Chapter 4 #6
De situation got very scary—very fast. We started to slide and were scrambling to find a hand or foothold.
Both of us ’ad a pretty good inclination dat dis was going to drop into a chamber.
We were tied off at de entrance to de cave, but yer mind and body still panic.
So, we finally got our bearings back, right before we were about to fall from de chute into de chamber.
While we were bracing ourselves and adjusting our equipment to work our way back up de chute, dese strange noises from de chamber grabbed our attention. ”
At this point I was hanging on Ronan’s every word. “It was bats, wasn’t it? What the hell else would be in a cave?” My eyes were begging him to say it was bats, but my mind knew it probably wasn’t bats.
“Pizza’s ’ere,” Ronan said, pointing over my shoulder to the approaching delivery driver. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the money as I stood up from the chair.
“Thanks for coming to the back to drop those off,” I said as I handed him the money for the pizza and a bit extra for himself and the trouble.
I used to work in customer service, and it’s something I felt everyone should do at least once.
It puts things into perspective. I set the pizzas down on the table and went into the house.
I returned a few moments later with two fresh beers, paper plates, and napkins.
“So, let’s get back to that story,” I said, handing him a beer and a plate.
I set the napkins on the table and opened the boxes to survey my options.
Both pies looked delicious, but I wanted to try the local suggestion first. Ronan stood up and pulled a couple of slices onto his plate and sat back down.
“So, we stopped just short of falling into de chamber,” he continued in between bites.
“We were trying to come up wit a plan to get back up de shaft when we ’eard de noise deep inside de chamber again.
Falling silent, we were able to discern dat de noise was water moving, and I don’t mean like a river flowing or a waterfall dumping into a pool of water beneath it.
I mean something living dat was treading through very shallow water.
De sound was slowly getting closer, and Ray motioned for me to start climbing back toward de entrance to de shaft.
I braced meself and felt around until I found a place to pull myself up.
I was attempting to be as quiet as possible while also moving quickly.
I began to make ’eadway while Ray waited where ’e was.
He didn’t want to risk me slipping and coming down on top of ’im.
As soon as I got out, I started pulling on ’is rope, trying to get ’im up as fast as possible. ”
Ronan took a big bite of pizza and reached for his beer bottle to wash it down before he proceeded.
“An earsplitting screech rang out from de chamber. Gusts of air wafted through de shaft, ’itting me in de face.
I ’eard him yelling to pull faster, and I could ’ear claws raking against de rocks.
I put everyting I ’ad into pulling on dat rope, one ’and over de other.
When ’e finally came scrambling out of de entrance, ’is knees and arms ’ad scrapes and blood all over dem.
All de scratches and blood came from ’im banging against de rock in de shaft trying to get out, but I didn’t know dat at de time. ”
“What was it? Did he see what it was?” I asked, hoping he saw something.
“He collapsed just outside de cave, gasping fer air. When ’e finally was able to calm down enough to speak, ’e said dat ’e wasn’t sure what it was, but ’e was damn sure it was big.
De ting tried and tried to get to Ray, but it was far too large to fit into de shaft.
Dat part made us more nervous because chances were it wasn’t trapped in dat cave; it called it ’ome.
It ’ad to ’ave a way in and out, at least dat’s what we assumed.
Honestly, though, what could ’ave been dat big and living in a cave?
It obviously ’ad wings. Otherwise, where were de gusts of wind originating from?
Inside a cave? I can’t tink of anything, can ye? ”
“Not off the top of my head. Thunderbird… where is that supposed to be? Is that possible? I know I have heard Grandpa talk about it, but I’m not entirely sure where it was located.
That would explain the scratching, screeching, and the wings.
I’m not sure if a huge bird would live in a cave or not, though.
I am far from an expert on this subject. ”
“I don’t know what kind of tree would ’old a nest dat large. Maybe if it doesn’t want to be found, den a cave would work well. However, I still find dat ’ighly unlikely. It is a bird, and dey don’t normally live inside. On de other ’and, it isn’t exactly a sparrow either.”
