5th October 2005
Caverns and Decisions
"Well, what do we do now?" questioned Anna. "We can't stay here for ever."
"Hey look!" exclaimed Liz, bending over to pluck something out of the grass. "A coin!"
"A coin in the middle of the jungle?" mused Verleye. "That was unexpected. Where is it from? It might give us a clue as to where we are."
Liz examined the coin. On the 'heads' side was a picture of an unusual fish, which almost looked like a deep sea angler to her mind, but which didn't quite. She turned it over.
"Well, it's fifty cents," she said. "Hang on, I'm just scraping the dirt away. S, i, n, g. . . Singapore!"
"A Singaporean fifty cent piece in the middle of the jungle. Well, that doesn't really help us much," said Verleye. "Singapore is certainly an island, but it's pretty much inhabited from one end to the other."
"Well, it could point to us being somewhere in the Asian area of the Pacific," said Leanne.
"Argh, don't let a cheap doubloon get the better of ye," said Bluebeard. "Besides which, what's with other people getting lines? We thoughts we was meant to be the main characters!" Fluffy snorted in assent.
"Now, now, Bluebeard," said Leelu, "I think it's fair that we all get a few lines in."
"That's right," said Robert. "So far, these are the first things I've said since we got here!"
"Anyway, the coin solves a problem for us," put in the Captain. "A toss of the coin will decide our vote." He put his hand out for the item, Liz reluctantly handing it over. "Don't worry, I'll give it back afterwards. Although now that I've got it, I'm not sure I want to give it back. . . so precious. . ."
"Are you all right, Master Captain?" asked Kelly. "You look pale, and you've hardly eaten for days."
The Captain shook his head. "Um, right. Okay then. Heads, we climb to the entrance of Wendoline's Volcano. Tails, we follow this map towards whatever lies at the X."
He tossed the coin high, the silvery metal spinning rapidly, shedding glimmers of sunlight as it arced through the air. Everyone's breath was baited, waiting for what seemed an eternity for the little token of destiny to fall to ground. It sailed along, reaching it's zenith, falling back towards the earth, slowly falling, falling, falling.
"Ouch!" exclaimed Larry. "It hit me in the eye!"
"Don't move, Larry, we have to see which way it landed," said Sparky.
"But it hurts!"
"Oh, shush," said Beck, "it's only a chunk of rusty old metal in your eye." She bent over to examine the coin. "It's tails," she announced. "We follow the map!"
Despite the earlier indecision, everyone cheered. The prospect of buried treasure was in the minds of all.
Keith took charge, as he seemed to be able to read the map with ease. "Alright everyone, the start of this dotted line is just over there by that overhanging rock. Let's go!"
At some stage recently, the group had grown even bigger, as more people wandered over from the beach to join the party, so some forty souls set out to find if X really did mark the spot.
Larry had approached Keir for help with his eye. Keir was getting worried, and had actually been in somewhat of a crisis since his arrival. More and more often, the castaways were turning to him for psychological help, many requesting personal therapy. Keir, being the kind soul that he was, didn't have the heart to refuse them. The problem was that he knew he wasn't qualified for this type of psychology, and he certainly didn't want to get into analytical therapy. The fact that people were starting to call him Doctor, even though he hadn't yet finished his doctorate, he could happily tolerate; even a psychologist is allowed to halve balm for his ego! Yet he was worried he might actually be doing more harm than good by acceding to their requests. And now Larry was asking him for help as a general practitioner! The main problem, he thought, is that not many people understand the differences between their various disciplines. Yet when someone asked him for help, he could not refuse them. The absolute worst part of it all is that he was being paid in sea shells and bananas. Yet, it seemed that whatever power was controlling his destiny since crashing on the island was also in ignorance of the whole affair. Well, it looks like he might just continue his therapy sessions anyway, and he may as well have a look at Larry's eye. It was, after all, convenient for plot development.
The castaways had been walking for some time, Keith diligently following the map, looking around and noting landmarks, staring at the sun to judge compass points, making course corrections, enjoying being the hero. "This should be interesting," he said. "Part of the route goes through a cave, according to this. It should be just up ahead." He picked up his speed and strode away in front of the group. Just rounding a corner, he stopped short. "Oh!"
