. If I recall correctly, there's a rest area about where the tunnel ends. Beyond that, we'll have to rely upon the ropes."
"Why did you not complete the tunnel?"
"There was no point. The upper levels were all we needed. Besides, we encountered... problems lower down."
"I don't like that pause." He gave her a quizzical look. "It suggests the problems aren't easy to overcome."
"They weren't, but that was many years ago." She shook her head. "They may not exist anymore. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
They trudged down and around the slow spiral for hours, taking a break every hour, until at last they came to a wide chamber where the tunnel ended. Greg felt relief when Adena announced a halt. His feet had begun aching hours before as he walked over the hard rock.
He saw two openings cut into the right-hand wall, presumably the storerooms Adena had spoken of. Between them was a hearth with an iron grate scabbed with rust. A wide arch in the left-hand wall was sealed with a rusting iron double gate with spiked bars. A chain and padlock held it closed. Judging by the corrosion on both, Greg wondered if they would withstand a sharp tug. Beyond the gate the arch opened onto a black void that seemed to suck up the light. The air smelled damp and musty.
Adena looked around as she hung the lantern on an iron hook driven into the rock wall. "Here we are, people. We'll camp here for the night. Make yourselves at home."
They shrugged off their backpacks and spread their bedrolls. Penny looked at the hearth. "We should get a fire going, draw some cleaner air in here."
"Good idea." Adena walked over to the hearth and stooped to
