Inside Man | ONC2023

17. More Caves

(Author's Note: this chapter is dedicated to my new ONC friend wdhenning  and his action packed Sci-Fi story for the ONC2023, The Phobos Transit Quilters Guild)

Paul walked carefully around the disturbed area, wondering how on Belus Kam had ever found this place. He couldn't believe he had stumbled upon it while carrying Rik. Surely, he must have known of the cave's existence before the spontaneous kidnapping. Perhaps Kam had used this place before, for disposing of unwanted evidence.

He soon discovered a dark hole, about a metre wide set at the base of a stony ridge, but continued searching in case there was more than one possible entrance. He didn't find any other gaps that looked feasible however, and he returned to his initial discovery.

He took out a slim metal helmet with a light attached to the front and then unwrapped his latest purchase, a small drone with controls that he could link to his wristcom. Paul fastened his pack with the water and other items on his back to keep his hands free and crawled into the hole. How had Kam managed with Rik?

Darkness wrapped around him almost immediately and he turned on his helmet light. Once clear of the entrance, the space opened up into a large chamber and he was able to stand. He could see at least three places where the cave branched off into smaller caves or tunnels. Which one had they taken?

He studied the cave floor, which was a mixture of rock and damp soil, looking for footprints or other signs of activity but could find nothing conclusive. Well, this was why he had brought the drone. He just needed to be patient. He set one kay as the flight range for this first sweep, and directed the machine down the first opening from the left.

The drone kept to the centre of the available space, calibrating its position from the surrounding rock as it went, flying slowly at walking speed, a steady four kay per hour. Light from the drone revealed a passage which soon narrowed to an unpassable point and Paul brought it back to try another route. He tried the next opening. After a twisty start, this one extended into the distance and Paul increased the speed slightly.

Tamping down impatience, he guided the drone down each branch until either it reached the one kay limit or the route became impossible for a human of Rik's size. Paul had been working unsuccessfully for an hour before he took a short break, drinking some water and munching a chocolate bar. He was starting to have doubts, worrying he might have made a mistake, that perhaps Kam had come here deliberately to leave a false trail and that Rik was stashed somewhere in the city.

He had one more opening leading from this chamber to explore. If he had no luck this time, he'd have to make a decision, whether to carry on here and extend the drone's reach to two or three kays down the longer passages or give up and try something else entirely. He'd never forgive himself though, if he gave up, and then Rik was found here later.

He sent the drone through the final opening and soon came to a place where the cave branched in three different directions. Following his pattern, he investigated the left hand one first. Nothing, except the odd boulder. Two more to go. The drone hummed quietly down the middle option, its light giving Paul a view of the area about four metres ahead of where it was travelling.

What was that? The light picked up a shape lying on the ground. Rik! Paul paused the drone immediately, certain he had found the missing man. Thank the stars... but, he wasn't moving. Paul couldn't tell whether he was merely unconscious or something worse. Hastily, he took off down the path the drone had taken, striding along as fast as he could.

~~~~

Rik saw the light reflected off the cave walls before he saw the drone itself, coming around a slight bend in the passage. Thank the sweet gods! Light, at last! His first thought was a wave of pure thankfulness, before the thought popped into his head that this might be his kidnapper coming back.

There was nowhere to hide so he flung himself to the ground, hoping to take the drone's operator unawares. He scrabbled around with his left hand, the one nearest the wall, until he found a good-sized stone. He gripped it tightly in his fist.

The wait seemed endless but eventually he heard footsteps, hurrying toward him. He braced himself, ready to leap up and attack, then he heard a voice.

"Rik? It's Paul, Paul Finn. Are you all right?"

Rik hadn't seen the person who'd kidnapped him. Could it have been Paul? He didn't want to think so but he didn't feel particularly trusting anymore.

Someone knelt down and touched him lightly on the shoulder. "I've been searching for you. I've brought some water. And some chocolate. Are you able to stand?"

Rik couldn't imagine a kidnapper bothering with chocolate. He scrambled to his feet and let the stone fall from his hand. Paul was watching him with anxious eyes, wincing in sympathy as he saw the gash on his head. He reached out and gently pushed the hair back from the wound.

The unexpected tenderness tipped Rik over the edge. He flung his arms around Paul and kissed him on the mouth.

"Thank you! I was getting desperate!"

He let go quickly, flushing at Paul's startled expression.

"Sorry!"

"I'm not," said Paul with a quick grin. He unfastened the backpack and put it on the ground. "Let me get you some water and then I'll see what I can do about that wound. I brought you another helmet but it might not be very comfortable. We'll see."

He tilted Rik's face up to the light and dabbed on some antiseptic. Gently, he added a bandage and then handed Rik the extra helmet. "It's adjustable. See if it hurts to wear it."

The helmet was a bit painful to wear but Rik didn't care. It was such a relief to have control of the attached light that he thought he could put up with a bit of discomfort. The water was a godsend and he didn't protest when Paul gave him the rest of his own bottle. He felt invigorated, ready to get out of here. A shower and a few hours sleep and he would be as good as new.

"So how did you know where I was?"