As the rest of the party caught up, they found the reason for his distress. Ahead were three cave entrances. One had carpets of pretty blue flowers laid out in front of its entrance; one had red lichen growing up and around its mouth; and the third was covered in soft green moss.
"Which way, Keith?" asked Ace. "What's the real alternative?"
"I don't know. The map doesn't mention anything about three caves, and it certainly doesn't give any clues as to which one."
The happy spirit of the party died away. With the time it usually took to make a decision, the prospect of facing yet another one seemed daunting, especially set against the enthusiasm of finding treasure.
"I think we should maybe follow the middle one," said Keith, hesitantly, yet with growing confidence after this decision had been made. "Yes, the middle one, I'm sure of it."
"I agree with you, Keith," said Drumjay. "For some reason I have a hunch that this is right." Several others nodded their heads.
"Well, I don't think so!" declared Aimi. "The cave on the right has the look of the better choice."
"I'm with you on this one, Aimi," said the Captain. Robert and Leelu murmured assent, and Tutahunter danced around in front of the cave before throwing his spear into the entrance.
"No, you guys have got it all wrong. The cave on the left is the obvious choice," said Wendoline.
"Argh, she be right," said Bluebeard. "The air smells fresher from that way."
"Oh, no, don't tell me Bluebeard agrees with me!" groaned Wendoline. She looked around at the people who were ranging behind her. "I'd rather have other people supporting me!"
The castaways were grouping themselves behind each of the spokespersons for each of the caves. The Captain did a quick count and found that each group was exactly even. "Well, maybe this is a better idea. If we split up and each take a cave, at least one group of us is going to be right and find the treasure."
"If it is treasure," said Beck. "Even Keith the Cartographer can't tell us what the map leads to."
"True," said the Captain. "Still, with the alternative of facing yet another round of voting, does everyone agree we all follow the cave which our consciences tell us?" There was a loud aye, despite the obvious irony of voting to not vote. "Okay then. Well, there's no point hanging around. Let's get to it!"
"Hang on a minute!" exclaimed Keir. He turned to the others who were following him. "Jenn, with those strange letters we found earlier, what team were you assigned to?"
"Blue," said Jenn.
"What about you, Fox?"
"Blue," was Fox's reply.
"Kelly, Leanne, Josh?"
"Blue," they all replied.
"Stu, Fabienne, Bluebeard?"
"Blue."
"Blue."
"Argh, blue."
"Wendoline?"
"Blue, but I want to change."
As he asked around, every person who was behind him admitted to being assigned to the blue team.
"And here we have chosen to go through the cave with blue flowers around it. To make it more interesting, they are bluebells," said Keir. "What about you others?"
Drumjay, standing with his group outside the cavern with the red lichen, asked around. Everyone had been assigned to the red team. The final group, led by the Captain, had already disappeared down the mouth of the cave covered in green moss.
"This is getting ominous," said Keir. "There is something very strange going on here."
"Isn't it possible," interjected Keith, "that we have chosen these caves through the power of suggestion? After we were placed in these teams, which seem to have no relevance?"
"But the feeling was too strong," said Fredster. "I just know that we have to follow the red cave."
"While I am positive that we have to follow the blue cave," said Josh.
"Yes, it certainly seems like more than suggestion," said Ghostie.
"Well," sighed Keir, "I guess we may as well follow our intuitions. Okay then, let's all get going."
"Argh!" cried Bluebell, taking the lead into the blue cave astride the ever faithful Fluffy. "Come up, ye sea dogs, the others already have a start on us!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Aimi was thinking how lucky it was that people had brought torches, as she examined the green covered walls of the cave. As pretty as it was, it wasn't exactly the sort of landmark she was looking for; she couldn't really see people flocking to visit Aimi's Dark Cave. Oh well, she would just have to keep her eye out for something else. In the meantime, the thought of buried treasure would keep her spirits up.
The cave looped and turned, switching back upon itself, climbing and descending, until any idea of their location was lost. The air was surprisingly sweet, a gentle breeze playing with her hair. The ground remained soft sand, glowing white in the torchlight, smooth under bare feet. There was a slight dampness to the air, and a constant sound of distant dripping. She sighed heavily, the rest of the party walking on ahead.
They entered a cavern which brought everyone to a halt. It was a smooth, perfect hemisphere, about one hundred feet across. The floor and the walls were polished to a shiny surface, the torchlight reflecting ghostly colours at odd angles. The only breaks in its exact curves were the two rectangular entrances, one behind them, and one directly opposite them on the other side of the cavern.
