Sitnalta - Page 10

Rus got down on his hands and knees and examined the hole. He tried to look through it but it was dark. He guessed it was the cave Ellen had spoken of but he wasn't sure. Rus stuck his head all the way through the hole and saw a sparkle of light distant in the hole. The light was like a dull star on a dark night, pointing a direction for lost travelers but not lighting a path. As he eased his hands in front of him he felt rocky dirt against his fingers. Rus pulled himself forward and crawled to where he was now completely in the hole. He reached and felt in front to where he was about to crawl. He didn't feel ground or anything in front of him. He reached deeper and again felt ground but then reached beyond that spot and he again felt nothing beneath his hands. Rus reached directly above him to see how close the dirt was above him. He felt nothing above him so figured he probably could stand up. Slowly, Rus started to stand. To keep his balance he reached on each side of him for a wall of dirt to balance himself with. He felt nothing.

"Wait a second, " Rus thought to himself. "This doesn't make sense. If I was deeper in the cave, then the cave might expand out, but right at the entrance. It can't be a natural cave or at least the entrance way isn't natural."

Dark and with nothing to help him keep his balance he felt clumsy and awkward. "This isn't good," he mumbled to himself. "I need to get out of here." Then Rus had the peculiar feeling that someone was standing in front of him. Indeed the distant light he had been able to see was gone. Either it had gone out or something or someone was obstructing his view of the light.

Then Rus felt something touch him. He screamed, "Ellen! Ellen, is that you."

Rus quickly tried to get back down on his knees to get back through the hole. "Oh crap!" Rus screamed as he bumped his head and lost his balance. He began rolling down what he now realized were steps. He hadn't rolled far when he felt a hand catch him. Then he felt two hands lifting him up. The person said nothing as they carried Rus toward the distant light that was again visible.