"Hurry up" Fox yelled behind him. Up ahead the wind was becoming a gale and snow lashed his already stinging face.

"I'm right behind you!" Richard called back.

The two men, heavily laden with backpacks and equipment strove forward against the ever-biting wind. They had been trekking through this inhospitable region of the Alps for three days now and to Richard, always the pessimist, it seemed that their journey was in vain. The snow was falling thickly now, and it seemed to the two men, that they had been stumbling around in the whiteness for far to long.

"I think I see a cave up ahead," Fox called

"If it is I think we had better take it, honestly Steve if we stay out here any longer we're gonna get frost bite!"

The two men clambered over the rocky ledge and into the cave. It felt strange to be out of the wind in the eerie silence of the cave. For a few moments neither of them said a word, content only to hear the sounds of their breathing echoing through the tunnel. After a minute or so Steve spoke in a low whisper

"Weird isn't it, I never would have guessed that there was a cave so near to the dig."

"I hate to break it to you Steve" Richard replied looking dolefully back at him, "but I think we're lost"

"we can't be I followed the map and the instructions Professor Macarthur left for me exactly"

"Well I don't remember any caves being listed near the dig site before!"

Fox looked back at him angrily, he liked Richard a lot they had been at college together and had even worked on the same thesis at university. However there were times when his pessimism got the better of Fox's temper.

"Then I guess we shall just have to wait until the storm passes won't we. God man can't you ever say anything constructive!" He flexed his leg angrily "If you're going to sit here and mope then I'm going to take a look around."

Jumping to his feet he strode off through the shadowy passage leaving Richard alone on the floor. Sometimes, Richard thought Fox could really be an idiot; Fox by name fox by nature. Richard had always felt that Steve's surname had been extremely appropriate; A tall, muscular man with a shock of flaming red hair and a pointed, inquisitive face. To Richard Steve's perpetual expression of mild curiosity had always been a source of amusement. This however was typical Steve. As soon as he had heard that Professor Macarthur was looking for assistants out on a dig he immediately signed the pair of them up. It was only after reading the small print that he had found out that no transport was supplied and dig assistants would have to make their to the site by themselves.

"Bloody Steve!" Richard shouted out loud and listened to the noise echo around the cave. The rumble into silence bought Richard back to his surroundings, then another sound met his ears. Grumbling through the walls was a low moan and then a piercing scream. Quick as flash Richard was on his feet.

"Steve, Steve!" He Screamed, "I'm coming".

Steve strode angrily down through the passage, kicking the odd rock aside from his wrath. In his heart of hearts he knew that this was his fault, but he wasn't prepared to admit that to Richard. The Fox had been out foxed. He had been getting increasingly stressed as the journey went on. Steve had done expeditions before, however Richard was a nervous traveller and an even more nervous flier; this had put Fox more and more on edge as they had travelled the 5 day journey. He looked around at the damp cavern, green agley was slowly racing down the walls and he could hear water dripping slowly off the roof. Unusual thought Fox as he pulled at the collar of his waterproof; it's starting to get hot. He started to tread cautiously now as the light from his glow bar was starting to dim and the cave's blackness was becoming ever more oppressive. This is all my fault he said to himself, if only I can find some way out of here. As he said this he felt the rock beneath his feet creak slightly. He looked down and eyes wide in terror began to scream as he fell down into the dark abyss below.

"Steve, Steve!" Richards's feet were desperate now, thudding hard along the rock floor. He skidded to a jog as he neared the slimly darkness of the passage. He called again

"Steve, Steve," a low moan was coming from near his feet and working by touch and feel in the dark Richard reached the dark hole.

"Watch yourself, I'm tossing down a glow bar!"

There was a thunk and suddenly a thin strip of light rose up from the pit. Where the rocks had collapsed a jagged razor edge prevented anyone from climbing down into the pit. At its bottom was Steve. His red hair was matted with blood, which had clotted over one eye. His leg appeared to have been slashed by the rocks in his downward tumble.

"Richie!" The voice called up weak and wavering.

"Its ok Steve it's me, just don't move ok I'm going to get a rope".

The sound of his running footsteps died away only to return a few moments later. Soon Steve felt the comfort of the rope on his body and with some difficulty managed to attach the rope to his belt clip.

"Hang in there mate, I'm going to pull you up!"

When he was back on the surface Richard propped Fox up against the cave wall. His face was pale and his eyes rolled upwards.

"Come on Steve, stay with me" Richard panted as he tore strips from his coat and wound them around his friends wounds"

Steve gasped but could not get any words out, although Richard thought he heard the words armour as his friend lapsed into unconsciousness.

The heat of the cave was very close now. Richard had pulled off his waterproofs and had draped them around his friend as best he could. Please God don't let us die in here, he though to himself as he watched his friend's struggled breathing. Half past twelve his watch said,

"Come on Stevey-boy" only another seven hours and we can try and attract help, what ever you do don't give up!"

Richard did not know how long he slept, the darkness and sickening heat made him woozy. He woke at 3.00. Looking across at Steve he was pleased to see that his laboured breathing had not slowed any further.

"Richie." The words came at a gasp and were very faint,

"It's ok pal I'm here its going to be ok just try and hang in there,"

He placed his hand to his friend's head and could feel his clammy heat. Then he gasped, looking down at the rudimentary attempt at bandages he had made, a terrible green ooze was leaking from it, trickling onto the stony floor. Richard looked down and before he could stop he placed a hand over the wound. He drew his hand back sharply; Fox's leg was like ice burning to the touch. Richard looked back at his friends pale face and wished that daylight would come.