"This is amazing," breathed Clare. "I've never seen anything like it!"
"It's amazing to think that nature could create something so perfect," said the Captain, awed.
"This could not possibly be natural," said Simon. "No way. This place is becoming more mysterious by the day."
"This cavern gives me the creeps," said Tutahunter nervously. "Let's keep going."
Reluctantly, the group tore themselves away from the majestic cavern and exited through the opposite doorway.
The soft sand had returned when they entered the passageway, and the party walked on. It was impossible to judge the time in the underground darkness, so Aimi had no idea just how long they had been going. Eventually red lichen started to appear growing on the walls, first in small patches, then in ever growing quantities, until the walls were a red mass.
"Oho!" said the Captain. "Light ahead! The end of the tunnel is near."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Kelly was enjoying herself. Some of the other castaways had been prone to moods of occasional gloominess or pessimism, but she was finding the whole adventure to be rollicking good fun. She found the carpet of blue flowers to be soft on her bare feet, the sweetness of the cool damp air exhilarating, and the background sound of dripping water soothing on her soul.
She was glad that people had thought to bring torches, because the cave twisted and turned constantly, back and forth, up and down. She envisioned herself stumbling along through here in the dark, walking face first into a rock face, and giggled at the picture it created, causing a few of the others to give her an odd look. She didn't mind, she was having fun!
They entered a cavern which brought everyone to a halt. It was a smooth, perfect hemisphere, about one hundred feet across. The floor and the walls were polished to a shiny surface, the torchlight reflecting ghostly colours at odd angles. The only breaks in its exact curves were the two rectangular entrances, one behind them, and one directly opposite them on the other side of the cavern.
"This is amazing," breathed Anna. "I've never seen anything like it!"
"It's amazing to think that nature could create something so perfect," said Leanne, awed.
"This could not possibly be natural," said Josh. "No way. This is place becoming more mysterious by the day."
"This cavern gives me the creeps," said Dr Keir nervously. "Let's keep going."
Reluctantly, the group tore themselves away from the majestic cavern and exited through the opposite doorway.
Once into the passage, the soft sand returned to squeeze between Kelly's toes as she walked along. She had given up trying to judge just how long they had been walking, it was too hard to tell in the darkness of underground. She noticed a few small clumps of green moss growing on the walls, the clumps growing larger and joining other clumps as they marched further, until eventually the entire walls were a shimmering green.
"Ahoy!" announced Bluebell. "Thar be light ahead. Methinks the end of the tunnel approaches!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Vicky was wondering why she had felt so strongly that this cave was the one to follow. As she trudged along, the red lichen covered walls, at first so impressive, were now starting to take on a more eerie feel, as if promising of something ominous ahead. Even though the soft breeze was of fresh air, it carried a hint of dampness that started to make her shiver.
She was extremely thankful that someone had the forethought to bring along some torches. She hated the idea of stumbling along here in the dark, the passage turning and twisting, cutting back upon itself, dropping down and then climbing back up again, until she had no idea of the direction they had taken. The constant background sound of dripping water, drip, drip, drip, was setting her teeth on edge. She pushed her way into the middle of group, feeling safer with people both ahead and behind her.
They entered a cavern which brought everyone to a halt. It was a smooth, perfect hemisphere, about one hundred feet across. The floor and the walls were polished to a shiny surface, the torchlight reflecting ghostly colours at odd angles. The only breaks in its exact curves were the two rectangular entrances, one behind them, and one directly opposite them on the other side of the cavern.
"This is amazing," breathed Liz. "I've never seen anything like it!"
"It's amazing to think that nature could create something so perfect," said Fredster, awed.
"This could not possibly be natural," said Sparky. "No way. This is place becoming more mysterious by the day."
"This cavern gives me the creeps," said Penny nervously. "Let's keep going."
Reluctantly, the group tore themselves away from the majestic cavern and exited through the opposite doorway.
Through the passageway, the soft sand had returned underfoot. Although as impressed as the others at the magnificent cavern, once back into the cave, Vicky again made her way into the centre of the group. At least the awful red walls had gone now. Instead, there were occasional clusters of blue flowers on the ground. She tried to avoid stepping on them, but they grew in number, until the whole floor was amass with them.
