Canticle Blue

6. Cave

Music - The Maids of Mitchelstown by The Bothy Band

Syl took the first turn sweeping the cave entrance, while Geddes worked with a sifter. The others took turns holding pans and carrying debris to the beach. Initially nothing of any consequence was found. But there was soon enough floor space for the group to enter the cave comfortably.

From there they discovered that the small cascade of water actually came from a narrow side-channel cut into the rock. Beyond it, the entrance area was larger, level, and relatively dry. It reminded them of a foyer, especially since the west end of it gave way to an ascending tunnel. They could also see several more of the blue globes ahead. As Os had mentioned, the lights did bring out detail in the cave walls, and not only the coarse marks of hand tools, but puzzlingly smooth areas as well.

As they continued to clear floor space, the strange lights became more of a distraction. At one point, Geddes found himself staring so intently at them that he realized that he was sifting dirt into the air. When Cian came to his rescue with a replacement pan and broom, he gestured toward the lights and asked, "Any impressions about them so far? It would be nice to know they're safe because I know Syl is going to want to explore that tunnel."

"I wish I could tell you more," she answered. "I want to assume they'll be okay, especially placed in what was probably a high-traffic area at one time. Everything about them seems unusual. Their glow seems sourceless. I know that makes no sense, but it's as if the light is coming from every part of what's inside them. I haven't seen any signs of wiring in here either. Did you notice that they vary in brightness? And they all do it together, kind of like passing waves." She smiled. "When I first saw it, I wondered if there were wandering spirits in there."

Geddes laughed quietly. "I'm so glad you said that. I thought it was self-hypnosis."

When Havilan took a turn at sweeping the west side of the entryway, he promptly tripped over something so solid that he had to use the cave wall to catch his fall. He had found a stair. As everyone crowded forward to get a look, they noticed the top of another one, and then, highlighted by continuing rows of lights, the outlines of many more.

As Os considered the layout of the tunnel floor, he said, "If we're going to work in there, we'll need heavier equipment."

Those discoveries, and the relative warmth of the cave, peaked their enthusiasm. Syl used her handset radio to call the rest of the team. "Come in and dry off guys. We even swept the floor for you. There's plenty of room and lots of time left in the day. We're going to want to move the supplies closer to the cave and set up camp there, but we can do that later. Please bring two of the large sifters, if you can find them, and some masks and shovels. Oh, and Cian requests the radiation counter."

When Tor arrived, he went straight to Cian. "Here's the counter. I left it running
when I came in and didn't see anything beyond the normal background."

She carried it to the nearest globe and seemed almost joyfully relieved. "There's not even a hint of radiation," she said to Tor. She then proceeded to touch it and even tip it slightly, saying, "It's not even warm."

"Just as we suspected," Tor replied, "There's no wiring or even an electromagnetic base. The plug on the bottom of the container is just wax. Any thoughts on how that might be possible?"

Cian shook her head and turned her palms upward, as if in surrender. "Absolutely no idea on the power source, but there has to be one. Maybe The Bryn should have sent a theorist." She managed a quiet laugh. "I know one thing. You don't throw away what you do know for what you don't. I'm certainly not one to totally discount the supernatural, but I'm assuming this island is still in the physical universe."