though any bones lined its floors. To the left of us the cave turned an abrupt corner and little could be seen up it, the walls of this route however were lined with the writings which had up to this point been constant within the cave. To the right the water flowed and the dark walls of the place appeared to remain at a constant width, neither were there etchings upon its walls. ‘Twas for this reason we first decided to take the route.
“I am confident the water will run to an exit, Rike, without the light to guide us it is our best hope.” The boatswain spoke with confidence to the captain, however I could see Rike’s hesitance as he himself had no real idea of what to do at this dilemma. After some time thinking in silence he nodded at Sollertis.
“Not a word lads, tread as lightly as you can manage, do not so much as disturb a rock or bone on the ground, you ‘ear?” Gazing back at the crew they each nodded to the captain, and with one more hesitant glance at the other two cave routes the captain began to lead us into the right hand passage of the cave.
As we made our way the cool air which had managed to keep myself somewhat relaxed quickly resided and the air became thick and humid. The fires which burned through our torches did not help the heat as the sweat poured from every man that I could see. ‘Twas not long into our trek down the first passage way that we quickly became aware of a quiet sound constantly resonating far away down the cave’s passageway. At first hearing this sound Captain Rike slowed us up, bringing his crew to a quiet halt so that we might decide just what it was we could hear.
“Sollertis, what do you recon it could be?” Before the boatswain could answer, May spoke up.
“Sounds like fallin’ water, captain.”
“Indeed I think you are right, Arnold, with any luck it is another opening allowing the water free fall.” Sollertis whispered as the captain tried desperately to look down the pitch black route.
“‘ow far do you recon it falls, May?” Rike squinted in the light which our torches offered.
“It sounds as though it’s not a vast drop, captain.” Repeatedly nodding it seemed those words were enough to convince Rike to move on. Signalling, we began a slow pace towards the sound that we hoped would lead us to our freedom.
The closer we got the louder the water echoed throughout the cave, at last we could make out the verge of its fall through the fire light and Rike began to walk faster towards the sight. The closer we got the more excited we became, and the efforts to keep quiet were forgotten, we trampled across the cave’s floor and almost running collided into one another as Rike abruptly halted our movement.
“Shhh!” He turned about to us with his finger across his lips, and at that moment the staggered curdling call that we heard in the jungle echoed out with great resonance throughout the cave’s passageway. Every man immediately ducked to his knees. The sound was so close and loud that it shred a shiver through me just to hear it, ‘twas like nothing I had heard in all my time. Rike pulled a most peculiar look at Sollertis who himself seemed stricken with fear. The verge of the waterfall was just feet away from us yet for the moment we were all frozen.
The deafening call staggered out again before the sound of what must have been a large boulder was heard being struck against something. Again the sound called out and this time something was thrown at the verge of the waterfall and Rike immediately signalled we make our way back down the passage.
“Should we not inspect first, Rike?” Sollertis queried.
“Nay, matey, I ‘ath lost too many men upon this excursion already. There’ll be no more death whilst these men remain under mi command.” At that time it was comforting to know we would be taking no more risks. We turned slowly, and rose even slower to our feet, then with a steady step attempted to silently move back down the way. As quickly as we began two more calls rang out with a deafening pitch through the cave and all thoughts for care were lost. We broke into a sprint and every one of us ran for our lives spurred by the others’ paranoia. I was sure as we ran we were being chased and my imagination got the worse of me spurring my speed as the mass of footsteps echoed through the cave’s walkway.
We did not stop until we reached the split in the passageways and on arrival every man either leant against the walls of the place or laid down upon its floor to gather his breathe.
“Whats you recon ‘em were, cap’n?” A wheezing deckhand asked.
“I’d rather not know, lad.” With rapier drawn the captain leant his clenched hands upon his knees to catch his breath as we all rested breathing heavily.
“How do we know that sound was not just some undiscovered harmless bird, and that in fact that route was the way out?” Sollertis stood with his hands rested upon his head.
