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ough a fissure。 It isn't sealed because a fresh wind es from it。 The whole ecosystem of Eden would overload if they closed the fissure。 The Caverns of Hell … sometimes called the air caves … were briefly explored by early Edenites。 Most never returned。 The few that did told of horror beyond the imagination。〃
〃What sorts of horrors？ You mentioned voices … could Just be echoes； ing back long after someone spoke。 What else？〃
〃I read that there were animals … of some sort … they had big teeth。 Adults in Eden never read of such oddities； it was just nursery…school stuff。 I don't really know。〃
〃Maybe；〃 ventured McCaughlin； 〃they just made up the tales。 The leaders of Eden weren't too keen about having people go out of the city。 Could be all hogwash。〃
〃Hogwash or not；〃 Rockson said； 〃I hear some thundering feet up the stairwell。 I think the reinforcements are ing。 Shall we make the plunge？〃
Rockson was sure the Death City folks wouldn't follow。 He was right。 They were unmolested in their quick march through the cavern。 Danik told him that if they just kept going south； they would descend steeply； and then go up after seven miles and e out at Eden。 A piece of cake。 Of course he was going by dim recollections of a map he'd seen in a book in Eden … when he was a child。 They found direction with one of Schecter's pocket passes； unaffected by local sources of magnetism； the nifty little luminous dial…thing unerringly pointed magnetic north。
When they had gotten about a quarter mile into their remarkable passage； there was a tremendous rumble； and rocks and soot sifted down from the trembling mountain above them。
〃Quick； against the wall of stalagmites over there；〃 Rock ordered。 Because they obeyed their leader； they avoided anything more than a few shoulder scrapes from falling chunks of rock。 The rumble died down。 Then its echo also。 All was silent。
〃What was that？〃 Rona asked。
〃There's your answer；〃 Rockson declared； pointing back toward where they had e from。 There was smoke and dust exuding from the crevice they had entered the cavern from。
〃The entranceway to Death City has been blown up；〃 Detroit surmised grimly。
〃There's no turning back now；〃 McCaughlin stated flatly 〃It's forward or die。〃
They proceeded on their way； on a sloping but secure floor of limestone。 It was a beautiful underground vista opening before them； a limestone cavern； with stalagmites of every shape and color…they were amazed at the beauty of the delicate formations when they shone their lights on the dim shapes。 All seemed well； and then the pleasantly cool temperature rose。 It became quite warm。
〃Some sort of hot lava bed perhaps； ahead。〃 said Scheransky； an expert on such matters。
〃I sure hope this is the right cavern；〃 Rona said。
No one mented on that hope。 It had to be the right cavern。 Or they were dead。
The air became fetid with sulfurous fumes； but was still breathable。 They unclicked their flashlights as the light of a bubbling magma stream off to their left illuminated the way for another half mile。 Then the air and temperature returned to normal。 〃Good thing that stream of hot lava wasn't in our way；〃 Detroit said。 〃I'm not much for fire walking。〃
Now instead of heat； it was cold … bitter cold。 And the pebble…littered path among the rock formations descended steeply。 It was cautious going； each Freefighter helping the next twist and turn down the escarpment。 Worse； here and there were human bones … skulls with huge dead eyesockets； fragments of clothing of the twentieth…century variety。
〃No one has to be told to keep alert； do they？〃
At Rockson's suggestion； they went single file。 〃I sure wish we had some rope … I don't like groping in the …〃 Rock stopped in his tracks。 The lightbeam from his flashlight had reached some object ahead。 A big hump of rock。 It stood out on the flatness that lay； thankfully； just ahead。 Their steep； dangerous descent was over。
They came down one by one to the flatness。 Then onward they marched； braving whatever would e before them。 After all； it was incredible that they had gotten as far as they had … perhaps Rockson's mutant luck would take them all the way to Eden after all； and thence to a safe return to Colorado。
Rona had swallowed some of the pain pills and antibiotics from Chen's belt…pouch supply of medicinals。 She was keeping up； despite her injuries。
〃That landmark； guys； let's head for it。〃 Rock said； referring to the hump of rock about a hundred yards ahead。 〃We'll climb atop it and take a look around； bining all our lights。〃
The walk to the rock hummock took no time at all。 They found it to be about a hundred feet high。 Steep； but walkable。 When they reached its rounded summit； their bined lights could find the cavern ceiling above； about another hundred feet up。 It was studded with long color…radiant crystal stalactites。 Rockson took another look at his special pass。 〃We're still on track。 Must have e a third of the way； and there hasn't been any monsters；〃 he reassured。
〃Still； it's a big cave； and we have a way to go；〃 Detroit said。
Rockson had the party play their lights over the inky distance。 Finally he saw something other than a smooth floor。 Something white … another long hill of some sort。 〃Might as well head that way；〃 Rock said； 〃it's almost due south。 It looks like it's man…made。〃
Again into the lower darkness they plunged。 They came to the white object。 It wasn't a hill； it was a handmade wall of immense stones。 Atop the ten…foot wall； which went on into the darkness in both directions； pletely cutting off their trek； there were writings。 And a cryptic set of drawings。 The words were in Spanish。
Detroit played the torch up to the dusty script。 〃Yes； it's Spanish。 I'll translate。 It says； 'Beyond here dwell the ones whose mere whispered words destroy the mind。 Better to kill yourself now than to proceed through these halls and have your mind tortured。' It's signed 'Father Serra。' 〃
〃I'm for turning back；〃 Danik said； with a distinct tremble in his voice。 〃And go where？〃 Scheransky retorted。
〃What the hell does that warning mean？〃 McCaughlin asked。
〃I'm not sure；〃 said Rock； 〃but the inscription is really old and the dust on the floor has no footprints in it。 This way has not been entered for decades； maybe even for centuries。 Perhaps it was written by some early explorer who somehow got into these deep caverns。 There might have been some exits to the surface long ago。 But the wall was built by many hands。 And machinery。 Whatever is on the other side； well； it might be dead by now。 In any case we're climbing over。〃
〃Hold on； guys；〃 Detroit said。 He had wandered down the wall a bit。 〃There's more wording here … something about …〃 he rubbed the stones with his hands； 〃something about 'the Whisperers use the power of your own mind against you。。。 what is a nightmare bees real。 Guard well your mind but no matter how you resist； the madness es。。。' That's all I can make out。 And by the way there's another skeleton down here … he has a chisel in his hand。 I'd say this fellow made the inscription。〃
〃Doesn't anyone want to go back？〃 pleaded Danik。
His plea was ignored。
〃All of us should remember our meditative tra