Dell's Journey

Chapter 25: The Departure Of Gradient

We have returned to the scene of a friendship

dissolving.

"In we go then."

Gradient's tone was resolute. "In we go. We've got a

lantern, Monster. Don't let's be scared."

Perhaps no explanation of Monster's fear is necessary,

but I will attempt to describe the picture of his chief

fear. It was the imagined moment where the lantern might

slip from the long, thin fingers that held it aloft, and

where the sound of breaking glass and bending metal would

precede a deep, overwhelming silence, and absolute

blackness would resume its reign over the caverns of the

mountain. It was experiencing a moment right after the ten

seconds of thinking that somehow – somehow – a new light

source would be suddenly discovered, where the total

realization of their situation would come upon them, and

their fear would be gobbled up by panic. They would clutch

at each other and shake and try to think clearly enough to

recall the turns they'd taken and the rock-formations

they'd identified for markers and...

"No," Monster said, trying to maintain a casual tone,

"I don't think it's the best idea. We really aren't

prepared, and – and we don't know what's lurking about in

there, do we? Why would you want to go in anyway?"

Gradient was not entirely sure what compelled him.

But there was some dark thought taking shape in his mind,

some desire that aroused his interest in the danger and the

foolishness of it all. He glanced at the passageway and

then at Monster with a strange, frantic look. His left

shoulder began to twitch.

"Um," his voice trembled slightly, "no, I...I think we

should go in. I think it would be, um, fun...Monster."

He bent over the lantern and opened the little door to

get at the candle inside. His hands were shaking. Looking

up at Monster he giggled, but the nervous smile at his lips

faded and the corners of his mouth fell more quickly than

they ought to have. He struck a match upon one of the

stones at his feet and soon the candle began to drink up

its wax.

"Stop being stupid and come away from it," Monster

said, firmly and angrily. "You're being weird and you're

wasting the candle. Let's go."

"Little Monster, little fat Monster," Gradient began

in a sing-song voice, "little fat effeminate Monster." He

burst into an uncontrollable laugh which ascended into a