| It was bright here?the ceiling was dazzling, like in the big room but much
closerThe light danced off the vapor, creating a shimmering curtain that almost blinded meMy
eyes struggled to adjust, and I clutched at Jeb's hand in panic
I was surprised that the strangely fluid babble did not respond in any way to our entrance
Perhaps they couldn't see us yet, either
?It's a bit close in here,? Jeb said apologetically, fanning at the steam in front of his faceHis
voice was relaxed, conversational in tone, and loud enough to make me jumpHe spoke as if we
were not surroundedAnd the babble continued, oblivious to his voice
?Not that I'm complaining,? he continued?I'd be dead several times over if this place didn't
existThe very knock off gucci wallets first time I got stuck in the caves, of courseAnd now, we'd never be able to
hide out here without itWith no hiding place, we're all dead, right??
He nudged me with his elbow, a conspiratorial gesture
?Mighty convenient, how it's laid outCouldn't have planned it much better if I'd sculpted it
myself out of play dough
His laugh cleared a section of mist, and I saw the room for the first time
Two rivers flowed through the dank, high-domed spaceThis was the chatter that filled my
ears?the water gushing over and under the purple volcanic rockJeb spoke as if we were alone
because we were
It was really only one river and one small streamThe stream was closest; a shallow braided
ribbon of silver in the light from above, balenciaga whistle bag coursing between low stone banks that it seemed
constantly in danger of overrunningA feminine, high-pitched murmur purred from its gentle
ripples
The male, bass gurgle came from the river, as did the thick clouds of vapor that rose from the
gaping holes in the ground by the far wallThe river was black, submerged under the floor of
the cavern, exposed by wide, round erosions along the length of the roomThe holes looked
dark and dangerous, the river barely visible as it rushed powerfully toward an invisible and
unfathomable destinationThe water seemed to simmer, such was the heat and steam it
producedThe sound of it, too, was like that of boiling water
From the ceiling hung a few long, narrow stalactites, dripping toward cheap chanel bags the stalagmites beneath
each oneThree of them had met, forming thin black pillars between the two bodies of flowing
water
?Got to be careful in here,? Jeb said?Quite a current in the hot springIf you fall in, you're
gone He bowed his head at the memory, his face sober
The swift black eddies of the subterranean river were suddenly horrible to meI imagined being
caught in their scalding current and shuddered
Jeb put his hand lightly on my shoulderJust watch your step and you'll be fine
Now,? he said, pointing to the far end of the cavern, where the shallow stream ran into a dark
cave, ?the first cave back there is the bathing roomWe've dug the floor out to make a nice,
deep tubThere's a schedule for taking baths, but louis vuitton denim monogram privacy's not usually an issue?it's black as
pitchThe room's nice and warm so close to the steam, but the water won't burn you like the
hot spring hereThere's another cave just past that one, through a creviceWe've widened the
entrance up to a comfortable sizeThat room is the farthest we can follow the stream?it drops
underground thereSo we've got that room fixed up as the latrineConvenient and sanitary
His voice had assumed a complacent tone, as if he felt credit was due to him for nature's
creationsWell, he had discovered and improved the place?I supposed some pride was justified
?We don't like to waste batteries, and most of us know the floor here by heart, but since it's
your first time, you can find your way with chanel bags this |