A Survivor's Guide to Eternity(31)

“All these tunnels and intersections and sleeping rooms, they must have been designed and built by someone. It can’t all be by chance, don’t you think, guys?”

“It’s a conversation we’ve had many times, Ed,” replied George before continuing, “The stairwell we’re going to now is rumoured to have been carved out by the Viking but we can’t see how it could have been possible. The rock’s so hard that he’d have needed proper tools. The tunnels and all that’s linked to them does on the surface seem to be of human design, but we really have no way to verify it.”

“Mystery upon mystery eh,” replied Ed, noticing the tunnels were getting a little gusty.

“It sounds a bit more fearsome today,” remarked George as he paused to tie his shoelace.

“T’is indeed,” replied Thomas before adding, “T’is a good day to turn and step into the tunnel.”

Ed also began to notice the strong breeze that weaved through the tunnels, dancing across his face with a very slight chill. The small beams of light seemed slightly more sinister than the day before and Ed started to feel nerves in the depth of his stomach as if there was a very tiny spin-dryer on the go. He marvelled again at the black sand, mesmerised by the disappearance of the footprints behind them. The breeze increased in power as they grew closer to their destination, making the whole scene even more menacing. The fears of jumping began to eat away at Ed but he knew he had no choice if he was to continue his quest and find a possible solution for his predicament.

They walked further through the tunnels and over to the opening where the firm sand gave way to an uneven rocky floor. Their pace slowed and they tiptoed delicately for the last few yards, the wind positively howling through the entrance, giving off a low resonant tone. All three stared in at the all-encompassing flow, mesmerised by its power. Thomas stepped back and pointed Ed towards a smaller opening to his right which led to a claustrophobic hand-cut stairway.

“You need to go up there. George will go with you and give you a helping push if you lose your nerve. I will keep watch from here with the crook just in case it goes wrong and you drift over to this side out of the main flow. T’is unlikely though because the force would take you all the way through the flow to the bottom,” stated Thomas, as George put his arm around Ed’s shoulder and led him over to the opening. Ed was more than concerned that this might go horribly wrong and he might become aimlessly caught in the weaker parts of the current. He had no idea what would happen in such a circumstance but felt obliged to proceed regardless, anxious to become more empowered.

“One more thing, Ed, give ear to me,” added Thomas loudly as the wind howled.

“What’s that then?”

“Can you leave all your raiments for us, what say you?”

“Why? Why would you want my clothes?” barked Ed, slightly put out.

“Forsooth, the timepiece also, that would be of great use. Worry not - if you return and stop off in one of these places, then you will for sure find yourself garbed in the same vestments. You are inseparably bound with them. They are part of you now and if you find yourself here again, you will appear fully clothed. Your old garments from this visit are useful to us though. We can use them to make ropes and suchlike. We do not have sufficient yet, but I pray in time we can help rescue paused Transients in the bottom of the tunnel.”

“Oh bloody hell, alright then!” exclaimed Ed as he slipped off his shoes and stripped down to his underwear, surprised not to feel cold in the gusts that brushed over his goose-bumped skin and on into the tunnels.

“Keep your shoes on though, Ed, you’ll be more comfortable going up the rocky stairs in those,” shouted George, almost drowned out by the noise.

“Okay. Elegance is out of the window here then,” Ed retorted, as he bent down and put his shoes back on.

“I’ll tell you something for nothing though, George, you can forget the arm around my shoulders now I’m half naked.”

“Understood. No problem. Let’s go,” chuckled George before he headed into the stairwell, swiftly followed by Ed.

“Bye, Thomas, thanks for everything. Hope to see you again someday,” Ed shouted back out through the doorway as they turned the corner and started to ascend the black stone stairs. The gusts of wind completely demised in the stairwell, leaving them in a calm and serene atmosphere.

“There won’t be much wind in here, Ed, it’s much calmer. Not sure why.”

“That’s good, it was getting a bit much,” replied Ed, thankful that the stairs were smooth and not slippery.