“I would say you are far better equipped to give insight into what the creature may have been than I am.”
“Dat may be true, but I do know dat when ye are scared, yer brain tends to play tricks on ye. What I can say for sure is dat we were both scared, and neither of us saw it or any clues as to what it was. Dere weren’t any giant feathers lying about.”
“Did you find dragon scales?” I giggled, realizing the beer kicked in and I was having a good time.
“Nye, no dragon scales,” he said sarcastically.
“We ’ad always meant to go back to dat cave with a plan and perhaps a few more people.
To find another way in—a bigger, safer way.
Dat is easier said dan done, though. De entrance de ting was using couldn’t ’ave been anywhere near dat chamber.
It would ’ave just come around and nabbed us.
It takes years to learn cave systems and dey should be mapped for de people dat come after so people know deir way back out.
Animals ’ave de upper ’and in a situation like dat. ”
“So, there is a chance you could go back and find out what the creature was. Are you going to continue to do this work if I tell you that I don’t want to?”
“I would continue to do it; it’s really part of who I am and ’ow I live.
I ’ave to be ’onest and say dat I do ’ope dat ye will take over for Ray.
It will make me job more enjoyable for certain, and it will be nice seeing it all brand new, through someone else’s eyes.
We would get to spend more time together chasing new adventures.
However, I want ye to be sure. I do not want ye to say yes because of dat.
I want to spend time with ye regardless. ”
“Spending time with you sounds intriguing, but I haven’t thought too much about the rest. Well, at least I haven’t come to any sort of conclusion yet.
It’s a big decision, and I don’t want to take it on and then feel like I’m letting him down.
Also, for some odd reason, I get the distinct feeling that if I say I will do it, then I will be sort of stuck keeping my word.
Kind of weird, I guess to feel that way. ”
“It might feel dat way because once ye become a believer, or ye see actual evidence wit yer own two eyes, dere is no coming back from dat. Ye will know and question everyting for de rest of yer life. Ye will wonder what else is out dere and start to believe dat all folklore is rooted in truth on some level.”
“I could see that being true. I have this weird obsession with having to know things. I will investigate until I have exhausted all options for gaining the information I am seeking, no matter what that information may be.”
“I’m going to use de bathroom and get a beer. Would ye like one?”
“Yes, please.” As Ronan walked away, I picked up my phone and tried once again to call Char.
“Jos!”
“Charlotte! Where the hell are you?”
“I’ve been with this guy. I’m getting ready to come back to the house now. Sean has to work in the morning.”
“Yeah, I really could give a shit less what Sean has to do in the morning. You didn’t think to call to let me know that you were okay?
I have been calling and calling, and you couldn’t even call me back or at least text.
I swear you don’t even fucking think sometimes.
As long as you’re doing whatever the fuck you want, then just screw everybody else.
Do what you want, I don’t give a fuck. Glad to know you’re alive. ”
I hung up the phone before she had a chance to come back with some bullshit response.
She was going to do one of two things: she would either get mad and confrontational if she was feeling froggy, or she would act as though this was all just me being upset about her welfare.
So, she would be happy that someone was concerned and worried about her.
All is right with the world as long as the world is revolving around Char.
Ronan dangled a beer in front of my face, snapping me from my angry thoughts.
“Are ye okay?” he asked as he sat down.
“Yeah, just reminding my cousin that she’s selfish. I do that more often than I should have to, and it gets exhausting.”
“Family in general can be exhausting. Dat tends to be why most people only spend a limited amount of time wit dem. It can be frustrating to say de least.”
“Well, I am done talking about Char. She is supposedly on her way back here, and I couldn’t care less. I kind of wish she wasn’t.”
“Do ye want to go for a stroll? We can try to figure out what was in de bushes de other night.”
“If you plan on getting me to go for a walk with you late at night in the pitch black, then let me enlighten you. Beer ain’t gonna cut it; there is, however, a bottle of whiskey in the cupboard above the fridge. I saw it earlier today.”
“I will be right back; nothing wrong wit a little liquid courage.”