Twin Earth

Chapter 35

I followed Rachel and Adom back down the stairs and into a similar lift we had been in earlier, but this time it went much deeper down into the complex and I began to feel anxious. I had never been one for going underground just as much as I wasn't one for going into space. I was more of a happy medium kind of guy. Both were too claustrophobic in my opinion. I was also feeling a little perturbed about Adom and Rachel's friendship. I knew she had settled in quickly and was lapping up all the attention the Mochuvians were giving her, but this felt just wrong.

'Do they have a... thing?' I wondered to myself as I stood behind them in the lift, watching them smiling at each other as they spoke in hushed tones. I was beginning to feel like a child again, sat in the back of my parents battered old Ford Cortina in the eighties. They too would do this weird muffled talking to prevent me from overhearing whatever they were discussing, or arguing about in their case, but all it did was catch my attention even more and cause me to listen harder, which was exactly what I was doing now.

"I am here you know," I declared from behind, causing them both to jump and look at me, but instead they ignored me and turned away, then simply stood in silence as we waited for the lift to stop.

Eventually we reached the level we needed to be and Adom directed us out and into what I can only describe as a burrowed-out cave tunnel.

"Where the hell are we?" I asked in surprise as Rachel and I took in our new surroundings. The sides of the tunnel were made from rock, chiselled by thousands of hands from probably thousands of years ago, but long dis-used and covered in mineral deposits that hang from every crevice.

"This way," Adom replied, ignoring my question and turning on a torch. "We have a long way to go."

Intrigued, I followed behind for what must have been at least five miles along the damp underground tunnel, before we eventually entered a huge cavern.

"Wow," I breathed, stumbling over some rocks as I gawped at the high ceiling, where massive stalactites hung in huge clusters from the roof. "Limestone," I breathed in recognition and then bending down to a vast pool in the centre of the room and marvelling at the clearness of the water.

"You can drink it," Adom replied, walking over and cupping his hands to wash his face, and I did as he suggested as even though we were in a cave, it was surprisingly humid.

"Oh my god," I whispered, looking at Adom. "This tastes so fresh. Is this what you pump up into the complex?"

"No, we use recycled water," Adom replied, matter-of-factly.

"You use what? Why would you use recycled water when you have this?" I asked confused, not wishing to find out what was being recycled exactly.

"I'm not really sure why. It is just the way things are now."

"So you used to drink this water?"

"We used to live down here."

"Live?" I asked, looking round. "But, it's a cave, except... wait, where's that light coming from? That's not from you is it?" I asked.

I suddenly realised that the huge cavern had a glow about it that lit up the rocks and reflected off the water, causing ripples to move on the walls. It made the place seem less cold, almost inviting with a peacefulness about it. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it at first. It almost made all the disaster scenarios I'd experienced recently seem like a distant memory. Adom had even turned his torch off completely.

"Follow me," Adom replied, standing up and walking back over to Rachel who had rested on a nearby rock.

Hurrying after him and Rachel, we made our way along the path adjacent to the pool and around the corner where I was stunned to see a jungle appear in front of us. It was small plants at first, bits of grass, the odd delicate flower hidden in a crevice, but then bright light emanated down from somewhere above over a complete miniature version of the jungle landscape above, but it was cooler, still misty with a dewy haze in the air, but cooler. The pool had trickled into a river that now flowed beside us and as I looked down, I could see freshwater turtles swimming amongst the pebbles. The jungle floor was also abundant with plants and flowers, unlike the harsh landscape above, with orchids and ferns and various flowering trees, where butterflies buzzed happily.

"The trees... they're so much shorter," I mumbled in awe, looking around and pulling vines away from my head as we edged forward. I could even hear birds chirping in the distance and the familiar sound of earth-like animals up in the canopy. "What is this place?"

"We call this the founding land. It is where we first came and where many of our ellipses used to be before they were taken," Adom replied, taking out a machete and chopping his way through some dense foliage.

"But why do you not live here anymore? It's stunning, and clearly a lot more hospitable than what's above ground. If this is even below ground anymore. Where is the light coming from?" I asked, looking up and shielding my eyes from the sun-light.

Pausing for breath, Adom stood up straight and put his knife away, turning to help Rachel over a small log that was in her way.

"People didn't want to stay," he finally replied, with a hint of sadness.

"How come?" Rachel asked.

"Once we found the technology of the creators, no-one wanted to live like our ancestors anymore. We lost many of our old traditions and way of life. In just a few years, all this was left behind to move into the complex above. People felt it was safer, and more protected from the underdeveloped."

"Maybe so, but it's crazy to leave such a beautiful haven," I replied, almost annoyed. The miniature jungle was so much homelier and more desirable than the stark futuristic man-made complex above.

"This area is where the cave collapsed many thousands of years ago, flooding it with light, and I guess over-time life took over, hundreds of metres below ground. It is truly a marvel I agree and one I personally miss," Adom replied, looking around at the self-contained mini eco-system that we had entered. "We have many species of animals and plants, even bats here that would be familiar to you on Earth. I can understand why you like it too."

"Something we finally have in common," I remarked. "So, where is the creator's ellipse?"

"It is in the old ruins that we built around it. Come, I will show you. It is not far from here."

We walked for a further half an hour, deeper into the rain-forest and although I was sweaty, it was a relief to be in a place that felt similar to earth's climate, until eventually we came across a temple-like ruin that was straight out of a Mayan history book.

"This looks familiar," Rachel smiled, trotting over to the base of the steps that led up to the square shaped pyramid.

"It does?" Adom asked surprised.

"Why yes, we have lots of ruins like this on Earth, from your people."

"So, they survived. I am happy."

"I'd use the term survived, loosely though," I added, coming up behind and wiping my forehead. "Even this one looks in better condition that the tourist ridden ones in South America."

"South America?" Adom asked confused.

"It's what we call your ancestral home, but anyway, that's another story. So, what is this place?" I asked, trying to change the subject as Adom studied me with a perplexed expression of confusion and concern.

"This houses the creator's ellipse. There are many of these temples amongst the trees, but they are all empty. Please, go on up."

"Go up?" I asked surprised. "You seem so casual about it. Is it safe?"

"Oh come on Tom, you've finally made it. Act at least a little pleased," Rachel replied, jogging up the steps, closely followed by Adom and leaving me alone looking like a lost puppy.

"Fine," I muttered, clambering up the steep steps covered in moss. "But feel free to start without me."