The Tunnels
“H elp…”
Constance couldn’t leave the man behind the wall all alone. Her soft and caring heart just couldn't do it. She’d tried her best to interpret the words but couldn’t. Finally, she’d picked up a rock and begun carving into the wall, hoping she could create a small tunnel through to the man.
“Help…”
“I know. I know,” she said. “You need help. I’m trying to get through to you. Be patient.”
“Help…”
She didn’t reply this time. This guy was insistent and borderline stupid. She still wouldn't leave without helping him.
“Help…” The words came again but this time the second word made sense. “You.”
Constance stopped carving. “What did you say?”
“Help you!”
“How? What is that supposed to mean…?” Then her eyes widened against the semi-darkness. “You want to help me?”
“Yes!”
“Who are you?”
“Ude.”
“Ude?”
“Ude!”
“Your name is Ude?”
“Ude!”
“Not again,” Constance said. “Please focus, how can you help me?”
“Ude.”
“I get it. Your name is Ude. I need a better description of you.”
“Ude!”
“Really? Okay, tell me how you plan to help me.”
A silence came then she could make out a few words. “The opening.”
“Which opening.”
“Opening before…”
She cocked her head, glimpsing a side tunnel a few meters behind her. “You want to meet me in one of the side tunnels?”
A powerful knock came on the wall.
“Does that knock mean yes?”
“Yes!”
“All right.” Constance crawled back. It was exhausting, almost impossible, but the opening wasn’t that far away. “I’m coming.”
“Ude!”
“Not again. Just wait for me. Could you please not say Ude again? It’s getting on my…”
Suddenly, she found herself at the opening. Aiming the flashlight deeper in, she realized the opening widened a great deal in the distance. “How did I miss that?” She thumped her head with her fist. Constance didn’t like stupid people, and she was stupid not using the side tunnels.
On all fours, she crawled, fast enough to risk inuring her knees and palms.
The tunnel widened all of a sudden, and to her surprise, she could stand. It wasn't easy, as her stiff body had gotten used to her previous position. But she was curious to meet Ude.
In the distance she saw someone in a red cloak. She couldn't see his face.
“Ude?” She squinted.
“Dude!” The voice came. It was from a young man, much older than her, of course.
“Your name is Dude.” She laughed.
“Yes.”
“Why are you here?”
“To help you.”
“Why do you want to help me? How did you know about me being in the tunnels?”
“You talk too much, Constance.”
“And you know my name.”
“I will tell you all about me when we find a way out for you and your friends.”
“They’ll be happy to know that the tunnel widens here, but how are they supposed to reach this place with the narrower tunnel before?”
“I will help you. Just stop asking questions.”
“And how can you help me, Dude?”
This time the Dude said nothing. He pulled out an old map, showing the architecture of the tunnels, only it was two hundred years old.