The line of vehicles, led by a huge drill, groaned to a stop a few hours later. Ahead, the road split into two tunnels that were built through a huge bronze structure. Bronze structures were clear traces of civilization, which brightened Milo's mood considerably. Rourke walked back to Milo and Eleanor's truck.
"Here is your chance to make yourself useful," he boomed. Milo laughed weakly and climbed out of the truck. Eleanor reached for her door, but Milo shook his head.
"I can do it," he assured her.
"Of course!" she replied. She knew that he didn't need her help - it was just that she didn't want to sit in the vehicle alone. Crew members had been sneering at her and Milo all morning when they saw them in the towed truck. Now that Milo had a job to do, all of the unwanted attention would be on her.
"Do you mind if I join you?"
Eleanor gasped and looked up. Sylvia peaked through the window and smiled. Eleanor unlocked the door and Sylvia slid onto the bench seat. She tipped her head back and sighed.
"I had to get away from Ramirez," she laughed. "You know how she is."
In truth, Eleanor didn't really know how she was. She laughed and nodded anyway.
"Where's the boy?" Sylvia asked, suddenly realizing that Eleanor was alone. "Weren't you two together?"
Eleanor tipped her head toward the windshield. "He's figuring out which way to go. You know, making himself useful." She threw in the last bit to see how Sylvia felt about freeloaders. She didn't take the bait.
"If he's using the journal, I'd better get up there," Sylva said. "Four eyes are better than two when it comes to Atlantian."
As quickly as she'd arrived, Sylvia was gone. Eleanor leaned out the door to watch the exchange. Milo had already decided on the left path when Sylvia reached the book. Eleanor couldn't hear their conversation, but she seemed to want to have a look before they moved. Milo handed it to her and she pulled it close to her face. Milo's word was good enough for Rourke, however, and the trucks were moving not long after.
Milo jogged back to the truck and climbed in. It wasn't a long distance, but he was panting and reached for Eleanor's canteen. She handed it over and he took a long drink.
"Did you see that structure? We must be close!" he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Are you sure it's Atlantian?" she asked.
"Well…no," Milo said. He looked as though he hadn't considered the possibility of other civilizations in the caves. "It's something though, right?"
Before Eleanor could answer, a loud series of clicks echoed though the cave. It was unlike anything she'd ever heard before. Then again, today had been a day of firsts. Milo craned his neck out the window. His eyes narrowed as he searched for the source of the sound. Suddenly, he lurched back and instinctively thrust his heel at the break pedal. Whatever was out there had given him quite a jolt. Eleanor couldn't see anything, so she pulled herself into a half stand, half sit out the window. It wasn't very ladylike, but there was a time for everything.
Ahead, the drill had stopped in front of the entrance to the left cave. A giant bug-like creature had emerged from the cave and now towered over the line of cars. It wasn't attacking, but no one wanted to wait around and give it the chance. The smaller vehicles were able to turn around and drive off, but the drill was too wide. It backed up, painfully slow, until it was back to the fork. The bug retreated into the darkness and Milo was summoned back up to the front of the vehicle line.
"I don't get it," Milo muttered as he closed the truck door. "I'm sure I read the map correctly."
Apparently, though, he hadn't. Sylvia approached Milo, still holding the journal. She pointed at something handed it back to him. He scrunched up his face and examined the page. His face shifted from confused to sheepish and he turned the book upside down. Rourke didn't look happy when Milo had to explain that he'd misread the journal. Judging from the groans from the other drivers, Eleanor guessed that they weren't happy either.
Milo once again returned to the truck and slumped down in the seat. Eleanor tried not to look at him.
"Please…don't say anything," he pleaded. Eleanor reached over and patted his hand, but said nothing. Not even when Audrey stormed up and kicked the door.