Chapter 6: A Death For A Life

And as Alex West promised, 50 feet down the rope they found an opening large enough for them to crawl through one at a time. Another hundred feet down the passage way widened and started to slope downwards. Slowly the two men stood up looking around.

"This is it?" Roxton asked, peering down the steep but manageable pathway leading into a dark abyss.

"Yup. In all it's ...glory." Alex replied, brushing a cob web off his shoulder.

Suddenly the earth started shaking. The two men exchanged a look of panick before heading back to the crawl space a moment before some rocks slid down, covering it. Moments later the tremor stopped and the two men exchanged another look, Roxton's one of indignation that this happened once more and Alex's one of mild suprise and without speaking, they began digging.

It was getting late. It had been at least 6 hours and the sun was going down. The boys said they were just going to have a quick peek and be back up. Marguerite was down right terrified. The small tremor could have crushed them, blocked their way, anything! She couldnt just leave so she built a small fire, waiting for what she didn't know.

Finially the two got the entrance uncovered but the small passage way rumbled threatening to give way at any second. Without thinking, Roxton headed through first. What point was there in getting off the plateau if he didnt have his wife and son with him? Half way through it rumbled again, dust and small pebbles pelting him and Alex who was a few feet behind. Twenty-five feet to go, fifteen, ten, five and finially he was out in the fresh air, able to see the stars. As he reached for the rope that lead up to the ground above his hand sliped, sending a wave of rocks that came crashing down. He did the only think possible and launched himself at the rope.

The loud roar of another tremor woke Margueirte immedately and she looked around, grabbing a tourch. She saw the rope taught, moving slightly as someone climbed but was to afraid to call out or go peek over the edge. For what seemed like an eternity she waited until one hand appeared within her vison, then a second with a wedding ring on his fourth finger. Roxton's wedding ring. Quickly she was at the edge, helping him climb over the side to safty. "What happened?!....Where's Alex..?"

Roxton coughed, closing his eyes as he leaned back against his wife, trying to regain his stregnth. "The entrance colapsed."

"Oh god..."

He quickly looked up at his wife's stricken face. "Just the entrance...your friend was a good 20 feet behind me...I'm sure he's safe and on his way back down to civilization."

Marguerite looked at him a long moment before nodding and pulling him closer, brushing dust covered hair from his eyes. If it's a lie, it's for a good cause, Roxton thought.

They rested for the rest of the night and somberly headed back to the tree house the next day. When they reached the top the both stopped and staired. There was Ned, holding both Em and Will who were crying like the world was about to end, Challenger no where in site and Veronica on the lounge chair with at least two blankets pulled over her sleeping despite the noise.

"Thank god you back! Take them!" Ned said, handing them each a child.

"What happened to you?!" Roxton asked his friend, trying not to look to amused.

"They're sick! They're all sick! Each and everyone of them got the flu at the same time and you know why? To drive me crazy that's why!"

Marguerite just laughed outright. It wasnt unusual for Ned to get worked up but to see a grown man almost hysterical over two crying children? Almost made her wish that they could stay there forever. Almost.