"Here we go!" announced Keith. "I can see light ahead. We're nearing the end of the cave."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The three groups emerged from the three caves at the exact same moment, all surprised to see each other. When they turned around, they were in for an even greater surprise. One of the cave entrances was covered in soft green moss, another had red lichen growing up and around its mouth, and the third had carpets of pretty blue flowers around its entrance.
"I don't believe it!" cried JMC. "We've ended up back where we started!"
"But we came out of different caves to the ones we entered," said Sparky.
"Yet this is strange," said Simon. "There were no turn offs in the cave, yet we didn't pass anyone going the other way."
"Keith!" said Josh, turning on him. "I thought you were an expert map reader! How could you let this happen?"
Keith was busily examining the map, a puzzled frown on his face. "But it doesn't make sense," he said. "According to the map we should be at the other end, right at the X."
"Wait a minute!" cried the Captain. "This isn't the same place!"
"Yes, you're right," said Fabi. "The caves are in a different order to the ones we entered! See? The blue one is now in the middle, the red one on the right, the green on the left."
"Aha!" said Keith. "Yes, that's correct. And the X should be. . ." He took several steps forward. "Right here!"
Everyone excitedly started digging in the soft sand. Several feet were excavated when a glimpse of wood appeared. They kept removing the sand, revealing a wooden chest, which was then hauled to the surface.
"Captain, you should have the honour of opening it, since it was your map," said Aimi. There were general murmurs of assent.
The Captain nervously pulled the lid slowly upwards, everyone crowded around with baited breath. With a whispered, "here we go," he suddenly threw the lid back.
Inside, the chest was empty. The group visibly wilted, expectations of buried treasure gone, dashed in the afternoon sun. The Captain reached in and pulled out a lone piece of old, curled paper. He unfurled it at read out loud.
I bid the world a sad farewell,
Now free to leave this Island hell,
Where time speeds up and then stands still,
The seasons changing course at will,
Nothing here is as it seems,
The shadows hide within your dreams,
There is no south nor west or east,
Just north defined by smoking beast,
Choose a path but choose it well,
Beware the nooks where creatures dwell,
Alone apart from trusty steed,
By my own sword, I'll soon be freed,
With promises of earth bound heaven,
We set our course in 37,
Our El Dorado never found,
We floundered whilst still journey bound,
All men and women of the crew,
I trusted each, all 42,
At first it seemed that all was well,
This paradise where all things dwell,
The days were fine until the breeze,
Would fill my crew mates with ill ease,
The nights, by fire, were all well lit,
But still the dark consumed their wit,
Each one in turn felt icy blast,
Then met with spirits from the past,
To those that tread our path, take heed,
Do not become obsessed by greed,
When sleep becomes your only friend,
Accept the clues that angels send,
If you take sides, remain well planned,
For good and bad walk hand in hand,
I know, one day, some more will walk,
This isle where beasts and shadows stalk,
To those, I leave, my final verse,
And prey you live to fight the curse,
Yellowbeard
A chill breeze blew as the Captain finished, the castaways standing around in ominous silence.
"What does that mean?" puzzled the Captain.
"It means this place really is cursed," said Keir.
"But more so, what do we do now?" asked Nina.
"We should go hunting!" yelled Tutahunter, thumping his chest.
"That's the seven hundred and thirty seventh time you've said that, Tutahunter," said Sparky. "I've been counting."
"Well, I'm annoyed that we've turned down exploring my volcano yet again," said Wendoline.
"And I still want to find a landmark we can name after me," said Aimi.
"None of which will help us solve this most recent mystery," said the Captain. "Yet I can't think of any course that will let us investigate this Yellowbeard further."
"There are still a couple of containers back on the beach which we haven't opened," said Dr Keir. "I wonder if they'll help us?"
"Well, our adventures seem to be getting progressively longer. I really get the feeling that someone has way too much time on their hands," said the Captain. "Okay, so here's our now standard three way decision. We can explore Wondoline's Volcano, we can find a landmark for Aimi, or we can open containers with Dr Keir. Which shall it be?"
What course of action should the castaways decide on next? YOU DECIDE!
A - Explore Wendoline's Volcano.
B - Find a landmark to name after Aimi.
C - Open the remaining containers with Dr Keir.
Vote now, A, B, or C!
A - 9
B - 4
C - 11