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After two days of hard climbing they reached the fifth terrace. Hiszt and the dragons had returned shortly after Dave and the others had met the arachnids. A platoon of dragons glided back and forth along the cliff, keeping an eye on their climb. From the cloud pattern below, it looked like another storm was in full swing in the depths of Sheol.
The fifth terrace on the west side of the Sheol rift was a pleasant place with green meadows, huge trees, and abundant game. The dragons liked it; it was at the limit of their flying ability and so would rarely attract brown dragons from below. They only lacked caves for sleeping and nesting.
After the group caught up on their sleep, Linder called a planning meeting. “Al, we’re wondering where we’re heading next.”
Al looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know Floyd. I know I can’t go home, because I know in my heart that Pam and Little Thomas are still alive. But I’m out of ideas.” His voice quavered. “Everywhere we have looked has turned up evidence that they are probably dead.”
“For my part,” said Linder, “I’ve set up the mini cell tower and scanned for Little Thomas’ signal. I’ve seen nothing. I know it’s hard Al, but perhaps circumstances are telling you it’s time to head home.”
“I just can’t do that.” Al couldn’t keep the pain from showing on his face. “Listen, my friends, you have done more than I have any right to expect. You’ve gone far beyond the call of duty. I think you should head home. I cannot in good conscience keep you here when I don’t even know where to go next myself.”
The discussion continued. Thomas, Dave, Arlana, and Hanomer were adamant about staying with Al. Linder, Makalo, Chartrand, and Larsen reluctantly decided to head home. Tandor had remained silent but said after everyone had decided, “I will go with them in case they meet some of the rebel clan, but I will return once they are safe on Abaddon Plain.
Al gave Makalo a hand-written power of attorney on paper taken from his notebook, along with a short video recorded on Makalo’s cell phone in which he signed the document, instructing Makalo to look after his assets and continue to pay the taxes on his property. He also gave each of his returning friends a letter reaffirming that he was on a long trip and could not be reached. The next day, the home-bound friends packed up their gear for the long climb up to the Abaddon plain. Linder had left the mini station for Al. Dave was reorganizing his pack when he overheard Al and Thomas talking.
“Thomas, shouldn’t you go home too? You have done more than any brother should.”
“I don’t want to leave you in the lurch again, Al.”
“And you won’t. Dave, Arlana, and Hanomer all have a reason for staying, since this is their world even if it isn’t their continent. They will look after me, and they will help me keep looking. It would be a comfort to me to know you are safe at home.”
Thomas reluctantly agreed to return with the others.
The group that remained worked to make their camp more permanent. They built lean-tos, fished, and smoked the fish they caught, repaired torn clothes, and patched their shoes.
Four days after Thomas and the other five had left, Dave returned to the dragon camp from another early morning fishing expedition. Although Al loved to fish, he had not gone with him, but had gone off by himself. Since he had not yet returned, Dave worried about his friend and went in search of him.
He found Al sitting at the edge of the cliff with his Bible open and head bowed as he looked into the depths of Sheol.
I guess he needs some time to pray about what to do next, thought Dave.
He quietly went back to camp and found Hiszt waiting for him. “Little one,” said Hiszt, “we found a cave a one-minute flight away, but it may be a rock-borer hole. Will you come explore it with me?”
“Sure Hiszt.” Hanomer and Arlana wanted to come along. The three walked northwest in the direction Hiszt had indicated. An hour later they saw Hiszt standing at the entrance of a round hole about three meters in diameter. A slope of pebbles the size and shape of marbles at the entrance of the hole looked like the discharge from a pipe.
“Sure looks like a rock-borer hole to me,” said Dave. “Can you burn rock-borers with that fire of yours?”
“I think fire would cause them some discomfort, but not kill them. The great black dragons have such power in their thoughts that they can control rock-borers and bend them to their will. I am too weak to do that alone, but I thought, little one, since I have felt the power of your thoughts during our flight, perhaps together, we would be strong enough to control one.”
“I’m listening.”
“Put your hand on my flank to link telepathically.”
Dave did so and found he no longer had to speak.
Reach out with your thoughts little one. The rock-borer will feel cold and unfriendly.
Dave did so, but could feel nothing.
Let us go in, little one. Keep your hand on my flank and keep reaching for contact with your mind.
They walked forward down the tunnel. Dave tried hard to concentrate, but also had to mind his feet to avoid stepping into narrow chasms that frequently crossed the tunnel.
Do you feel the mental touch yet, little one?
Dave tried hard and could almost imagine a mental presence—cold and alien. The mental touch grew stronger.
Yes, I think I feel it Hiszt.
They walked further. So far, they had not reached any side corridors. The mental touch grew stronger.
The rock-borer is coming toward us, Dave. Now bend all your strength with mine to turn it.
They stopped walking and Dave reached out to that touch and commanded it to turn. It kept getting stronger. It kept coming nearer.
It’s coming for us. We have to get out of here, thought Dave to himself.
Steady Dave, steady. Keep thinking. Keep commanding.
Dave shoved his fears aside and redoubled his effort to control the rock-borer. He sensed the creature stop. There was a change in the coldness he was feeling. Implacable enmity became reluctant compliance.
Now we make our dragon dens, little one. Thank you. We are not strong enough alone to bend a rock-borer to our will, but now that we control it, one of us will be sufficient to guide it. We will have to take turns until the job is done. I think once we release the beast it will flee to keep us from snaring it again.
Hiszt took the first shift. Dave and Arlana went back to camp and packed up their supplies. It was mid-afternoon and Al had still not returned, so they left him a long note describing what they were doing and where they were, should he need them, and inviting him to join them when he was ready. They picked up their supplies and made camp outside the rock-borer hole.
Dave tried to catch a couple of hours of sleep. Arlana and Hanomer looked after hunting and meal preparation to enable Dave to take his shift in controlling the rock-borer. When Dave awoke, he ate a quick meal and went to look for Hiszt. He found the dragon further into the cave than he had left him, and saw the rock-borer working his way back to their main camp, cutting an opening every hundred meters.
As long as the rock-borer was under control, one of them was enough to control it. To assume his shift, Dave joined Hiszt in the link. While linked, Hiszt described his plan of four entrances. He had already caused the rock-borer to cut a passage into a small cavern, which would serve the females as a nursery.
Dave took over. Hiszt stayed with him a few minutes to make sure Dave didn’t lose control of the rock-borer, then said “goodbye,” and waddled out of the tunnel.
It was a grim six hours as Dave concentrated on directing the rock-borer, but doing so proved to be easier than he had anticipated. The rock-borer made a thumping sound as it advanced. It seemed to know exactly where it was in the rock, so over time, Dave was able to capture a mental picture of where they were with respect to the cliff face. If the rock-borer found a crevice or a pit, it could discharge the gravel there, otherwise it had to make the trip back to the nearest tunnel mouth to spew out the debris.
Dave drove the borer on relentlessly. His control of the creature was getting so good that he could stop the rock-borer when less than six inches of rock separated the beast from open air. In this way, he constructed a set of secret entrances, which would only be opened in an emergency.
This is fun!