“A bird that ‘urls boulders, bos’n? If you wish to take a look down that waterfall, Sollertis, go ahead.” The boatswain shook his head and looked at the rest of us.
“It could’a been a monster, bos’n, like that what Liner seen.” A deckhand blurted out. Sollertis released a great sigh rubbing his eyes with his fingers.
“Oh yes of course. And what does a monster look like, Roberts?”
“They be big an’ ‘airy wi’ teeth!”
“Some o’ of ‘em be big an’ wi’ fish fins. Wi’ teeth, I ‘ave seen ‘em in pictures, bos’n. who could ‘ave drawn ‘em if they ‘adn’t seen ‘em first?”
“Well you do have me there, I guess it must have been a monster.” At Sollertis’ words the deckhand’s face turned to a look of dread.
“Really, bos’n?”
“Yes, we will all most certainly be eaten by something big and hairy, with teeth!” He looked at me and raised his eyebrows looking up at the ceiling of the cave. No matter how dire a situation was, Sollertis’ sarcasm had always put a smile on my face, slightly calmed I turned to look at Rike. For all the time we spoke I noticed he had been staring down the passage we had just returned from in silence, looking out into the blackness.
“Shall we split up, capt’n? There be only two ways left to search.” Attempting to get Rike’s attention I called out to him across the cave. He shook his head and slowly turned around.
“Nay, best we stick together, and there aint no such thing as monsters, lads, don’t let your imagination be the end o’ you. Come, we’ll try the left route this time the other looks as though it runs to a dead end. Sailor, keep your eyes on our back.”
“Aye, capt’n.” I nodded and with the order given Rike made his way to the head of the crew to lead us through to the passageway where the walls, ceiling to floor of the cave, were completely covered in some unknown white carvings.
The cave floor rose steadily upwards as we made our way, we marched for much time, the floor of this pathway was covered with bones, they were far more numerous than the cave’s initial passageway however there were still no skulls to be seen. We stopped briefly at moments throughout the tunnel to light further torches and simply listen and look out for any signs or sounds of life.
This route was deafly silent bar the sound of what was left of the crew’s scuffling feet. I kept watch at the back end of the men for whatever Rike had heard down the last passage had obviously troubled his mind. Whatever he had seen too as Lupino had shut the cave door had put him on edge. I had never seen him spooked as he was in that cave, I shudder at the thought of what might have been down there.
After what seemed like an endless trek up the never ceasing rise of the cave’s walkway the captain at last brought us all to a halt. I ordered a deckhand to continue watching the crew’s back and made my way amongst the men. Captain Rike was stood next to Sollertis, both men had their torches held high in the air. I immediately noticed that the cave opened out into a small chamber. It was most chilling to see that within the centre of the circular room rested a great mound of skulls, no other bone particles rested on the stone floor. Looking to the walls, it was also unsettling to see that the ancient scripture had finished and the entire ceiling, all the way down to the floor, and the floor itself had strange figures drawn all over t
hem.
The crew stepped into the stone chamber and we stared about in amazement at that which we saw. There were drawings of men who stood with the bodies of animals, most frequently the pictures displayed men with human heads carrying spears fighting men who stood with the heads of what could only be described as Achilles. They appeared to have great claws and large jaws with protruding teeth. Much of the pictures displayed both sides of the combatants with great numbers of their people laying down bloody. There were many images of the strange humanoid animals being cast off of the island as the armies of the two different people clashed.
As the cave wall circled the chamber so the story went on. The humans with the heads of wolves were outnumbered and butchered. Their leaders were gathered up and their treasures amassed together, they were dragged away and beheaded before all the people on the island. When the last of their kind was slain a display of ghostly entities was drawn to be leaving the body of the animal and infecting every last body that remained standing. In a torrential outburst the waters that surrounded the island rose up imprisoning all that remained living or dead on the isle. With the rest of the human kind laying down the few that escaped from the event were drawn dragging a large treasure chest away with them with the remains of the dead animal